(Originally posted 7/2008. Updated 11/20101. )
One thing I’ve been doing to help improve my Japanese is reading. This really helps get a feel for a language, so even if you don’t know the grammar sometimes, you know when a sentence just feels right. Not only is this good language practice, but it is also introducing me to different aspects of Japanese culture that I may not have otherwise been exposed to. Like folk tales. Here’s one I rather like that shows some of the Japanese love for Jizo, called Ojizo-sama for respect (O is added to words for politeness and –sama is the very polite form of –san).
What’s a kasa?
Before we start, there is one thing here that is I don’t think we have a word for in English. A Kasa is a hat farmers and monks wear that is cone shaped to allow rain to run off of it so they can be outside in rain storms. We probably typically think of Vietnam when we see these. Here’s a pic:
Kasa-Jizo
Anyways, so here’s the story, called “Kasa-Jizo”
A long time ago there was an old man and an old woman living alone together. They didn’t have any money, but were happy. One day, on the last day of the year, the old woman told the old man, “Grandpa, tomorrow is New Years Day! I want something good to eat!”
“Is that so?” He replied. “Then lets make some kasa, grandma, and I’ll sell them in town to make us money for food.”
She agreed with his idea and so they made 5 kasa for him to sell. As soon as they finished, he put on his own kasa and set out for town. On the way there, he passed six stone Jizo statues. He paused and offered a brief prayer – “Ojizo-sama, thank you for everything!” – then continued on his way to town.
It was very busy in town. There were many, many stalls selling everything one might imagine. And there were tons of people, most of them drunk on sake, celebrating the New Year early. The old man called out, “Kasa! Kasa for sale! Does anyone want to buy a kasa!” He called out for a long time, but no one wanted to buy one.
That evening, as he returned home, a snow storm started. There was very strong, cold wind, and tons of snow. The wind was very powerful and the old man had a hard time walking through the snow. But he pushed on.
He soon came to the six stone Jizo statues he had passed eariler on his way to town. Again, he stopped to offer a prayer of thanks, but first seeing that they were covered in snow, went to clean them. Wiping the snow from their heads, he noticed how cold they were. Remembering his five unsold kasa, he decided to use them to cover the Jizos’ heads. But there were six Jizo and only five kasa. He thought about this problem for a moment, then decided to donate his own kasa to the sixth Jizo.
“There you go,” he explained to them. “These kasa will keep you warm.”
He then offered a small prayer of thanks and continues home.
When he got home, his wife exclaimed. “My, you are covered in snow! You must be cold.”
“No one wanted to buy any kasa,” he told her. “We won’t be able to have a good New Years meal.”
“Then, what happened to all the kasa you had?”
“The 6 Jizo statues near here were covered with snow, so I gave them the kasa we made.”
“Ah, that was good.” She decided after suppressing her disappointment. “Well, then let’s go to bed.”
Around midnight they were awoken by a loud sound, like something being dragged through the snow outside.
“What’s that? Is someone outside?” The old man and woman asked each other.
They listened closer and then heard singing. “The old man is so kind and nice. Thank you for the kasa, grandpa.”
The voices were coming from in front of their house. The old man and old woman crept out of their beds and went to their bedroom door. As they approached it, there was a large sound, like something big hitting the ground. After a few minutes, they carefully opened the door. The ground was covered with food!
They quickly ran outside and off in the distance they could see 6 Jizo with 6 kasa on their heads walking away. “Thank you very very much” They called. Then they went in and had a great meal. It was a very good New Years.
Nice story, eh?
