[1] "The Old Woman who Lost her Dumplings" was the title of the original tale by Lafcadio Hearn,[2] which Mosel had adapted.

The little old woman chases the lost dumpling and ends up in a strange place underground, lined with Jizo (guardian statues).

The Jizos warn the old woman not to go after the dumpling because of wicked oni (monsters) who live there, but she does anyway.

The old woman enjoys being busy serving them plenty of rice dumplings for dinner every day.

With the water coming back again, the old woman finishes her crossing to the other side in the boat.

She makes many rice dumplings with the magic paddle and sells them to people, and becomes "the richest woman in all of Japan."