Lafcadio Hearn

Deep in the mountains a little Japanese boy called Minokitchi witnesses a tragic event.

A master sculptor and his apprentice are trapped in a bad snow storm after finding a special tree for carving a statue for the local temple. Finding refuge in an abandoned hut they celebrate their luck in finding the tree but soon they are visited by the Snow Witch who freezes the sculptor to death but takes pity on the apprentice. He must promise to never speak of this or she'll return and kill him.

「黒髪」：妻を捨て、京都から遠い任地へと赴いた武士。そこで彼は、良い家柄の娘と結婚するが、彼女は冷酷な女で、男は今さら、別れた妻のことを思い出すのだった。やがて任期を終え、京都に戻った彼は最初の妻と再会するが…。「雪女」：きこりの巳之吉は、森へ薪を採りに入ったところで吹雪に遭い、山小屋に閉じ込められるはめに。その晩彼は、雪女の姿を目の当たりにし…。ほかに「耳無し抱一の話」「茶碗の中」の計4編。