THE CHILD GODS (ENGLISH) Animation of Japanese Traditional Stories

Summary

On New Year's Eve, a poor elderly man and his wife face the challenge of not having rice for their traditional rice cake. Determined to prepare for the New Year, the man attempts to sell his old clothes in town but finds no buyers. Instead, he kindly exchanges his clothes for hats from a hat seller. On his way home, he generously offers the hats to seven child gods he encounters in the snow. In gratitude, the child gods reward the couple with rice, allowing them to celebrate a joyful New Year, and they continue to care for the child gods, living happily ever after.

Takeaways

• 😀 The story is set on New Year's Eve in a humble cottage with a poor elderly man and his wife.
• 🎉 They lack rice to prepare a proper New Year's meal, prompting the old man to sell his old clothes in town.
• 👵 The old man shows kindness by expressing concern for the child gods he encounters, who are cold in the snow.
• 🧢 Despite his need for rice, the old man exchanges his clothes for hats from a man selling them.
• ❤️ The old man selflessly gives the hats to the child gods to keep them warm, demonstrating his compassion.
• 😢 The old man feels sorry for not having enough hats for all the child gods, but he offers his own hat.
• 🌙 The old man and his wife find joy in their selflessness and the warmth it brings to others.
• 🎶 As New Year's bells toll, they sleep peacefully, unaware of the surprise awaiting them.
• 🍚 The child gods reward their kindness with rice, allowing the couple to celebrate the New Year properly.
• 🏡 The story ends with the couple living happily ever after, thanks to the care they showed towards the child gods.

Q & A

What is the main setting of the story?

The story takes place in a humble cottage where a poor elderly man and his wife live.

What problem do the elderly couple face on New Year's Eve?

They have no rice to make a rice cake for the New Year celebration.

What does the old man decide to do to solve their problem?

He decides to take their old clothes to town to sell them in order to buy rice.

Who does the old man encounter on his way to town?

He encounters seven child gods that guard the village, who appear to be cold and in need of help.

What does the old man do for the child gods?

He offers his humble apologies to the child gods and expresses concern for their coldness.

What happens when the old man tries to sell his clothes in town?

He is ignored by everyone as they are busy preparing for New Year's Eve, and he fails to sell any clothes.

What exchange does the old man make with the hat seller?

The old man exchanges his old clothes for hats from a man selling hats, even though he would rather have rice.

What does the old man do with the hats after obtaining them?

He puts the hats on the heads of the seven child gods to keep them warm from the snow.

What happens to the old man and his wife at the stroke of midnight?

They receive a 'thank-you' present from the child gods, which allows them to make rice cakes for the New Year.

What is the ultimate outcome for the old man and his wife after their encounter with the child gods?

They live healthily and happily ever after, thanks to the blessings from the child gods.