Gon the Fox and Other Stories Read online

Gon the Fox & Other Stories

  Tales from a Japanese Dreamland: Book 4

  by

  Nankichi Niimi & Kenji Miyazawa

  Copyright Paul Quirk 2013

  Translated from - Gongitsune by Nankichi Niimi

  Ojiisan no rampu by Nankichi Niimi

  Oootoko no hanashi by Nankichi Niimi

  Hananoki mura to nusubito by Nankichi Niimi

  Kenju koenrin by Kenji Miyazawa

  Ame ni mo makezu by Kenji Miyazawa

  Cover image: Gon the Fox by Tamie Oda

  Discover other titles by Kenji Miyazawa and Nankichi Niimi published by Little J Books at https://www.littlejbooks.com/

  Please note, copyright on the original works have expired, however, Little J Books holds all copyrights for these translations. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher. The moral right of the translator has been asserted.

  License Notes

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. However, if you would like to use any of the stories that make up this ebook for business or educational purposes, please contact Paul at the email address below. We look forward to hearing from you.

  This book is published by Little J Books

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  Website: https://www.littlejbooks.com/

  Contact: [email protected]

  Postal mail: 394-2 Kubohara, Yamaoka-cho, Ena-shi, Gifu-ken, Japan, Postcode 509-7601

  Note on these translations

  Where necessary chapters have been added to make navigation easier in an ebook format. Further notes on the translations will be added to the www.Littlejbooks.com website over time. Please email me if you have any questions!!

  This series is dedicated to my wife Yuuki, who has provided me with the support and encouragement to make this project a reality.

 

  Contents

  Gon the Fox

  Grandpa's Lamp

  The Story of the Giant

  When the Thieves Came to Hananoki Village

  Kenju's Forest Playground

  Ame-ni-mo makezu

  About the Authors

  About Little J Books

  Other Titles by Little J Books

  Gon the Fox

  by Nankichi Niimi

  Chapter 1

  An old man by the name of Mohei who lived in my village, told me this story when I was little.

  A long time ago, not far from our village, there was a place called Nakayama, which had a small castle and a lord, also by the name of Nakayama. And in the hills a short distance from Nakayama, there lived a fox called Gon, who'd made his home in a hole he'd dug in a forest overgrown with lush green ferns. Gon the fox was always going into the nearby village to cause mischief, any time of the day or night. He'd make all sorts of trouble, digging up potatoes and tossing them all over the ground, setting fire to bundles of rapeseed flowers hung out to dry, or stealing chili peppers strung up outside the back of the farmer's houses.

  One autumn, it had been raining non-stop for two or three days and Gon had been crouched in his hole, unable to go outside. When at last the rain cleared, Gon breathed a sigh of relief and crawled out of his hole. Outside there was a bright blue sky and the cries of the Bull-headed Shrikes rang through the air.

  Gon walked up to the edge of the small stream that ran through the village. Drops of rain, still clinging to the tops of the pampas grass, glistened in the sun. Normally there was very little water in this stream, but after three full days of rain the water level had risen all at once. Pampas grass and clumps of bush clover, normally well away from the water's edge, were sloshing about in the murky water. Gon walked further downstream along the muddy path.

  Suddenly he noticed a person standing in the middle of the river. He quickly crept into the long grass, where he could watch without being seen.

  That's Hyoju, thought Gon.

  Hyoju was standing waist deep in the stream with a hand towel tied around his head. He'd rolled up the sleeves of his ragged black kimono and was dragging a fishing net back and forth through the water. A clump of bush clover was stuck to the side of his face like a mole.

  After a while, Hyoju hoisted the end of his fishing net - which was in the shape of a bag - out of the water. It was filled with grass roots, weeds, rotten sticks and other rubbish, but there was something else as well; something white and shiny. They were the stomachs of a big fat eel and some large whiting. Hyoju tipped the eel and the whiting together with all the other rubbish, into his wicker fishing basket. He then closed off the opening of the net and placed it back in the water.

