Bunbuku Chagama (The Lucky Teapot)

Once upon a time, there was a poor old man who lived alone in a small village. One day, while walking in the forest, he found a beautiful teapot lying on the ground. He took it home, thinking it might be valuable.

That evening, he placed the teapot over the fire to make tea. Suddenly, the teapot began to move and make strange noises. To his astonishment, the teapot transformed into a tanuki (a magical raccoon dog). The tanuki explained that it had been trapped in the form of a teapot, and the old man’s kindness had freed it.

Grateful for being saved, the tanuki offered to help the old man. It could transform back into a teapot at will and suggested that the old man use this ability to earn money. The old man agreed, and they came up with a plan.

The next day, the old man went to the village and told everyone about his amazing “dancing teapot.” People were curious and paid to see the teapot’s performance. The tanuki transformed into the teapot and danced around, much to the delight of the audience. The old man quickly became famous and earned a lot of money.

With the money he earned, the old man was able to live comfortably and happily. He and the tanuki became good friends and continued to perform together, bringing joy to many people.

This story teaches us about kindness, gratitude, and how helping others can bring unexpected rewards.

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