The plaza of Amencho Town was wrapped in a sweet fragrance from the morning.
April 8th. Today is “Hanamatsuri.” In the center of the plaza stood a small shrine decorated with colorful flowers — a “hanamidō” — housing a small Buddha statue with one finger pointing to the sky, one to the earth.
“…Alright. This should move even the Dragon God and Buddha with my devotion , and make them explode my luck with the girls.”
Kopo was ladling sweet hydrangea tea over the Buddha statue, offering a prayer loaded with ulterior motives. But behind him, the engineer Spice appeared, rolling a giant tire.
“Kopo, before you count on the gods, check what’s under your feet. Today is Tire Day. Spring outing season — poor maintenance can be fatal .”
Spice pulled a tire gauge from his coverall pocket and began inspecting every vehicle in town, one by one (though “vehicle” here meant handcarts, old bicycles, and Peshan’s custom-built cart).
“Spice, forget about Tire Day, drink this hydrangea tea. Legend says when Buddha was born, nine dragons poured sweet dew from the heavens. This town’s Dragon God probably enjoys it too, you know.”
“…Dragons, huh. Indeed, this lake’s guardian is said to have once made sweet rain fall as well.”
Just as Spice, uncharacteristically , gave a nod of agreement, a proud “Woof!” rang out from the plaza entrance.
What appeared was a Shiba Inu, brought along by a visitor from the city.
Today is also “Shiba Inu Day.” The dog, with intelligent eyes, looked at the flower shrine and sat down neatly right in front of the Buddha statue.
“Aww, how cute…! It’s like a gatekeeper protecting the Buddha.”
Passing by, Bipiku’s eyes lit up. The Shiba Inu, unmoved by her admiration, simply sat in composed , dignified silence.
“Hmph… That Shiba Inu’s pose is flawless . Should my own signature pose incorporate that ‘silent loyalty ’?”
Tacchi, treating the Shiba Inu as a rival, sat down beside it — but as always, his hand couldn’t reach his head, and he froze at an awkward angle.
“Feh-feh. Everyone, today we celebrate the birth of a new life.”
Sonchō approached, handing out small cups of sweet hydrangea tea to everyone as he walked.
“Buddha said, ‘In heaven above and earth below, I alone am the honored one’ — meaning everyone is precious just as they are. Even if a tire wears down, even if a hand falls short, if you have a heart that lives straight and true like this Shiba Inu, that spot becomes the garden of Lumbini.”
Just then, the Shiba Inu suddenly nestled up against Kopo’s feet, wagging its tail.
“Huh, me?! Why me?”
“Bro, I bet that Shiba Inu saw through your clumsy -but-hardworking side. Just like the Buddha would.”
Minico laughed, and Kopo turned bright red, rubbing his nose.
High above the plaza, Hasshi circled, drawn by the scent of sweet tea.
(Sweet rain from a dragon, huh. If my throat got a taste of that hydrangea tea, maybe today my urge to eat a frog would turn into “peace” instead.)
Amencho Town’s Hanamatsuri became a gentle, sunlit spring day, blending an old legend, a new tire safety check, and the warmth of one Shiba Inu.
【Today’s Motif: April 8, 2026】
- Hanamatsuri (Kanbutsu-e): Buddha’s birthday. The custom of pouring sweet hydrangea tea, and the legend of nine dragons.
- Tire Day: April is Traffic Safety Month. The importance of Spice’s daily inspections.
- Shiba Inu Day: A pun on the date, April 8. The dignified figure of a Shiba Inu, a symbol of comfort.
- “In Heaven Above and Earth Below, I Alone Am the Honored One”: The teaching of self-affirmation and peace that Sonchō expounds.
This is an English translation of “甘茶の雨と、黄金色の守護者”, part of Tales of Amencho Town (蛙鳴町奇譚).