今は昔

phrase

(archaic) used in the beginning of narratives or story literature: once upon a time, long ago

Once upon a time, there was a man called the old man of Taketori.

意味（1）

(archaic) used in the beginning of narratives or story literature: once upon a time, long ago

c. late 9th–mid-10th century, Taketori Monogatari

Ima wa mukashi, Taketori no Okina to iu mono arikeri.Once upon a time, there was a man who is called Taketori no Okina [old man who harvests bamboo].