The story of the date palm and the woodcutter is one of the world’s wonderful children’s stories, collected and composed by Toshio Ozawa. The story of the date palm and the woodcutter is a tale from old Japanese legends, or more precisely, it’s Japanese myths from ancient times that are taught to Japanese children until the end of the elementary stage. The story is told as follows:
Master Kichiumo and cutting wood logs: One day, Master Kichiumo was cutting a log of wood under a date palm tree behind his house. When he struck with his axe, the ground shook and a very ripe date palm fruit fell on his head.
A wood chip flew and hit the head: He mistakenly thought that a wood chip flew and hit his head, so he fell to the ground paralyzed, holding his head with both hands, saying: Oh, my head! Oh, my head! Oh, my head! Oh, my head! Bring the doctor! Bring the doctor! Bring the doctor!
Treating the date palm: His wife was alarmed and ran to him, saying: What’s wrong with you! What’s wrong with you! What’s wrong with you! You’re not hurt. Only a very ripe date palm fruit fell on you. When Master Kichiumo heard this, he stood up saying: I know, I know, I know. No pain and nothing from this, not even an itch.
The stubbornness of cutting wood logs and blood flowing: Then he dusted himself off and started cutting wood logs again under the date palm tree. But this time, a wood chip flew and hit his head indeed, and his blood started flowing.
But he won’t cut from the same direction twice: But this time, he didn’t pay any attention, but looked at the date palm tree with anger and resentment, saying: You’re making fun of me, oh date palm fruits! I won’t cut from the same direction twice!
Master Kichiumo’s wife treating her husband’s head: When Master Kichiumo returned home again and told his wife what had happened, but this time, she looked at him with amazement and surprise. For his head was indeed swollen from the date palm fruit falling on his head. So his wife said to him kindly: I will treat your head, and I will heal it! And that’s how the tale is told, and that’s how it ended.