Sundown on Sunday

Summary

Circle Round – Episode Summary: "Sundown on Sunday"
Podcast: Circle Round
Host: Rebecca Sheir | Date: September 16, 2025

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Episode Overview

This episode, “Sundown on Sunday,” retells a Japanese folktale centering on Meeka, a determined and creative farmer facing obstacles when her crops mysteriously fail. The story explores important themes such as persistence, creative problem-solving, and the value of community—all through Circle Round’s signature sound-rich, radio play style. The episode features Charlotte Takahashi Chung, and ends with a family-friendly creative activity.

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Key Discussion Points and Story Breakdown

1. Introducing Persistence and Perseverance (00:00–02:48)

• Host Rebecca Sheir introduces a Japanese proverb: “Fall down seven times, stand up eight,” framing the episode’s core message.
• The focus is on overcoming setbacks and persisting through adversity.

2. Meeka’s Dilemma: Failed Crops (02:48–04:04)

• Meeka, a farmer from a long family line of farmers, faces a year where nothing will grow:

  “I am at the end of my rope and the bottom of my piggy bank with no crops... What should I do?” – Meeka (02:48)

• She decides to seek help from Aunt Midori, her successful (but distant) banker aunt.

3. Aunt Midori’s Challenge (04:04–07:38)

• Meeka visits Aunt Midori, who is wealthy but dismissive of her farming roots.
• Meeka asks to borrow land; Midori, motivated by greed, offers a tricky deal instead:

  “You must have the plot ready for planting by sundown on Sunday.” – Aunt Midori (07:08)

• The catch: It’s already Saturday.

4. The Impossible Task (07:38–09:25)

• The plot of land is in terrible condition, filled with lumps and clumps—“like the surface of the moon.”
• Meeka realizes she can’t do it alone and starts thinking creatively:

  "Maybe I won’t have to smooth out the plot on my own... Maybe I can find a helping hand. Or, more accurately, a helping [foot]." – Meeka (09:03)

5. A Clever Solution: Rallying the Crowd (11:37–12:44)

• At the market, Meeka invites everyone:

  “You are hereby invited to come to the banker’s house tomorrow and watch me climb to the clouds on this wooden pole.” – Meeka (11:37)

• Onlookers are amused and intrigued, questioning her:

  “You’re going to climb to the clouds?” – Market Goer/Aunt Midori (12:09) “Go ahead, laugh if you want to. I don’t mind... I’m going to climb to the clouds, and you’re all invited to come and watch me.” – Meeka (12:26)

6. Persistence in Action: Attempt After Attempt (12:52–14:34)

• Hundreds gather to watch. Meeka sets up the pole and tries to climb—she repeatedly falls.
• She moves from spot to spot, re-enacting the attempt, always failing but undeterred:

  “Not to worry, friends... It seems I was trying to climb to the clouds in the wrong spot. Let’s go to a different part of this field and I’ll try again.” – Meeka (13:33)

• The crowd continues to trample the plot as they follow her all day.

7. The Reveal: The Unexpected Secret (15:05–16:14)

• As dusk falls, Aunt Midori points out Meeka’s failure. But Meeka insists she’s succeeded:

  “I did succeed in smoothing out the land. See for yourself.” – Meeka (15:55)

• Revealing the now-smooth field, Midori is stunned:

  “Holy smokes. It can’t be.” – Aunt Midori (16:10)

• The crowd’s footsteps, following Meeka’s ‘failed’ climbs, have flattened the field, solving her problem.

8. Resolution and Moral (16:26–16:44)

• Meeka plants her crops and finds contentment:

  “The hardworking farm... was happy, content, so blissful and joyful. It’s like she was walking on a cloud.” – Rebecca Sheir (16:44)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Perseverance Message:
  “Fall down seven times, stand up eight.” – Rebecca Sheir (00:00)
• Meeka’s Hope:
  “I’m a hard worker. Maybe I will be able to get it ready by sundown... Oh, no.” – Meeka (07:47)
• Community Creativity:
  “I have a special invitation... Watch me climb to the clouds on this wooden pole.” – Meeka (11:37)
• Moral Reveal:
  “As they walked around, their hundreds and hundreds of tromping, tramping feet flattened the land, leaving it smooth and ready for planting.” – Rebecca Sheir (16:26)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Introduction and Theme: 00:00–02:48
• Meeka’s Problem & Seeking Help: 02:48–04:04
• Aunt Midori’s Greedy Challenge: 04:04–07:38
• Meeka Sees the Challenge: 07:38–09:25
• The Clever Invitation: 11:37–12:44
• Slapstick Climbing Attempts: 12:52–14:34
• Resolution & Field Transformation: 15:05–16:44
• Activity Prompt for Kids: 16:44 onward

