The Ash Blossom Old Man
The Elder Who Blooms Flowers from Ash
Flowers on a withered tree. …Flowers born only to fall.
By Katsuki Mitsumori
Profile
The kindly old man of the gentle folktale who scattered his beloved dog's ashes and made a dead tree burst into bloom. But every flower he coaxes out is a fleeting one, fated to scatter. He knows all too well the injustice of "doing good and getting nothing back," and quietly sprinkles ash around people whose hard work keeps going nowhere, as if to comfort them. The blossoms are lovely—but by the next morning, they've fallen.
Relationships with other curses
Through the blossom connection, he also bears the curse of the greedy old man who copied the good Hanasaka. He trades stories of "unrewarded effort" with the one-eared painter The One-Eared Painter.
How to deal with this curse
The Ash Blossom Old Man embodies the everyday frustration of "folk tales." Bottled-up feelings only grow heavier. The moment you feel it, give it a name and write it out — that is the quickest way to make it lighter. Noroi Nikki is a completely private place to do exactly that.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Q.What is The Ash Blossom Old Man?
The Ash Blossom Old Man is a R-rarity yokai in the "Noroppi Zukan" of the emotional journaling app Noroi Nikki, in the "Folk tales" category, also known as "The Elder Who Blooms Flowers from Ash." The kindly old man of the gentle folktale who scattered his beloved dog's ashes and made a dead tree burst into bloom. But every flower he coaxes out is a fleeting one, fated to scatter. He knows all too well the injustice of "doing good and getting nothing back," and quietly sprinkles ash around people whose hard work keeps going nowhere, as if to comfort them. The blossoms are lovely—but by the next morning, they've fallen.
Q.How do you deal with The Ash Blossom Old Man?
When you feel the kind of frustration The Ash Blossom Old Man represents, it helps to name that feeling and write it out. With Noroi Nikki you can vent it privately and quietly let it go.
About the author
Katsuki Mitsumori三森 捷暉
CEO, SURISUTA K.K. / Operator of Doya Marke AI
Runs Doya Marke AI, a suite of practical AI services spanning content, ads, sales and HR, and hosts the YouTube channel 'SaaS wa Shinimasshen.' Creator and developer of Noroi Nikki, an app for writing out and letting go of emotions.
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