The Old Man with the Lump

In the world of Japanese folktales, few stories carry a moral as sharp and memorable as “The Old Man with the Lump.” This tale, passed down for generations, blends magical realism with human emotion — teaching valuable lessons about humility, jealousy, and the power of joy. Here's a retelling crafted for modern American readers.

The Kind Old Man and the Dancing Demons

Long ago in a peaceful mountain village in Japan, there lived two elderly men who were neighbors. Both had a noticeable lump on one cheek. One day, one of the men went deep into the forest to gather firewood and ended up staying later than expected.

As night fell, he heard the rhythmic beat of drums and cheerful singing echoing through the woods. Curious, he followed the sound and discovered a group of oni (Japanese forest demons) dancing and celebrating around a fire. At first frightened, he hid in the bushes. But the music was so uplifting that he eventually joined in, dancing with such enthusiasm and skill that the demons were delighted.

They clapped joyfully and exclaimed,
“You’re an amazing dancer! Come back tomorrow night!”
To ensure he would return, the demons took the lump from his cheek and said,
“We’ll hold on to this until you come back.”
Surprised and overjoyed, the old man returned home with his lump gone and his spirits high.

The Jealous Neighbor’s Mistake

When the second old man saw his neighbor had lost the lump, he was immediately envious. After hearing the story, he decided to try his luck the next evening.

That night, he went into the forest and found the same group of dancing demons. Believing he was the same joyful dancer from before, the demons cheered and asked him to dance again. But this old man was stiff, nervous, and full of fear. His performance was awkward and joyless.

Disappointed, the demons said,
“You’ve lost your spark. Fine—take this back!”
They threw the original lump back at him, but instead of attaching it to the same cheek, they stuck it to the other side of his face. Now, he had two lumps, a permanent reminder of his jealousy and greed.

Moral of the Story

"The Old Man with the Lump" is more than just a whimsical fairy tale — it's a timeless lesson about gratitude, joy, and the dangers of envy. True rewards often come to those who act with sincerity and heart, not those who chase after others’ blessings out of jealousy.