Awa-Chidori 　　　　(Orchis graminifolia var. suzukiana)

In the olden days of Awa and Kazusa Provinces, there used to bloom lovely beautiful orchid flowers all over the country side. Now, however, you will seldom find these flowers anywhere. People overpicked them and the mountains grew barren. The name of the flower is Awa-Chidori. Here is a story about this flower.

Once upon a time, there lived a tender-hearted princess in the house of Satomi in Awa Province. Her name was Chidori. One day when she went to the seashore to collect shells, she slipped and fell down into the sea. The accompanying maids could do nothing but cry for help as they could not swim.
A young man who happened to pass by jumped into the high waves of the sea and swam toward the drowning princess. She once sank and disappeared into the water but came to the surface again and drifted offshore. The young man swam the overhand stroke (nukite) to her and returned ashore with the princess under his arm.
When he pushed the chest of the unconscious princess with his hand, she threw up swallowed water and came to slowly opening her eyes.
The maids thanked him many times and reported the incident to their load master.. The lord enlisted the young man into his naval service. He worked hard and built a name for himself. He became a hero among women. The princess also has developed affection for him.
It was about mid-September when the ship that the man was aboard got caught in a storm. When he saw a crate of precious cargo fall into the sea, he jumped after it carrying with him a rope. He tied the cargo with the rope and salvaged it, and then, exhausted, he sank into the water.
Everyone in the castle was saddened by his loss. Especially, the princess was profoundly grieved. On sunny days she sat on a hill and looked in the direction of the sea where the young man lost his life. The worrying parents comforted her, but she hardly ate.　One evening she was found dead sitting and gazing at the sea.
People mourned and held a funeral for her. They raised a little tomb on the hill where she had often sat looking at the sea.

Next year, a little lovely orchid flower blossomed in front of the tomb. The flower looked like a plover (chidori) fluttering on the seashore. People said "It must be the reborn princess," and cherished the memory of Princess Chidori.

千葉ふるさと文化研究会編　『房総ふるさと歳時記』　　117ページ