Kasa Jizō facts for kids

Kasa Jizō (笠地蔵) is a famous Japanese folk tale. It's about an old couple who are very kind and generous. Their good deeds are rewarded by a special figure called Kṣitigarbha, known as Jizō in Japan. This story is often told to children by their parents. It teaches important lessons about being good and selfless, based on Buddhist ideas.

You might also hear this story called Kasako Jizō in some parts of Japan, like Iwate and Fukushima. The tale comes from regions like Tōhoku and Niigata. Some of the oldest versions are from Hokuriku, and even Western Japan, like Hiroshima and Kumamoto. Nobody knows exactly where the story first began.

The Story of Kasa Jizō

Once, in a very snowy place, there lived a poor old couple. It was New Year's Eve, a special night in Japan. The couple realized they couldn't afford mochi. Mochi is a type of rice cake eaten during the New Year celebrations.

The old man decided to go to town. He hoped to sell the straw hats (called kasa) he had made. But the weather was terrible, with a big snowstorm. He couldn't sell any hats. Feeling sad, he started his long walk back home.

On his way, through the blizzard, the old man saw a line of Jizō statues. These statues often protect travelers and children. Their heads were covered in snow. The old man felt sorry for them. He decided to give his hats to the statues as a kind offering. He wanted to keep their heads clear of snow.

He had enough hats for almost all the statues. For the last statue, he used his own tenugui (a small Japanese towel) to cover its head. Then, he continued his journey home.

When he got back, he told his wife what he had done. She didn't scold him for not buying mochi. Instead, she praised him for his kind and thoughtful deed.

That night, while the couple was sleeping, they heard a loud thumping sound outside. They opened their door to find a huge pile of treasures! There was rice, vegetables, gold coins, and plenty of mochi. The old couple watched as the Jizō statues walked off into the snowy distance. The statues had repaid the old man for his selfless act. Thanks to their kindness, the old couple could now celebrate the New Year happily.

Different Versions of the Story

Like many folk tales, Kasa Jizō has a few different versions. Here are some of them:

• Sometimes, the old man gives his own hat instead of a tenugui to the last Jizō statue.
• In some stories, only one Jizō statue returns the gifts, not a whole group.
• Instead of Jizō statues, the Seven Lucky Gods might be the ones who repay the old man.
• In some versions, the old couple doesn't get gifts. Instead, they are taken to a peaceful place called the Western Pure Land.

There's a version in Niigata called Chijimi Jizō. In this story, the old man uses special fabric called ojiyachijimi instead of straw hats.

In another version, it's the old man's wife who makes spools of thread to sell in town.

In Western Japan, there's a unique variation. The old man carries a Jizō statue back to his house. His wife gets angry, but then rice starts pouring out of the statue! Wanting more rice, the wife hits the statue's belly. But then, the rice stops flowing.