The Mouse's Wedding

In a prosperous rice storehouse in the heart of a bustling village, where sacks of grain rose like golden mountains and the air was always sweet with the scent of harvest bounty, there lived the most successful mouse family in all of Japan. Their home was a elaborate network of tunnels and chambers carved cleverly between the walls and under the floorboards, furnished with the finest materials a mouse family could obtain.

The patriarch of this mouse family was Nezumi no Chichi-san, a proud and ambitious mouse who had built his family’s fortune through years of careful planning and hard work. He was sleek and well-fed, with whiskers that twitched with authority and bright eyes that never missed an opportunity to improve his family’s status.

His wife, Nezumi no Haha-san, was a gentle and wise mouse who supported her husband’s ambitions while secretly worrying that his pride might one day cause problems for their family. She was content with their comfortable life and wished her husband could learn to be satisfied with what they had achieved.

But the true treasure of the mouse family was their daughter, Nezumi no Musume-chan, who was widely acknowledged to be the most beautiful and accomplished young mouse in the entire region. She had fur as soft as silk, eyes that sparkled like dewdrops in morning sunlight, and a graceful manner that charmed everyone who met her.

Nezumi no Musume-chan was not only beautiful but also intelligent, kind-hearted, and skilled in all the arts that were considered proper for a young lady mouse. She could weave the finest baskets from rice straw, could prepare delicious meals from seeds and grains, and could sing songs so sweetly that even the cats would pause to listen (though they would never admit it).

As Nezumi no Musume-chan approached marrying age, suitors began to appear regularly at their door. Young mice from all over the region came to court her, each hoping to win her hand and join their prosperous family. They brought gifts of choice seeds, rare nuts, and beautifully crafted mouse-sized furniture to demonstrate their worthiness.

But Nezumi no Chichi-san was not impressed by any of these ordinary suitors. In his mind, his daughter was so exceptional that she deserved a husband who was equally extraordinary—or better yet, someone truly powerful who could elevate their family’s status even higher.

“My daughter is the most beautiful and talented mouse in all of Japan,” he would declare to anyone who would listen. “She cannot possibly marry just any ordinary mouse. She deserves a husband who possesses the greatest power in the world!”

Nezumi no Musume-chan herself was much less concerned with power and status than her father. She had met several young mice whom she found kind and interesting, and she would have been happy to marry any one of them if they shared genuine affection and respect.

“Father,” she said one day as they sat in their main chamber sharing the evening meal, “there are many nice young mice who have asked to court me. Why must my husband be the most powerful being in the world? Wouldn’t it be better to find someone who is kind and will make me happy?”

But Nezumi no Chichi-san was firm in his conviction. “Daughter, you are far too precious to settle for an ordinary life with an ordinary mouse. I am determined to find you a husband whose power is unmatched in all the world. Only then will you have the life you deserve.”

After much consideration, Nezumi no Chichi-san decided that the most powerful being in the world must surely be the Sun itself. After all, the Sun provided light and warmth to all living things, controlled the seasons, and was essential for all life on Earth. What could be more powerful than that?

“I will go to the Sun and ask him to marry my daughter!” he announced proudly. “Surely the lord of the heavens will recognize her exceptional qualities and be honored to join our family.”

Nezumi no Haha-san and Nezumi no Musume-chan tried to dissuade him from this outlandish plan, but Nezumi no Chichi-san’s mind was made up. The next morning, he set out on his journey to find the Sun and propose this extraordinary marriage.

After traveling for many days, climbing the highest mountains he could find to get as close to the sky as possible, Nezumi no Chichi-san finally called out to the Sun in his loudest voice:

“Great and mighty Sun! I am Nezumi no Chichi-san, father of the most beautiful mouse in all of Japan! I have come to ask if you would honor our family by marrying my exceptional daughter!”

To his amazement, the Sun actually answered him, speaking in a voice like warm golden light made audible:

“I am indeed honored by your proposal, Nezumi no Chichi-san, and I’m sure your daughter is as lovely as you claim. However, I must confess that I am not actually the most powerful being in the world. There is someone far stronger than I am.”

Nezumi no Chichi-san was shocked. “Someone more powerful than the Sun? That’s impossible! Who could be stronger than the lord of the heavens?”

