“Kasa Jizo” explained in 4 pictures

Once upon a time, in a certain place, there lived a kind old man and old woman. New Year’s Day was coming soon. The old man decided to go to town to sell the hats he had made from straw. “If they sell, I’ll buy some rice cakes to bring home.”

🤔 What is the old man going to sell? How do you think the old woman feels as she sees him off?

But in town, no one bought the hats. The old man could not buy any rice cakes. “It can’t be helped. I’ll go back home to Grandma.” The old man slowly walked home along the snowy road.

🤔 How do you think the old man felt when the hats did not sell?

On his way home, the old man found some Jizo statues covered in snow. “Oh my, you must be so cold.” The old man put the hats he could not sell on the Jizo statues. When there were not enough hats, he even wrapped his own hand towel around one of them.

🤔 The old man gave his own things to the Jizo statues. Why do you think he did that?

That night, they heard the sound of a sled being pulled outside the house. When the old man and old woman looked outside… what a surprise! The Jizo statues had brought them rice and rice cakes. The Jizo statues, who had been treated kindly, had come to say “thank you.”

🤔 Why do you think the Jizo statues brought them gifts?