  With that done, he waded out of the water with his basket, placed it on the ground, and wandered upstream as if in search of something.

  As soon as Hyoju was out of sight, Gon sprang out from his hiding spot and raced up to the basket. Gon, you see, was in the mood for a little mischief. He picked out the fish from the wicker basket and, aiming downstream from the fishing net, he flung them, one at a time, back into the stream. Each of the fish landed with a plonk, quickly diving beneath the murky water.

  To finish, he tried picking up the big eel, but the eel was all slimy and kept slipping through his paws. Losing patience, he thrust his head into the basket and grabbed the head of the eel between his teeth. The eel gave out a sharp shriek and wrapped itself around Gon's neck. Just then, Hyoju yelled out from a distance,

  "Hey! You thieving fox!" Gon jumped into the air with a fright. He tried flinging the eel away so he could make his escape, but the eel was tightly wrapped around his neck. He leapt sideways, eel and all, and raced off as fast as he could run.

  He didn't dare look back until he was at the alder tree near his home, but by that time, Hyoju was nowhere in sight. He breathed a sigh of relief, and then bit down on the head of the eel to make it let go, before placing it on the grass outside his home.

 

  Chapter 2

  About ten days later, as Gon was passing behind Yasuke the farmer's house, Yasuke's wife was standing in the shade of a fig tree, dying her teeth black. And when he passed Shinbei the blacksmith's house, Shinbei's wife was busy combing her hair.

  Ha ha thought Gon, there must be something going on in the village today. I wonder what? Maybe an autumn festival... nah, if there was a festival I'd be able to hear drums and flutes. And there'd be lots of banners out the front of the shrine.

  While he was busy thinking, Gon came up to Hyoju's house, which had a small red well out the front. Hyoju's tiny run-down house was filled with people. Several women, with hand towels tucked in the back of their formal kimonos, were tending to a fire beneath the cooking stove. A giant pot was bubbling away on top.

  Ah ha, it's a funeral, thought Gon. One of Hyoju's relatives must have died.

  After midday, Gon went to the cemetery and hid in the shadows of the six Jizo statues. It was a perfect clear day and the tiles on the roof of the castle could be seen sparkling in the sun, far off in the distance. Inside the cemetery, the red spider lilies were in full bloom, covering the ground like a giant red cloth. Gong! Gong! - the sound of a bell rang out from the village, the signal for the funeral procession to depart.

  Shortly afterwards, some members of the procession, dressed in white kimonos, trickled into view. The sound of people talking moved closer and closer. The procession entered the cemetery. The red spider lilies were trampled beneath their feet as they passed.

  Gon stood on tippy-toe so that he could see. Hyoju was wearing a formal kimono and holding a memorial tablet. Normally so cheerful with a face like a red sweet potato, today he looked miserable.

  Ahh, it must have been Hyoju's mum, r
ealized Gon, and pulled his head back in.

  That night Gon was thinking to himself inside his hole.

  I bet Hyoju's mum had been sick in bed, saying she wanted to eat some eel and that was why Hyoju was out fishing. But then I went and played a prank on him and took off with his eel so he never got a chance to give his mum any before she died. I bet all she could think about when she was dying was how much she'd like to eat some eel. Darn! I wish I hadn't played such a stupid prank!

 

  Chapter 3

  Hyoju was washing some wheat by the red well. Up until now Hyoju had lived together with his mother with very little money, but now his mother had died he was all by himself.

  He's all alone, just like me, thought Gon, as he watched Hyoju from behind a nearby storeroom.

  As he walked away from the storeroom, Gon heard the cry of the sardine man going door to door.

  "Cheap sardines for sale! Get your fresh sardines!"

  Gon ran toward the sound of the man's booming voice. Just then, Yasuke's wife appeared at the back entrance and called out,

  "I'll have some sardines please."

