Once upon a time, there was an old man and old woman. The two of them had no children, but one day a great melon came floating down the river. When they took it home and tried to chop it open, what do you know, a tiny girl came tumbling out. They named her Urikohime. She grew up to be very beautiful, and was engaged to the village chief.

In those days, there was word around the village of an amanojaku appearing and causing mischief. The old man and woman told Urikohime not to open the door, no matter who came, and left her at home while they went to prepare for the wedding.

The amanojaku came, lured Urikohime out with clever words, killed her and took her place. When the old man and woman came home, they realized something was strange, but the amanojaku's deed went unnoticed until the day of the wedding.

The amanojaku's blood was thrown into the soba fields, and that is why the roots of soba are red to this day.