In the city of Kusatsu, Shiga Prefecture, Japan, there’s an unassuming octopus ball stand close to a local kindergarten. The stand’s entire setup, from tools to ingredients, is housed in a simple van, leading some to wonder if it’s one of those fly-by-night vendors ready to pack up at the first sight of police. Even more concerning is the vendor himself, a middle-aged man who looks rather stern. Despite his stand being conveniently located between an elementary school and a kindergarten, children would often quicken their pace, too afraid to even consider buying anything.
That was until one day when the media uncovered the vendor’s “hidden intention.” This man, named Akio Mizuno, had a unique approach: His octopus balls were only sold to children, and the younger the child, the cheaper the price. High school students paid 100 yen (about US$0.70), middle school students paid 50 yen (about US$0.35), and elementary school students paid just 10 yen (about US$0.07). To put this into perspective, a typical serving of eight octopus balls in Japan costs around 800 yen (about US$5.60), making Mizuno’s 10 yen price tag almost like giving them away for free.
Understandably, upon hearing their children request 10 yen to buy octopus balls, many parents suspected some sort of scam. But when they rushed over to confront the vendor, they were met with a touching sight: every child would place their money in a box labeled “Fist Box,” making sure to slip the coins quietly inside. The bottom of the box was lined with thick towels to muffle any sound, and for younger children who might struggle to understand, Mizuno had even added gentle hiragana annotations.
Getting free octopus balls
The beauty of this system was that if a child from a less fortunate background was hungry but had no money, they could simply make a fist and receive a free serving of octopus balls without anyone being the wiser. This game-like approach protected the children’s dignity while filling their stomachs with warm, freshly made octopus balls — a gesture filled with Mizuno’s kindness.
From that day on, no one doubted the vendor’s intentions. Though he might have looked stern, it became clear that Mizuno was a warm-hearted angel in disguise. Children began to adore him, affectionately calling him “Fist Uncle.” However, this mysterious octopus ball stand only appeared on Thursdays from 3:30 to 5:30 in the afternoon because Mizuno’s main job was not selling octopus balls, but serving as the manager of the Ritto City Roadside Station.
The early loss of Mizuno Akio’s father marred his childhood. His mother, a housewife, was forced to take on odd jobs to make ends meet, and together, they led a life marked by hunger and hardship. As a small child, Mizuno often watched his classmates enjoy their octopus balls, the fragrant bonito flakes crackling with happiness in their mouths. Meanwhile, his empty pockets meant he could only retreat to a corner, nibbling on a dry rice ball.
Back then, Mizuno would dream of being able to buy octopus balls for just 10 yen — how wonderful that would be! As an adult, he significantly improved his life and that of his mother through hard work. Yet, whenever he saw children wistfully gazing at the food stalls, unable to afford anything, it would pierce his heart as if he were seeing his younger self.
One day, Mizuno learned about a “children’s cafeteria” where kids from poor families could eat for free. Deeply moved, he thought that if he could create something similar, it would provide comfort to children in difficult situations. With that thought in mind, he rented a van, obtained a food hygiene permit, and set up his loving octopus ball stand.
At first, few children visited, but those who did were so delighted that they couldn’t wait to share the “secret” with their friends. Before long, Mizuno had a steady stream of young customers.
He set two simple rules for the children: first, if they wanted to eat on the way home from school, they had to tell their parents; and second, although “Fist Uncle’s” octopus balls weren’t for sale to adults, the kids were welcome to share them with any adults they loved. This way, many parents also got to taste these heartwarming octopus balls. A small snack taught the children a lesson in gratitude.
Mizuno is like an unsung hero, using his modest means to help feed the hungry children around him. Knowing that people like him exist makes the world feel a little gentler.
Translated by Katy Liu
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