Quick disclaimer, some slightly stronger than usual violence this week.

It's a samurai story, so a lot of sword fights, some beheadings, nothing graphic, but it's there.

Please check out the post on mythpodcast.com for more info.

This week, on myths and legends, it's a samurai legend about two friends who sparked rebellion.

And we'll see that. If you have a child born with long, flowing hair and a full mouth of teeth

after 18 months of labor, you might have an epicurro on your hands.

The creatures this week are the reason for lightning storms, because the sky itself finds them

so annoying and just wants to get rid of them. So they will stop surprising people in the bath.

This is Myths and Legends, episode 324. Violent ends.

This is a podcast retail stories from mythology and folklore. Some are incredibly popular stories you

might think you know, but with surprising origins. Others are stories that might be new to you,

but are definitely worth a listen. Today, we're telling the story of Benke and Yoshitsune,

two men who lived in a tumultuous time in Japanese history, the 12th century,

when the land was transitioning from empire to military dictatorship.

We'll get into the history as we go, but we'll jump right in with a… not so little infant,

listening to his caretakers, determine whether he will live or die.

It was just fate. Benke wasn't old, but he was old enough to understand what his aunt and the

man were talking about. They were talking about him, about what they would do with him.

People had begun to worry when, at 10 months, Benke's mother showed no signs of labor.

The baby was evidently fine, still kicked, turned, and wiggled in the womb. The mother swelled

further. Those who loved her worried, but she comforted them with her stoic resolve.

There was nothing they could do, so there was no point worrying. It was just fate.

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