This jar tells the story of Mouse’s Sumo, a Japanese folk tale.  In the story, an old man stumbles across mice engaging in sumo. He realizes that the smaller of the two mice lives in his home. Though the man and his wife are merely peasants, they commit to providing rice cakes for the mouse, who grows stronger and can better compete. The mouse eventually bests even his largest competitor. Stunned, the larger mouse asks him how he improved so quickly. The once-weak mouse replies that he has been fed rice cakes by the man and his wife.

The larger mouse explains that though he lives with a rich family, they are stingy and do not feed him well. The small mouse invites him to come share the rice cakes, so that he too can improve his sumo abilities. The man and his wife agree, taking the rice they had saved for the new year and instead feeding it to the two mice. As a reward, the mouse from the rich man’s home gives the man and wife enough gold on which to live for the rest of their lives.

The jar is from the late Edo period, and was made by a skilled potter. It has developed an excellent patina. The wear indicates this was truly a treasured piece that was passed down for generations.

Signed on bottom.

Age: 19^th/20^th century

Dimensions: 10 diameter x 10 inches height.