THE ROLLING RICE BALL (JAPANESE) Japanese classical stories | fairy

Summary

An old couple lives happily, with the man gathering firewood and the wife making rice balls for him. After losing one of the rice balls down a hole, the man discovers a magical land of mice who sing and make rice cakes. The mice reward him with gold, but the greedy old man, attempting to steal the treasure, faces dire consequences. In the end, the kind couple shares their newfound wealth with the villagers, and the mice’s song returns, creating a lasting bond of friendship and happiness. This heartwarming tale highlights the values of kindness and generosity over greed.

Takeaways

• 😀 A kind old couple lives happily together and shares a strong bond of love and generosity.
• 😀 The old man sets off to gather firewood and is given rice balls by his wife to eat during his break.
• 😀 While gathering firewood, the old man drops his rice balls down a hill, causing them to roll into a hole.
• 😀 The hole echoes with music and song whenever a rice ball is dropped in, delighting the old man.
• 😀 The old man drops all his rice balls into the hole, hoping to hear more of the magical song.
• 😀 After dropping the last rice ball, the singing stops, and the old man calls out in desperation, falling into the hole.
• 😀 The hole leads to the land of the mice, where the old man is warmly greeted by the mice leader.
• 😀 The mice show gratitude by feeding the old man rice cakes and offering him a gift of two boxes (large and small).
• 😀 The old man chooses the smaller box, which contains gold coins, a reward for his kindness.
• 😀 A greedy man, desiring the same reward, follows the old man's actions but causes chaos in the land of the mice by taking both boxes.
• 😀 The kind old couple shares their newfound wealth with the villagers, and the mice's song returns, bringing prosperity to all.

Q & A

What is the central theme of the story?

The central theme of the story revolves around generosity and greed. It contrasts the outcomes of two old men—one who is kind and one who is greedy—and highlights the consequences of their actions.

What role do the rice balls play in the story?

The rice balls are pivotal to the plot. They symbolize generosity and are used to initiate the magical encounter with the mice. The rice balls lead the old man to the land of the mice, where he is rewarded with gold.

What is the significance of the hole in the ground?

The hole in the ground is a gateway to the land of the mice, where the old man experiences a magical world. It serves as the place where his generosity is rewarded, and where greed leads to downfall.

How does the old man’s attitude toward the rice balls change over the course of the story?

At first, the old man is simply grateful for the rice balls as a meal, but later he becomes captivated by the magical song that follows the rice balls when they are dropped into the hole. His sense of wonder grows, leading him to drop more rice balls in an attempt to hear more music.

What is the key difference between the two old men in the story?

The key difference is their attitudes toward others. The kind old man is generous and shares his rice balls with the mice, leading to a reward of gold. The greedy old man, on the other hand, desires more for himself and acts selfishly, which leads to his ruin.

What happens when the greedy old man tries to take advantage of the situation?

When the greedy old man attempts to get a reward from the mice by throwing rice balls into the hole, he becomes greedy and takes both boxes instead of choosing just one. This causes chaos, and the mice’s world is destroyed, resulting in the greedy old man’s failure and humiliation.

What is the role of the mice in the story?

The mice are the magical creatures who live in the hole and reward the kind old man with gold for his generosity. They also create rice cakes and sing as they work, creating a lively and joyful atmosphere. Their actions emphasize the values of cooperation, kindness, and gratitude.

Why does the old man choose the smaller box?

The old man chooses the smaller box out of modesty, not knowing the full potential of the gift. His decision contrasts with the greedy old man’s choice to take both boxes, which leads to negative consequences.

What is the moral of the story?

The moral of the story is that generosity leads to reward, while greed leads to destruction. It emphasizes the value of kindness, sharing, and selflessness.

How does the village react to the gold coins?

The village reacts with gratitude and joy upon receiving the gold coins. The kind old man and his wife share the gold with the villagers, creating a sense of community and reinforcing the theme of generosity.