  The sardine man stopped his cart by the side of the road, grabbed two handfuls of shiny sardines and carried them into Yasuke's house. Seizing his chance, Gon raced up and grabbed five or six sardines out of the basket and then raced back the way he came. When he got to Hyoju's house he tossed them through the back door, and then quickly ran back in the direction of his home. He turned around when he reached the top of the nearest hill and was just able to make out Hyoju, still washing his wheat beside the well.

  Well at least I've done one good thing to make up for the eel, he thought.

  The next day Gon collected an armful of chestnuts from the forest, and carried them to Hyoju's house. When Gon peaked in through the back door, he saw Hyoju staring blankly into space, his bowl in his hands with his lunch half-eaten. Strangely, he had a gash across his cheek. Gon was wondering what could have happened when Hyoju mumbled out loud,

  "Who on earth threw those sardines into my house? Thanks to them people think I'm a thief and the sardine man tries to knock my head in."

  Uh oh, thought Gon. Poor Hyoju got beaten up and left with that big gash on his face.

  As he was thinking this, Gon crept quietly round to the storeroom and left the chestnuts by the doorway.

  Gon collected chestnuts and took them to Hyoju's house the next day too, and then the next day after that. The day after that, not only did he take chestnuts, but two or three matsutake mushrooms as well.

 

  Chapter 4

  One evening when the moon was shining bright, Gon was walking aimlessly in the forest. After passing beneath Nakayama Castle, he suddenly noticed some people walking the other way down the narrow path. He heard the sound of people talking. Chin-chira-ling, chin-chira-ling sang the pine crickets.

  Gon hid perfectly still by the side of the road. Their voices moved closer and closer. It was Hyoju and Kasuke the farmer.

  "Oh yeah, Kasuke," said Hyoju.

  "Yeah?"

  "Something really strange has been going on recently."

  "What do you mean?"

  "I don't know who, but ever since mother died, someone's been bringing me chestnuts and mushrooms every day."

  "Yeah!? Who?"

  "That's what I told you, I don't know. They always bring them when I'm not around."

  After they'd passed, Gon started following behind them.

  "Truly?"

  "Yeah, truly! If you think I'm lying, come 'round tomorrow and see for yourself. I'll show you the chestnuts."

  "Huh, that's weird."

  They continued walking in silence.

  Suddenly, Kasuke turned around behind him. Gon froze to the spot, trying to make himself as small as possible. Not noticing anything, Kasuke hurried on ahead. After reaching the house of Kichibei, another farmer, the two headed inside. Pon-pon-pon-pon came the sound of a wooden gong. A light shone through the paper sliding window, the outline of a priest's shaven head moving across it.

  They must be praying, thought Gon, as he crouched down beside a well. Not long after, another group of three arrived and went inside. Afterwards there came the sound of someone reading a Buddhist sutra.

 

  Chapter 5

  Gon stayed crouched down by the well until they'd finished praying. Hyoju and Kasuke headed off home again. Gon followed close behind in Hyoju's shadow so he could listen to their conversation.

  When they came to the castle, Kasuke said,

  "What you were talking about before, I think it must be God."

  "Huh?" muttered Hyoju in surprise, looking over at Kasuke.

  "I was thinking about it the whole time, and well, I don't think it's a person... it's God. God's taken pity on you because you are all alone, so he brings you these things."

  "I don't know about that."

  "I'm sure it is. You should say a prayer to God every day, to thank Him."

  "Right."

  Huh, that's not fair, thought Gon. I'm the one taking him chestnuts and mushrooms everyday, but instead of thanking me he goes and thanks God. What's the point!?

 

  Chapter 6

  Gon took chestnuts to Hyoju's house the next day as well. Hyoju was in the storeroom making some rope. Gon crept quietly into the house through the back door. Just then Hyoju happened to look up.

  Was that a fox going into my house? That rotten fox Gon that stole my eel that day, he's up to no good again.

  "Right."

  Hyoju stood up, went across and grabbed his rifle off the wall and loaded it with gunpowder. He then crept quietly up to the back door, and just as Gon was coming out again - Bang! - he shot him. Gon flopped to the ground.

