Pancakes for the Demon

Long ago, near a village, there lived a demon. The elders remembered that he had once been an ordinary village lad, but misfortune befell him—he took to catching and devouring raw the chickens and oxen of others. The peasants, angered by this, drove him out of the village. The demon found a cave among the coral reefs and began to live there. Years passed, and he grew completely wild, eventually turning into a true savage. He brought much sorrow to the peasants: sometimes he would kill a poor man's horse, sometimes an ox; and at times he would even attack a person. It became terrifying for the people to live in their village.

One day, the peasants gathered at the elder's house to hold a council. "How can we deal with the demon?" they wondered.

— He has terrible strength,— said the elder.— We cannot defeat him by ordinary means. We must think of some trick.

— Let's poison his food,— suggested one.— He won't notice and will die.

— No,— the elder shook his head,— that won't work. Someone would have to go into the demon's cave. And that would mean certain death. No wonder people laugh: we've thought of tying a bell around the cat's neck!

The peasants thought and thought but came up with nothing. Just as they were about to disperse, a young woman stepped forward and said:

— Let me go to the demon's cave. Perhaps he won't eat me—after all, I am his younger sister.

The people tried to dissuade her.

— Don't go there,— they said.— Your brother has become like a beast. He won't care that you're his sister—he'll tear you to pieces and eat you.

The villagers did not allow her to go to the cave. But the woman did not change her mind. She returned home, kneaded dough, and steamed rice cakes called mochi. She wrapped them in fragrant peach leaves and placed them in a large basket. She remembered that mochi had once been her brother's favorite treat. The cakes in the basket were soft and juicy, except for one—hard: the woman had hidden a piece of tile inside it, so that when her brother bit into it, he would break his tooth.

The woman waited until morning, placed the basket on her head, and set off on her journey. She walked for a long time until she finally reached the cave.

— Brother, where are you?—she called softly. A deep rumble came from within the cave, and the demon burst out—fierce with rage. His sister looked at him and nearly lost her mind from fear: her brother had become a monstrous creature—his hair and beard flowing in the wind, his eyes glowing with red fire, and what looked like two bumps or horns protruding from his forehead! The demon leaned closer to his sister and laughed:

— Ha-ha-ha! Who would have thought—you've come at last! My dear sister has decided to visit me! Well, come in, since you're here! My stomach has been growling for a long time! Can you hear it!?

— I knew you were hungry,— said the woman,— so I brought you a treat!

— I love all kinds of treats!—roared the demon.— Come in, sister, and see how I live!

He grabbed the woman's hand with a grip like an eagle's talon and dragged her into the cave. She looked around—bones were scattered everywhere: oxen, horses, and even human bones could be seen.

— Well, sister, show me what you've brought,— said the demon. The woman opened the large basket containing the mochi, took out a small pot in which she had placed a horse's liver, and handed it to the demon:

— Try it, brother, maybe you'll like it. I've prepared some old woman's entrails for you.

— You're a clever one!—laughed the demon.— I love old woman's entrails.

He grabbed the pot and quickly swallowed the horse's liver.

— Listen, brother,— said the sister,— it smells awful in here. Let's go up to the top of the cliff, admire the sea, and enjoy the mochi.

The demon agreed. They went up to the top of the cliff. They climbed up and sat on a large rock. The demon's sister looked down—her breath was taken away: the sea raged below the cliff, waves rising so high they almost reached the top!

— What are you thinking about, sister?—roared the demon.— Show me the mochi you brought!

The woman took out the mochi with the piece of tile hidden inside and handed it to her brother.

— Eat,— she said,— but be careful, the mochi is very hard. Don't break your tooth.

The demon looked at his sister intently but said nothing. He bit into the mochi and howled in pain—he had indeed broken his tooth! The demon jumped up, his eyes blazing with fury. He lunged at his sister but stumbled and fell into the raging waves below.

The peasants were freed from the evil demon. They now lived peacefully and happily.

Since then, it is said, a custom appeared in Okinawa: on the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, the very day the peasants were delivered from the demon, people prepare steamed mochi, wrap them in fragrant peach leaves, and share them with each other. They call them "demon's mochi." In this region, it is believed that these mochi protect against illness and evil spirits.

More fairy tales

• The Liver of a Living Monkey
• The Magic Pot
• Three Strong Men
• What the Birds Told About
• The Old Man and the Monster