Here’s the English translation: ---

In Shinshu, at Lake Suwa, there was a very, very large dragon god.

Because it was so large, during the old lunar calendar's October—when gods from all over Japan gather in Izumo—the dragon god of Lake Suwa didn’t need to go to Izumo.

Such folklore remains in the Suwa area.

This picture book introduces in an easy-to-understand way four legends related to Suwa Myojin, which have been handed down from ancient times, and the dragon god that dwells in the heart. At the end of the book, there are illustrations of "The Dragon God of Suwa" and a "Dragon God Chronology."

 

1. "Shinano Has No 'Month Without Gods'"

There was a very, very large dragon god at Lake Suwa. In the old calendar's October, when all the gods of the country gathered in Izumo, the dragon god was so large that even if its head reached Izumo, its tail was still in Lake Suwa. Seeing this, one of the gods in Izumo said, "With such a large body, it must be hard just to get here," so the dragon god was excused from having to go to Izumo. That’s why in Shinano, because the dragon god remains, they call October "Kami-ari-zuki" (the month when the gods are present), instead of "Kami-na-zuki" (the month when the gods are absent).

 

2. "The Mongol Invasion"

When Kyushu was attacked by Mongol ships, the dragon god of Suwa flew there, caused a great wind, and drove them away.

 

3. "The Legend of Izumi Kotaro"

The rhinoceros dragon—an incarnation of Suwa Myojin—became the spouse of the White Dragon King, and together with their human son, Izumi Kotaro, they developed the regions of Matsumoto and Azumino.

 

4. "The Tale of Koga Saburo"

Koga Saburo, trapped beneath Mt. Tateshina, received gifts from the king of the underground land of Yuimangoku—mochi made from the raw livers of a thousand deer, straw sandals made from a grass called suge, Mitamaigami paper, bush clover flowers, a talismanic throwing kama, a hitatare jacket with a paulownia leaf crest, and a flag with a three-leaf oak symbol. When he returned to the surface, he had turned into a giant serpent.

 

Introduction to Dragon God Spots

 
--- If you need further details or have specific text sections, let me know!