  Hyoju ran up to Gon, but then, glancing inside the house, his gaze fell on the chestnuts lying on the floor.

  "Huh!" exclaimed Hyoju in surprise, looking down at Gon.

  "Gon, was it you? Are you the one who's been bringing me chestnuts?"

  Gon nodded, his eyes clenched tight.

  The rifle fell from Hyoju's hands, landing with a thud, a thin trail of blue smoke still rising from the barrel.

  THE END

  Grandpa's Lamp

  by Nankichi Niimi

  Chapter 1

  Toichi, who had been hiding down the back of the storeroom in a game of hide and seek, came out holding a kerosene lamp.

  It was different from any lamp he'd seen before. It had a thick bamboo stand around eighty centimeters tall, and sitting on top of that was a tiny section for the flame. Its globe was a narrow glass tube. It was so strange that most people seeing it for the first time wouldn't know it was a lamp.

  Toichi and his friends thought it was something else entirely.

  "I think it's an old rifle," said Sohachi, who had been 'it' in their game of hide and seek.

  At first, Toichi's grandpa didn't realize what it was either. He had to peer over the top of his glasses before he finally recognized it.

  But when he saw that they were holding a lamp, he started to scold them.

  "Look here you kids, what are you doing with this? I leave you lot alone for a minute and you start dragging out all kinds of things. You're like thieving cats! Bring that here now and go play outside. Why don't you go play round a power pole or something! There's plenty of things to play with out there."

  It was only after grandpa yelled at them that they realized they'd done something wrong. Toichi had been the one that had picked up the lamp, but even the neighborhood kids who hadn't touched anything at all, walked outside with gloomy faces as if they'd all done something bad.

  Outside, the springtime afternoon wind picked up the dust and hurled it along the street, a white butterfly occasionally fluttering hurriedly by on the heels of a slowly plodding oxcart. Indeed, there were plenty of power poles along the street. But the children certainly didn't play around any of them. Children never like playing the way grown
ups tell them to.

  They quickly raced off in the direction of the park, glass marbles rattling noisily in their pockets, and it wasn't long before they were completely absorbed in their games and had forgotten all about the lamp.

  When dusk fell, Toichi came back to the house. The kerosene lamp was standing in a corner of the living room. But Toichi didn't dare ask his grandfather about it for fear he'd receive another scolding.

  It came to that boring time after dinner. Toichi was leaning against a chest of drawers, banging the loose metal handles...clang, clang, clang...or going into the store to watch as a teacher from the agricultural school with a beard, ordered a complicated sounding book from the store clerk; Theory and Practice of Radish Cultivation.

  After he grew tired of that, he went back to the living room, and after checking to see that his grandpa wasn't around, he shuffled over on his knees to where the lamp was, and, after removing the globe, he started drawing the wick in and out again by turning a screw the size of a small coin.

  He was completely absorbed in playing with the lamp when his grandpa caught him for the second time. But this time grandpa didn't scold him at all. He called to the maid to bring him some tea, and slipping out his tobacco pipe, he said,

  "Toichi, this lamp brings back a lot of memories for me. I'd forgotten about this for many years, but when you dug it out from the storeroom today, all those memories came flooding back. When you get old like me, it's quite exciting when you come across something like this from your past, even a lamp."

  Toichi stared open-mouthed at his grandpa. After his grandpa had scolded them earlier he assumed his grandpa had been angry, but in fact he was happy at having rediscovered the lamp.

  "I've got a story from long ago that I want to tell you, come sit over here," said his grandpa.

  Toichi enjoyed listening to stories so he sat down in front of his grandpa just as he'd been told, but sitting like that made him feel like he was about to hear some kind of sermon, so he made like he always did when he listened to stories at home. In other words, he lay sprawled out on the floor with his feet pointing in the air, every now and then clapping the soles of his feet together like some kind of street performer.