Omusubi Kororin

Omusubi Kororin is a traditional Japanese folktale about kindness and greed. It begins with a kind old man who loved eating rice balls (omusubi). One day, while eating in the mountains, one of his rice balls slipped from his hands and rolled into a hole in the ground.

Curious, the old man followed the rice ball and discovered a hidden underground world where friendly mice welcomed him. They treated him generously, offered him food, and entertained him. Before he returned home, they gave him a precious gift as a token of gratitude for his kind nature.

When his greedy neighbor heard the story, he tried to imitate the old man. However, he behaved rudely toward the mice, hoping only for riches. Offended, the mice chased him away with nothing. The tale reminds us that generosity brings rewards, while greed leads to loss.