Hukumusume fairy tale collection > Foreign language (English) > Japanese classical stories

イラスト　myi　　　ブログ　sorairoiro

Kasa jizou（The Children's guardian Deity）

(Japanese classical stories)

Translation　Laurence Hunter

Japanese  ・ English  ・Japanese＆English

　Once upon a time, there lived an old couple who were very poor but very kind hearted.

　It all happened one New Year's eve .

 The old man and his wife had spent some time to make some hats made from bamboo rushes.

 They both planned to go to the nearest village and sell them to buy some rice cakes for the New Year.

"We have made five hats, so I'm sure we will have enough to sell and be able to buy some rice cakes ."

"Please be careful, it will start to snow soon." Said the old lady to her husband.

　The old man then, picked up the five bamboo hats and went out.

　Soon after leaving his house it started to snow .

　Since the snow had become gradually heavier and heavier, the old man quickened his pace .

　When the man reached the outskirts of the village he found six Jizou (Guardian deity statues) standing in a line.

　The snow was by now slowly pilling up on the statues heads and shoulders.

　The old man saw this and thought he could not go on any further.

"Guardian-deity-of-children .It is snowing and bitterly cold, at least wear these bamboo hats to protect yourselves from the snow."

　The old man then proceeded to cover the heads of the statues with the hats he planned to sell.

　But, there were six statues and the old man only had five hats.

　So, the old man decided to take off his own hat and covered the sixth statue with it .


　When he got home his wife was astonished to see him.

"Well well, you were very quick , and how about the hats ? " Asked his wife.

　So, the old man told his wife about what he had done for the Guardian deities.

"Well, that is a good thing you did , we will do just as well without the rice cakes."

　Replied the old lady with a smile upon her face .

　That night, a mysterious tune was heard from outside.

♪ Where, o where is the old man's house.

♪I have come with a token of my thanks for him .

♪ Where, o where is the old man's house.

♪I have come with a token of my thanks for him .

　The tune got closer and closer , until it reached the old couple's front door.

　 Thump!

　Went the sound of something being placed outside the house.

　When the old man opened the door, the back of the deity's statue, that the old man had place his hat on, could be seen walking away into the distance.

　And there, in front of the house, was a mountain of rice cakes and treats for the New Year.

The end

One spot advice:  Good deeds are always returned.

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