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Tone and Language

• Warm, encouraging, and a little mischievous; the episode uses friendly, conversational language with lots of character voice-acting.
• Meeka’s resilience and optimism shine throughout, even in the face of skepticism and Aunt Midori’s condescension.
• The story’s humor comes from Meeka’s creative antics and the slowly dawning realization of her clever solution.

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Post-Story Activity (16:44+)

Rebecca Sheir invites listeners to imagine and draw their own world above the clouds, sparking creativity and dialogue between kids and adults.

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Summary:
“Sundown on Sunday” celebrates ingenuity, perseverance, and the collective power of community—combining these values with gentle humor for listeners of all ages. The memorable twist comes from Meeka’s ability to turn an impossible task into success, not by direct force but by rallying curiosity and cooperation. As always, Circle Round closes with an imaginative prompt, inviting the entire family to take part in the story’s spirit.

Transcript

[Rebecca Shear]

Hi, Rebecca Shear here inviting you to Circle Round with us live. Circle Round is hitting the road this fall with live episode recordings in Parker, Colorado, Boston, Massachusetts, and Charlotte, North Carolina. Get your tickets at WBUR.org CircleRound we're announcing more tour stops soon. Join the Circle Round Club and you'll be first in line for tickets. Club members are also invited to a special meet and greet with me and Eric Shimonis after each show. Visit WBUR.org CircleRound now. WBUR podcasts BOSTON an old Japanese proverb says, fall down seven times, stand up eight. In other words, when you face challenges or setbacks, when you fall down, remember your ability to keep going and keep trying, to persist and persevere. We're about to meet a farmer who does just that. And even though she falls down again and again, she doesn't just stand up. She tries climbing to the clouds. I'm Rebecca Shear, and welcome to Circle Round, where storytime happens all the time. Today, our story is called Sundown on Sunday. It's inspired by tales from the East Asian island country of Japan. Some really great people came together to bring you our version of this folktale, including Charlotte Takahashi Chung, a Japanese Korean American actress whose TV appearances include Grace and Frankie and Shameless. You kids can check out Charlotte in the new Hulu series Wild Pack, the Netflix series Carmen Sandiego, and the Nickelodeon series Rugrats, with where she plays rugrat Kimi Watanabe. So circle around everyone for Sundown on Sunday. Mika lived on a farm in the country where she grew turnips, radishes, and cabbage on a modest plot of land. The farm had been in the family for generations. Mika's mother grew up there, as did her mother and her mother before that. Meeka was determined to keep the place going, and though it was very hard work, she was happy, content. But then one year, something happened that had never happened before. All of the crops, the turnips, the radishes, the cabbage, they all refused to grow. No matter how much Mika watered and weeded, she couldn't coax one sprout from the earth.

[Meeka]

I am at the end of my rope and the bottom of my piggy bank with no crops to fill my belly or to sell at the market. I'm never gonna get by. What should I do?

[Rebecca Shear]

Meeka mulled and mused until she came up with an idea.

[Meeka]

Aunt Midori. I'll go see Aunt Midori.

[Rebecca Shear]

Aunt Midori grew up on the farm with Meika's mother, but Midori decided very early on that the farming Lifesty. Not for her. Toiling in the fields from dawn until dusk was not her cup of tea. So she left the family business, went into banking, and struck it rich.

[Meeka]

I haven't really heard from Aunt Midori in a while, but now that she's found success as a banker, I'm sure she can help me out.

[Rebecca Shear]

Mika rifled through her closet for a dress that wasn't stained with dirt. Once she found a frock with only a handful of smudges. She laced up her boots and saddled up her horse and set off for Aunt Midori's house, a sprawling mansion surrounded by meadows and fields. Mika found Midori in her wood paneled study, hunched over a marble table and adding accounts in a ledger book.

[Meeka]

Good day, Aunt Midori.

[Rebecca Shear]

Midori looked up and smiled, but only with her mouth. Her eyes suggested she was not pleased.

[Aunt Midori]

My goodness. What a lovely surprise. It's so nice to see you, Meeka.

