Once upon a time, there was a kind-hearted young man named Urashima Taro who lived in a small village by the sea. One day, he came across a group of children on the beach bullying a turtle. The poor turtle was struggling to escape while the children laughed and teased it. Taro stepped in, chased the children away, and gently returned the turtle to the sea. The turtle gratefully thanked him and swam off, saying, “I’ll come back to thank you properly.”

A few days later, the turtle returned and invited Taro to visit the Dragon Palace. Curious and excited, Taro followed the turtle to a magical underwater palace filled with stunning buildings and lively music. There, he was warmly greeted by a beautiful princess named Otohime (Vega). She treated Taro to extravagant feasts, endless entertainment, and the most joyful days he had ever experienced. Time seemed to stand still as Taro lived in this dreamlike world.

Eventually, though, Taro began to miss his home and told Otohime he wanted to return. Although reluctant, Otohime understood his feelings and gave him a small, ornate box as a parting gift. “Take this with you,” she said, “but promise me one thing: never open it.”

Taro left the Dragon Palace, accompanied by the turtle, and returned to his village. But when he arrived, he was shocked to find that everything had changed. The village he knew was gone, replaced by a strange, unfamiliar town. No one he recognized was there. Confused and overwhelmed, Taro couldn’t resist the urge to open the mysterious box.

As soon as he lifted the lid, white smoke poured out and enveloped him. When the smoke cleared, Taro found that he had transformed into an old man. Time had caught up with him, and he realized that centuries had passed since he first left with the turtle. Filled with regret, Taro stood in the strange town, accepting the irreversible passage of time.