Fox Mound

Once upon a time in Ushida, there lived a man called Hichitaro, who was compassionate and honest. Hichitaro had a son called Hichimatsu.

It was when Hichimatsu just turned 6 years old. Hichitaro took Hichimatsu to the rice field in Tenpaku of Raikoji Temple. Hichimatsu loved animals, so he went over to see a fox and played with it. He ate the lunch that he brought along with the fox, while his father was working.

Hichimatsu cherished the fox who was always delighted to see him, and started to bring such items as deep-fried tofu for the fox. The fox did not have any children, so she cherished Hichimatsu like her own child and played with him.

One day, Hichitaro worked until the sun went down and forgot to take his own son Hichimatsu back with him, returning home alone. Only when the mother asked, “I don’t see Hichimatsu. What happened to him?” did he realized that he had forgotten to bring back his son. While all of the family members were worried about him, the fox brought Hichimatsu safely back home. It was just like a mother bringing back her own son. Whenever the fox became ill, Hichimatsu went to see her to take care of the fox in every way. While Hichimatsu became ill, the fox came to take care of him.

Thus, for several years, they exchanged the love of a mother and son. However, one day, the fox died. The disappointment of Hichimatsu was so deep that it was painful for everyone to see him in such deep distress. Hichimatsu’s family went to the cave of the fox and built a mound to bury the fox cordially. This is the Fox Mound in Tenpaku.

The end.