A poor young man sees his mother wed the cruel ruler of their state, and he sets out to win her back. An old man descends from heaven and grants him three wishes. The story also tells of the youth coming into wealth after uncovering hidden treasure, then squandering all of it on a lavish life. This one-episode fantasy drama from 1981 retells a traditional Chinese folk tale, working from the version written by Ryuunosuke Akutagawa, the celebrated short story author whose name Japan's top literary prize carries.