Summary

The Lesson of the Rich Man and the Ashtray

In a town, there lived a very wealthy merchant named Mr. Tanaka. He was dedicated to accumulating wealth and profited in every way he could imagine. His demeanor was much like that of an ashtray collecting cigarette butts, and gradually, discontent filled the space around him. It was rumored that he became more miserly as his wealth increased, looking down on those around him.

One evening, Mr. Tanaka went to the town's most splendid restaurant to enjoy an expensive dinner. He chose the finest dishes from the day's menu and regarded those around him with a cold gaze. However, after taking a bite, the chef, with a hint of sarcasm, said to him, "This is perfect for you." The chef had secretly served him subpar meals as a way to mock his obstinance. In that moment, Mr. Tanaka came to realize that his obsession with money had led to contempt from those around him.

Without reflecting on his behavior, Mr. Tanaka decided to continue his meal. Suddenly, a beggar wearing tattered clothes appeared in front of the restaurant. "Please, just a little money, if you can," he opened his mouth to ask. Mr. Tanaka stared at the beggar and replied, "It's far more important to work hard for my earnings. I won’t give any money to someone like you," and ignored him. However, the beggar smiled and left him with the words, "Those who can gather money cannot ultimately save themselves."

That night, Mr. Tanaka dreamt of the gold he collected becoming heavier and eventually crushing him. When he woke up, he could not forget the beggar's words echoing in his heart. The next day, he decided to make a significant investment and sell his own adventure goods. Yet, the image of that ashtray lingered in his mind, and he questioned himself once again: "Am I truly relying solely on this money to define my worth?"