Hukumusume fairy tale collection > Japanese classical stories >December

Hikoichi and Enma-sama

Introduction to Hikoichi

・Japanese  ・English ・Japanese＆English

English translator　REN HANADA(花田れん)

　Once upon a time, there was a very clever child named Hikoichi.

　 Hikoichi also grew old and became an old man, and finally died.
　When the dead Hikoichi woke up, the Enma-sama of Hell is sitting in front of him.
(Gracious me! This is hell.)
　But Hikoichi doesn't falter in the least.
　Before he died, Hikochi left a will. It was to put a three-tiered nest of boxes filled with brown sugar, white sugar, and capsicum powder into his coffin.
　Hikoichi opened the nest of boxes and began to lick the brown sugar inside with a delicious taste.
"Hey Hikoichi, take my judgment graciously. ...Well, well, well, what are you licking on there?"
　When Enma-sama glared at him with his big eyeballs, Hikoichi grinned and showed him the brown and white sugar. "This is a very good one. I'll give you a little of that, Enma-sama."
''Hmm, thanks. ...hmm-hmm. Well, this is certainly good. Hmmm? What's in that bottom stage?"
"Then lick this one, too."
　What Hikoichi offered was a red pepper powder.
　Enma-sama licked a little and quickly spat it out.
''Pfft, pfft! What the hell! It's like fire in the mouth."
　Hikoichi said with a innocent look on his face,
''Enma-sama, this red powder is spicy in one bite. It's good if you eat it in one go. When you eat, you have to swallow it all at once."
"Well, then, give it to me quickly."
　Enma-sama opened his big mouth to swallow the nest of boxes full of capsicum powder in one gulp.
　Then a great fire broke out in his belly, and he breathed fire from his mouth and eyes.
"Hey, hey! I can't get over this! I can’t take it anymore!"
　Enma-sama was distressed; he got naked and drenched himself with water.
"Then this is a good spare time."
　Hikoichi changed into the robe that Enma-sama had stripped off and ran outside to tell the child demons who didn't know anything about what was happening.
"Harrumph! I am the Great Enma. I have businesses to run to heaven, so get my basket ready at once."
"Ha, now!"
　The child demons hurriedly prepared a basket and carried Hikoichi to heaven.

　 Thus, Hikoichi was able to live comfortably in heaven.

End

One point advice : Circumstances may justify a lie.

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