[Rebecca Shear]

Meeka returned her aunt's forced grin with a real one.

[Meeka]

It's nice to see you, too. It's been a long time. I'm so proud of how well you've done.

[Rebecca Shear]

Midori smiled again, only this time it was authentic and arrogant.

[Aunt Midori]

I have done well, haven't I? I've managed to make a fortune in the banking business. It's a far cry from those pathetic days working my fingers to the bone as a farmer. Which, judging from your clothing, is what you're still doing now.

[Rebecca Shear]

She cast a disdainful glance at Mika's stained dress and muddy boots. Mika shrugged.

[Meeka]

I am still working as a farmer. I'm carrying on the family tradition and. And keeping the old farm going. And that's why I'm here. Somehow, this season, I haven't been able to grow a thing. Not one turnip, radish or cabbage.

[Aunt Midori]

Oh, what a pity.

[Meeka]

Oh, I'm not asking for pity, Aunt Midori. I'm asking for land.

[Aunt Midori]

Land?

[Meeka]

Yes. Now that you've made your fortune and you live in this amazing house surrounded by all these beautiful mead and fields, I wonder, could you please lend me a plot of land? Even the tiniest one, so I can grow some crops to eat and sell?

[Rebecca Shear]

What Meeka didn't realize is that while Aunt Midori's wealth had grown since she left the family farm, her greed had grown too. And in that moment, that greed got the better of her, and she decided to play a trick on her niece.

[Aunt Midori]

Meeka, while I appreciate your earnest request, I cannot lend you a plot of land.

[Rebecca Shear]

You can't?

[Aunt Midori]

No. But I can give you one.

[Rebecca Shear]

Mika's heart fluttered.

[Meeka]

Are you serious? You can give me some land?

[Aunt Midori]

I can. Up in the northeast corner of my property, I have a rather large plot. It runs beside a country road. There's nothing on the plot but dirt, and it's a wee bit rough, but if you can get it all smoothed out and ready for planting, it's yours.

[Meeka]

Wow. Thank you, Aunt Midori. I'll get to work right away. If the plot is that big, it'll probably take me at least a week to smooth it out. Maybe two.

[Aunt Midori]

But then I can I'm sorry. Did I forget to mention you must have the plot ready for planting by sundown on Sunday.

[Meeka]

Sundown on Sunday?

[Rebecca Shear]

Meeka wrinkled her brow.

[Meeka]

But today is Saturday, which means that Sunday is tomorrow.

[Aunt Midori]

I'm a big, successful banker now, Meeka. I think I know the days of the week. But if you want this land to be yours, you must do as I say. Smooth it out by sundown tomorrow or the deal is off.

[Rebecca Shear]

Meka knew her hands were tied, so she accepted her aunt's offer, grabbed some tools, and set off for the northeast corner of the property.

[Meeka]

Maybe the land won't be all that big or that rough. I'm a hard worker. Maybe I will be able to get it ready for planting by sundown on. Oh, no.

[Rebecca Shear]

The second Meeka laid eyes on the plot, her heart plummeted to her toes.

[Meeka]

Aunt Midori said this land was a wee bit rough, but boy oh boy, that was an understatement.

[Rebecca Shear]

Indeed it was. The field was marked off by four wooden poles. The land between the poles was rutted and rugged, covered all over with clumpy, lumpy clods of dirt. It looked more like the surface of the moon than a field to be farmed.

[Meeka]

Even if I got to work right now and kept going nonstop, there's no way I could smooth out this plot by sundown on Sunday. Not on my own, anyway.

[Rebecca Shear]

Mika leaned on a wooden pole and gazed at the field. Then she gazed at the country road that ran beside it. It was unpaved and made of dir. A group of people strolled past. As Meeka watched their feet kick up great clouds of dust, it suddenly hit her.

[Meeka]

Wait a minute. Now that I think of it, maybe I won't have to smooth out the plot on my own. Maybe I can find myself a helping hand. Or, more accurately, a helping.

[Rebecca Shear]

What is Mika plotting for the untamed plot of land? We'll find out what she's up to after a quick break. The reviews are in, and super fans like you are loving The Circle Round Club. An exciting opportunity to support public radio and get cool stuff, including ad free episodes and a personalized birthday message from me.

[Circle Round Club Members]

What I like about the Circle Round Club is that Rebecca Shear sends extra messages and it supports the show and there are no ads.