“The Cloud,” the Sun replied with what sounded like rueful amusement. “Whenever Cloud decides to cover me, my light disappears and my warmth is blocked. No matter how brightly I try to shine, I cannot overcome Cloud’s power when he chooses to oppose me. If you truly seek the most powerful husband for your daughter, you should ask Cloud instead.”

Somewhat disappointed but still determined, Nezumi no Chichi-san set off to find Cloud. He had to travel even higher into the mountains, climbing until the air was thin and cold, before he finally spotted a large, imposing cloud drifting majestically across the sky.

“Mighty Cloud!” he called out. “I am seeking the most powerful being in the world as a husband for my beautiful daughter! The Sun himself has told me that you are stronger than he is! Will you consider marrying my exceptional daughter?”

Cloud’s voice rumbled like distant thunder, deep and impressive: “I am flattered by your offer, Nezumi no Chichi-san, and I’m certain your daughter must be remarkable for you to seek such extraordinary matches for her. But I must tell you honestly—I am not the most powerful being in the world either.”

“What?” Nezumi no Chichi-san exclaimed in disbelief. “If you’re stronger than the Sun, who could possibly be stronger than you?”

“Wind,” Cloud replied, his voice growing fainter as he began to drift away. “No matter how large and solid I become, when Wind decides to blow, I am scattered and driven helplessly across the sky. I cannot resist Wind’s power any more than Sun can resist mine. If you want the truly most powerful husband for your daughter, you must find Wind.”

Even more determined now, Nezumi no Chichi-san continued his quest, traveling to the windiest peaks and valleys he could find. Finally, standing on a mountaintop where the air howled and swirled constantly, he called out to the Wind:

“Great Wind! I have been told that you are the most powerful force in all the world! I seek a husband worthy of my incomparable daughter! Will you consider joining our family through marriage?”

Wind’s voice came from all directions at once, whistling and rushing like a living hurricane: “I am honored by your persistence, Nezumi no Chichi-san, and impressed by your dedication to your daughter’s future. But I must be honest with you—even I am not the most powerful being in existence.”

By now, Nezumi no Chichi-san was becoming frustrated and confused. “This is impossible! If Wind is stronger than Cloud, and Cloud is stronger than Sun, what could possibly be stronger than Wind?”

“The Wall,” Wind replied, his voice growing and fading as he swirled around the mountain. “No matter how hard I blow, no matter how fierce my storms become, I cannot move or break a strong wall. Wall simply stands there, unmoved by all my power, and I am forced to go around him. If you truly want the most powerful husband for your daughter, Wall is the one you should approach.”

Feeling somewhat bewildered but still committed to his quest, Nezumi no Chichi-san made his way down from the mountains to the village, where he found the strongest, tallest wall he could locate—the wall of the local lord’s castle, which was built from massive stones and had stood unchanged for generations.

“Powerful Wall!” he announced, feeling somewhat foolish but pressing on. “I have learned that you are stronger than Wind, who is stronger than Cloud, who is stronger than Sun! Surely you must be the most powerful being in the world! Will you marry my beautiful daughter?”

Wall’s voice was deep and steady, like the sound of ancient stone speaking: “I am touched by your long journey and your dedication to finding the best possible husband for your daughter, Nezumi no Chichi-san. However, I must tell you something that may surprise you—I am not the most powerful being in the world either.”

Nezumi no Chichi-san felt his whiskers droop with despair. “How can this be? What could possibly be more powerful than a wall that can resist the mighty Wind?”

“A mouse,” Wall replied calmly.

“A mouse?” Nezumi no Chichi-san squeaked in astonishment. “But that’s impossible! Mice are tiny! How could a mouse be more powerful than a great wall?”

“Think about it,” Wall explained patiently. “I can stand against the strongest winds, resist the heaviest rains, and support the weight of entire buildings. But a single small mouse, working patiently day after day, can gnaw holes right through me. Mice have brought down walls far stronger than I am, simply through persistence and determination. In the end, the quiet strength of a mouse proves more powerful than all my stone and mortar.”

