The sky over Amencho Town was wrapped in a soft white, hazy with spring.
April 9th. Today is both “Great Buddha Day” and “Plasterer’s Day.”
In the town plaza , Mocchi sat with narrowed eyes, seated firmly atop stones arranged in the shape of a lotus flower. He looked, for all the world, like a real Great Buddha watching over the town.
“…Mocchi, what are you doing? You haven’t moved a single finger in an hour.”
The engineer Spice pulled out his latest laser measuring device from his coverall pocket, asking suspiciously .
“…It’s Great Buddha Day today. I figured that by staying still like this, I could bring everyone in town a sense of security. See, my build’s kind of Great-Buddha-shaped anyway.”
Mocchi narrowed his eyes further and answered quietly. But beads of sweat were already forming on his brow. Even for someone as strong as him, holding a motionless posture was quite the labor.
Recalling the “AI digital restoration ” technology he’d seen in city news, Spice projected a holographic barrier around Mocchi.
“…Then let me back you up with this ‘plaster wall for the heart.’ Today is also Plasterer’s Day. Like applying plaster, I’ll digitally smooth the air around you and block out distracting thoughts.”
“Ooh… it’s getting cooler somehow. I could probably stay a Great Buddha for another three hours like this.”
Watching the two of them from beneath the weeping cherry tree, Sonchō chuckled, “Feh-feh.”
“Mocchi, holding a Great Buddha pose is all well and good, but if you stiffen up too much, you’ll need needles put in you afterward. Today’s also Acupuncture Day, you know.”
Sonchō, as if demonstrating the Eastern wisdom he’d picked up in his adventuring days, made a poking gesture toward the sky with his fingertip.
“Starting from form is important, but the true essence of a Great Buddha lies in compassion . That strength of yours, willing to carry someone else’s burden in their place — that’s the real eye-opening ceremony this town needed.”
Just then, the wind blew, and a cherry blossom petal landed on the tip of Mocchi’s nose.
Unable to bear the tickle, Mocchi finally let out a huge “Ha— Ha-CHOO!” and tumbled off the stones.
“…Ow, ow, ow. Guess I really am better suited to moving around and helping people than just sitting still.”
Covered in mud, Mocchi was helped up by Spice, who chuckled wryly .
“…Measurement complete. An unmoving Mocchi isn’t bad, but the muddy, laughing you scores ‘healthier’ on the data too.”
Amencho Town’s “Great Buddha Day” was slathered warm, like plaster, with a solid sense of security, the skills of friends supporting one another, and a little bit of laughter.
【Today’s Motif: April 9, 2026】
- Great Buddha Day: On this day in 752, the eye-opening ceremony for the Great Buddha of Nara was held. Mocchi’s unmoving pose.
- Plasterer’s Day (4/9): A pun on “shi (4) kui (9),” meaning plaster. Spice’s spatial restoration.
- Acupuncture Day (4/9): A pun on “shin (4) kyū (9),” meaning acupuncture and moxibustion. Sonchō’s health advice.
This is an English translation of “どっしり大仏と、心の塗り壁”, part of Tales of Amencho Town (蛙鳴町奇譚).