I translated a Japanese legend into English. Welcome correction, pls. Mimi-nashi-Houichi:Houichi without his ears. This legend is associated with Akama shrine in Yamaguchi prefecture. A blind man named Houichi was living at Akamagaseki-Amida-Temple(Akama shrine of today). He was very famous as a biwa (Oriental stringed instrument) player. One night, one samurai visited and asked him to play the biwa in his house. Though Houichi couldn't see the figure because of his blindness, he liked his dignified voice. He willingly accepted the request. The samurai led him to a large hall in his house, where a whole bunch of samurais and women were sitting with their head up right on the floor. Houchi started to play the biwa for them. It was a tribute piece to the war in Dannoura. They were really impressed with the beautiful rendition. Samurais shed happy tears and women wept. The samurai said, "We were very satisfied and would like you to play this piece for 7 days and nights, and I will pick you up every night." From that day on, as Houichi started to going out at night, Other monks in the temple wondered, "Where is he out and What is he doing?" They decided to keep a lookout for him behind his room at that night. Houichi sitting on the floor made a few remarks despite nobody there and stood up to go out. They followed him. He made his way to the middle of the mountain and started to play the biwa in the graveyard. The monks there caught their breath in their throat because death candles were flitting around him who was absorbed in playing the biwa. They carried hm back to the temple as rapidly as possible and told all the details to the priest. The priest said to Houichi, " They must be ghosts killed in the war and try to take your life. You mustn't answer even though he call your name and don't move tonight" Then, the priest wrote sutras over his whole body. said, "As these sutras will make you invisible, you are safe now" That night, Houichi was sitting in his room as usual and heard the dignified voice calling his name, but he never answered. The voice said," Houichi, I can't hear you. I can't see you." But in the next breath, he found the ears hovering in the dark. "Anyway, I'll bring these ears" saying he ripped them off and left. The next morning, when the priest came into his room, he found Houich falling in a faint bleeding from the head where he left out sutras. Houichi appreciated that he saved his life and held a memorial service for samurai's ghosts. He has been called "Houichi without ears" since then.