Shusuke Ohara
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Kokeshi by Kikuchi Shukou |
Here is a nice Souvenir Kokeshi, |
Shosuke Ohara is a character of folklore who loved to drink sake and wasted all his fortune and wealth. While this may sound like the typical story of a drunkard spending all his money on debauchery. It is far from that type of story. You see despite Shosuke’s outward appearance of his wastrel ways; he is an unpretentious kind hearted good guy.
His wealth and fortune were not wasted away in good sake, well maybe a portion of it, but rather helping those who came to him for assistance. You see Shosuke could not say no to helping people in need and if he could be of any help, he was present and ready to give all he had be it money, time or for example, providing well needed training to entrepreneurial women in need of income. His acts of kindness are as well-known as his love for sake.
There are several moral messages from his story that can be summed up to indulging in any of these 3 activities can lead to financial ruin and failure (1) Over Drinking (2) over sleeping and (3) too much bathing. I don’t know about you but I certain am guilty of one or more of these activities (clearing my throat a little). The one good thing to keep from his story is his kind and giving nature, his willingness to help at all cost and above all odds even if in the end those he helps make him feel obsolete. Kindness is given with no expected reward.
If you’d like to learn more about this somewhat comic tale a 1949 movie was filmed by Director, Hiroshi Shimizu: Movie. Summary of the film with photos Summary.
Shusuke Ohara