Yoshiko Uchida (1921–1992) grew up in Berkeley, California, as a Nisei, or second-generation Japanese American. She often wrote about the experience of Asian Americans, sometimes exposing the prejudice Americans have showed Asians. Prejudice and misunderstanding between cultures bothered Uchida. She wrote, "With so much in all of us that is alike, it is a pity people the world over have continued to find so much in each other that is different and strange."

Uchida became interested in retelling folk tales because she believed that "the universal qualities of the folk tale can bring the children of the world closer together," and that "a further sharing of common ideas and hopes will eventually bring them closer together as adults." She published several collections of Japanese folk tales. This story is from a collection entitled The Magic Listening Cap.