海(うみ)に住む(すむ)たくさんの鮫(さめ)(ワニ)

Long ago, on the island of Oki, lived a clever but somewhat cunning 'white hare'. He wanted to cross over to the mainland (province of Inaba), but since he couldn't swim, he deceived the many sharks (referred to as crocodiles) living in the sea, saying 'I will count whose clan is larger.'