[Rebecca Shear]

Grown ups support public radio and sign up [e-mail] CircleRoundClub. I'm Rebecca Scheer. Welcome back to Circle Round Today. Our story is called Sundown on Sunday. Before the break, Aunt Midori offered Mika a sneaky deal. She would give her a sizable plot of land if her niece could smooth it out and get it ready for planting by sundown tomorrow. When Mika trekked to the northeast corner of Midori's property to get some, she discovered that the plot was a mess. It was surrounded by four wooden poles, and the rough dirt between them was all lumpy, clumpy and bumpy. Aware that she could never smooth out the field in time, Meeka concocted a plan. She yanked a wooden pole out of the ground, then tucked it under her arm and set off down the road. She walked to the village marketplace, a bustling hubbub of merchants and market goers haggling over silks and spices, fruits and fabrics, lanterns and lamps. She found a spot in the very middle, then held up her pole and.

[Meeka]

Cried out, attention, please. Attention. My name is Mika, and I have a special invitation for each and every one of you. You are hereby invited to come to the banker's house tomorrow and watch me climb to the clouds on this wooden pole.

[Rebecca Shear]

Meka hoped her curious declaration would catch the market goer's attention. To her delight, it did.

[Meeka]

What was that you said, Miss?

[Aunt Midori]

You're going to climb to the clouds.

[Meeka]

On that wooden pole? Are you for real?

[Rebecca Shear]

Because if you think you can climb to the clouds on a wooden pole.

[Aunt Midori]

Then your head is in the clouds.

[Meeka]

Go ahead. Laugh if you want to. I don't mind. Because tomorrow at sunrise, on the northeast corner of the banker's property, I'm going to climb to the clouds, and you're all invited to come and watch me.

[Rebecca Shear]

Despite the ridicule, the next morning, hundreds of intrigued onlookers came flocking to the northeast corner of Midori's property.

[Meeka]

Good morning, everyone. Thank you for joining me. As promised, I shall now climb to the clouds using this wooden pole.

[Rebecca Shear]

Meeka held up the pole. Then she stuck one end into the dirt, driving it down as far as she could. Once it seemed stable, she wrapped both hands around it and began to climb.

[Meeka]

Okay, here I go. Climbing. Up to the.

[Rebecca Shear]

In no time flat, the wooden pole toppled over and Meeka tumbled to the ground.

[Meeka]

Woah.

[Rebecca Shear]

She dusted herself off, then sprang back to her feet.

[Meeka]

Not to worry, friends. Not to worry. It seems I was trying to climb to the clouds in the wrong spot. Let's go to a different part of this field and I'll try again.

[Rebecca Shear]

Meeka led the crowd to another part of the field. Once more, she planted the pole in the dirt and began to climb.

[Meeka]

All right, I'm on my way.

[Rebecca Shear]

But she soon came crashing down again.

[Meeka]

Whoa. Apparently, that wasn't the right spot either. But I'm certain it's around here somewhere. Follow me.

[Rebecca Shear]

Mika led the crowd all over the plot. But even though she tried.

[Meeka]

This time, I know I'm gonna whoa.

[Rebecca Shear]

And tried.

[Meeka]

I've got a good feeling about this.

[Rebecca Shear]

Whoa. Not once did she succeed in climbing to the clouds. The hours ticked past. The sun moved across the sky, and as the final rays of daylight gave way to the pink glow of dusk, the crowd decided they had had enough.

[Meeka]

Come on, Meeka.

[Aunt Midori]

You've tried climbing that pole in all four corners of this field and in the middle, and in all the points in between.

[Rebecca Shear]

Clearly, you're never going to climb to.

[Aunt Midori]

The clouds, so we are out of here.

[Rebecca Shear]

Mika watched as the hundreds of onlookers shook their heads, turned their backs, and trudged off down the road. Once they were gone, she raced to Aunt Midori's house. Despite the late hour, the banker was in her study, working at her marble table with the velvet curtains drawn and the lamps blazing. When she saw her niece, her expression was equal parts scowl, sneer and smirk.

[Aunt Midori]

Meeka, you're back. Let me guess. You did not succeed in smoothing out the land. It was too rough and rugged even for an experienced farmer like yourself.

[Rebecca Shear]

Actually, Meeka strolled to the window.

[Meeka]

I did succeed in smoothing out the land. See for yourself.

[Rebecca Shear]

She yanked open the velvet curtains. When Midori spied the moonlit plot of land, her eyebrows shot up and her jaw dropped down.