Nezumi no Chichi-san stood in stunned silence as the truth of Wall’s words sank in. He had traveled far and wide, seeking the most powerful being in the world for his daughter to marry, only to discover that mice themselves possessed that very power he had been seeking.

Feeling both humbled and enlightened, he began the long journey home, thinking deeply about what he had learned. By the time he reached his family’s comfortable home in the rice storehouse, his perspective on power and worthiness had completely changed.

“My dear family,” he announced as he gathered his wife and daughter together, “I have learned something very important during my journey. I went seeking the most powerful being in the world, and I discovered that the greatest power lies not in size or obvious strength, but in persistence, determination, and the ability to achieve great things through steady effort. Mice, it turns out, possess exactly these qualities.”

He turned to his daughter with new respect and understanding. “My dear Nezumi no Musume-chan, I now realize that any mouse who wins your heart will be gaining something far more valuable than the approval of supernatural powers. You deserve a husband who appreciates you for your own wonderful qualities, not for the status he might gain by marrying you.”

Nezumi no Musume-chan was delighted by her father’s change of heart. “Does this mean I can choose my own husband from among the nice young mice who have been courting me?”

“Indeed it does,” her father replied with a warm smile. “Tell me, is there someone special you have been hoping to marry?”

As it happened, there was. Among the many suitors who had come calling, one young mouse named Nezumi no Taro-kun had particularly impressed her with his kindness, intelligence, and sense of humor. He was not the wealthiest or most obviously impressive of her suitors, but he had genuine affection for her and had always treated her with respect and consideration.

“Taro-kun is the one I would choose,” she said shyly. “He makes me laugh, he listens to my opinions, and he seems to care more about my happiness than about impressing you with his accomplishments.”

Nezumi no Chichi-san nodded approvingly. “Then let us invite Taro-kun and his family for dinner tomorrow evening, and we will discuss the marriage arrangements.”

The wedding of Nezumi no Musume-chan and Nezumi no Taro-kun became the most celebrated event in the mouse community for generations. Not because it involved supernatural powers or great wealth, but because it represented the perfect match between two mice who truly loved and respected each other.

The celebration was magnificent in its own way. The entire rice storehouse was decorated with tiny lanterns made from grain husks, streamers woven from the finest rice straw, and flowers small enough for mouse-sized arrangements. Mouse families came from miles around to witness the ceremony and join in the festivities.

During the wedding feast, Nezumi no Chichi-san stood up to address the assembled guests:

“Friends and family,” he began, his voice carrying clearly through the celebration, “I want to share with you the lesson I learned while seeking a husband for my daughter. I thought I needed to find the most powerful being in the world, but I discovered that power comes in many forms. The quiet strength of love, the persistence of daily kindness, and the determination to build a good life together—these are the powers that truly matter in a marriage.”

He raised his tiny cup of rice wine in a toast: “To my daughter and her new husband—may they find in each other all the power they need to live happily together!”

The wedding celebration lasted for three days and three nights, with music, dancing, and storytelling that became legendary in the mouse community. But more importantly, it marked the beginning of a very happy marriage.

Nezumi no Musume-chan and Nezumi no Taro-kun built a wonderful life together, combining her grace and intelligence with his steady reliability and gentle humor. They had many children who inherited the best qualities of both parents, and they became known throughout the region as an example of how perfect a marriage could be when it was based on mutual respect and genuine affection.

Years later, when their children asked about how their parents had met and married, Nezumi no Chichi-san would tell them the story of his quest to find the most powerful being in the world.

“And what did you learn, Grandfather?” the little mice would ask.

“I learned,” he would reply with a twinkle in his old eyes, “that the most powerful forces in the world are often the smallest ones—like love, kindness, and the determination to take care of those we cherish. Your grandmother was right to choose your grandfather not because he was the strongest or the richest, but because he was the kindest and most genuine.”

The story of the Mouse’s Wedding became a beloved tale throughout Japan, reminding parents that their children’s happiness mattered more than social status, and teaching young people that true strength comes not from power or wealth, but from the character and love we bring to our relationships.

And in the rice storehouse, life continued peacefully and prosperously, with multiple generations of mice learning that the greatest treasures in life are not found by seeking the most powerful or impressive partners, but by recognizing and appreciating the genuine goodness in those around us.