Pathway to Japanese Literature

Discover Japan's stories—across time, across language.

Mr. Wataro and the CowAuthor: Niimi Nankichi

Original Title	和太郎さんと牛
Author	新美南吉
Genre	Children's Literature
Author Type	Male Author
Summary	In a quiet Japanese village, an ox driver named Wataro is mocked for clinging to his frail, aging cow. Though bony and weak, the creature possesses an uncanny loyalty: when Wataro’s fondness for sake leaves him stumbling drunk, the cow reliably navigates moonlit roads to bring him safely home. Their bond deepens through shared misadventures, including a fateful night when both indulge in spilled sake lees, blurring the lines between caretaker and companion. Wataro’s life is marked by loneliness—his wife abandoned him years ago, repulsed by his mother’s disfigured eye—yet he yearns for family. A surreal twist arrives when a mysterious child appears on his cart after a drunken escapade, sparking village gossip about divine intervention or fox trickery. Wataro embraces the boy as a gift, defying skeptics who demand logic. This tender, whimsical tale weaves human flaws with quiet magic, exploring how unexpected bonds and second chances emerge from life’s imperfections.