The Old Man Who Made Withered Trees Flower
An old man and his wife live happily with their beloved dog, Shiro, who receives all their affection. Their peace is disturbed by a cruel neighbor who hates the kind couple and their pet. One day, Shiro leads his master to a tree where he uncovers a hidden treasure of gold coins. The greedy neighbor witnesses this and borrows Shiro to dig under his own tree, but only finds a foul-smelling pile of refuse. In his rage and disappointment, the wicked man kills Shiro and buries him under the tree. The old man is devastated by the loss but asks for the tree as a memorial, which the neighbor reluctantly grants. From the wood, the couple creates a magic mortar that produces endless cakes to honor their lost friend. The envious neighbor steals the mortar, but it breaks in his hands, releasing only bad odors instead of food. He burns the remains and sells the ashes, unaware of their true power when they make withered trees bloom. A Knight from a great Daimio arrives because one of the lord's cherry trees has died despite all efforts to save it. The old man uses his magic ashes to restore the tree to full blossom, earning great wealth and respect. He is honored with the name Hana-Saka-Jijii for his miraculous ability. The wicked neighbor hears of this success and tries to impersonate the old man to gain favor. He sprinkles ordinary fireplace ashes on a dead tree but fails completely and angers the Daimio. As punishment for his deceit, the cruel neighbor is imprisoned for life. Meanwhile, the good old man lives out his days in prosperity and joy among his friends.