[Aunt Midori]

Holy smokes. It can't be.

[Rebecca Shear]

And yet it was. Because Meeka was right. The formerly ragged, rugged field was now splendidly smooth. Not a lump, bump or clump to be seen.

[Circle Round Club Members]

But.

[Rebecca Shear]

And do you know why? Well, Meeka spent all day leading a curious crowd around the field. Right. And as they walked around, their hundreds and hundreds of tromping, tramping feet flattened the land, leaving it smooth and ready for planting. And Meeka did plant. Now that the land belonged to her, she sowed the field with turnips, radishes and cabbage plus squash, sweet potatoes and leafy greens and the hard working farm. Summer was happy, content, so blissful and joyful. It's like she was walking on a cloud. Now it's your turn. Pretend you actually could climb to the clouds. What might it look like when you get there? Get a piece of paper and use your imagination to draw your world above the clouds. Would there be houses made of clouds? Cloud animals? Cloud ice cream? Let your creativity run wild. Then share your picture with someone you have fun with. And if you'd like, share it with us. Grown ups. Snap a photo of your Circle Round fan and their world above the clouds. Then email it to circleroundbur.org we may feature you in the new Circle Round newsletter. This week's episode, Sundown on Sunday, was adapted by me, Rebecca Shear. It was edited by Dean Russell. Our original music and sound design is by Eric Shimalonis. Eric's featured instrument this week was the Shakuhachi. You can learn more about this Japanese flute and see a photo of Eric playing one on our website WBUR.org Circleround Circle Round's artist is Sabina Hahn. Sabina has created black and white coloring pages for your favorite Circle Round stories and you can color them in Grown Ups. Download and print out all of our coloring [e-mail] CircleRound Special thanks to this week's actors Erica Rose, Ryan Schreim, Dawn Ursula and Japanese Korean American actress Charlotte Takahashi Chung, whom you kids may know from Netflix, Carmen Sandiego, the new Hulu series Wild Pack, and Nickelodeon's Rugrats where she plays Rugrat Kimmy Watanabe. Charlotte stars as the voice of Diva on Overwatch and has appeared in a bunch of grown up TV shows including Grace and Frankie and Shameless. Looking for more ways to Circle Round with us and to support public media at a very challenging time? Join the Circle Round Club and as thanks for your membership, we'll send you a welcome package with exclusive swag plus ad free episodes, bonus bedtime stories, presale tickets to our live events, and an invitation to meet me and Eric Shimalonis after our shows. You'll also get access to club only goodies like our Snuggly Lion Stuffy and a personalized birthday message from me. Sign up for the Circle Round Club today and show your love for public [e-mail] grown ups. If you enjoy Circle Round, please spread the word and if you have a moment, please leave us a five star rating or review on your favorite podcast app. It helps other listeners find the show so we can make the Circle Round Circle even bigger. Circle Round is a production of WBUR Boston's npr. I'm Rebecca Scheer. Thanks for circling around with us. Now that you've made it to the end of this Circle Round episode, we want to know what's your favorite Circle Round story? Thousands of fans just like you have been telling us about the Circle Round stories they like best. Take a listen. Maybe one of their favorites is one of yours too.

[Circle Round Club Members]

My name is Winnie, I live in Finland and all of the Sackawans stories are my favorite. They all are super interesting and they teach me different things. Thank you Bekashi and all the players and actors. My name is Fred and I live at Finland and Baksheer is the best. My favorite is the Bunny's Wood. My favorite part is when the bunny stole the Tiger Whisker. My name is Isla, I live in Pennsylvania. My favorite Circle Round is the Fairy Folk. I like the part when the fairies release the spell. I'm the Zoo from Los Angeles, Los, California and my favorite episode is the Lone Dragon and my favorite part is when Lynn climbs onto the dragon's back. My name is Ruby and I live in Poland. Ogan. My favorite circle and story is the Caged Bird. I like the Pole when the bird finally got out of the golden cage. My name is Felix, I live in Asheville and my favorite Circle Round story is the Crystal Story Box. My favorite part is when a Nazi brings down all of the stories back. We love Circle on stories because turns a normal car ride into a fun adventure.

[Rebecca Shear]

Did someone mention a a story you've missed? Not to worry grownups. You can find all of our Circle Round stories plus links to the Circle Round Club, picture books, coloring pages and oh so much more on our website, WBUR.org CircleRound.