The giant left behind
a mountain of earth
Even a giant who could build mountains
had a day when he shed tears.
A mountain’s name can hold a story passed down through generations. Hitomokko Hill is one such story from Haruna. It tells of two giants, the mountains they built, and what remained after their contest.
Two giants build mountains
Long ago, two giants loved building mountains. One lived in Haruna, the other in Suruga.
One day, they met in Musashi Province. Each wanted to outdo the other, and they began a mountain-building contest.
The giant from Haruna built Mount Haruna. But he left one last load of earth in his mokko carrying basket. He thought the mountain was already large enough.
Yet the mountain built by the giant from Suruga was taller and more beautiful than his own.
That mountain, the story says, was Mount Fuji.
Leftover earth and fallen tears
Having lost the contest, the giant from Haruna began to cry.
His tears became Suribachi Pond, and the single load of earth he had left behind became Hitomokko Hill. That is how the story ends.
To the giant, it was just one last load of earth. To us, it was a whole hill. Everything in this tale unfolds on a grand scale.
Even someone strong enough to build mountains could feel the sting of defeat. Imagining his tears makes this giant feel a little more human.
Seeing the landscape through a story
Could that hill be the earth the giant left behind?
Once you know a local tale, even a familiar mountain can stir your imagination. Looking beyond its height and shape to the story held in its name is another way to get to know a place.
When you visit Haruna, look across the mountains. What landscape might have inspired this story long ago? A quiet moment of wondering can become part of your own memories of the trip.
I first heard this story in elementary school, on the TV series Manga Nihon Mukashibanashi. I was moved to see the Haruna mountains I knew become part of a story. I still remember how much more I came to love that familiar skyline.