The haniwa that appeared in place of a genie when Yoshio Yoshida, a primary schooler, rubbed a curry boat. Mischievous, egotistical, and above all, weird, he first appeared in the *Gakkou no Kaidan* (学校の怪談, lit. “Ghost Stories at School”) series of children's books.

On the last day of summer vacation, Yoshio Yoshida – a primary schooler – feels the weight of all his uncompleted homework, and rubs what he believes to be a magic lamp in order to wish it away. But lo and behold: rather than a lamp, it's a vessel made for curry, and rubbing it brings forth not a genie… but a mischievous haniwa by the name of Hanitarou! Yoshio is about to have bigger problems than homework, now that he lives with a selfish, sapient 6th-century clay statue. 
 
Hanitarou was originally a character in the children's book series *Gakkou no Kaidan* (学校の怪談, lit. “Ghost Stories at School”, but proved popular enough to receive his own manga series. 
 
The volumes are as following:
<ul>
<li>Volume 1: Hanitarou desu. (ハニ太郎です。, lit. “It's Hanitarou.”)</li>
<li>Volume 2: Yappari Hanitarou desu. (やっぱりハニ太郎です。, lit. “Yep, It's Hanitarou.”)</li>
<li>Volume 3: Sanbanme no Hanitarou desu. (3ばんめのハニ太郎です。, lit. “It's the Third Hanitarou.”)</li>
<li>Volume 4: Datte, Hanitarou desu. (だって〜ハニ太郎です。, lit. “I Told You, It's Hanitarou.”)</li>
<li>Volume 5: Korya Mata Hanitarou desu. (こりゃまたハニ太郎です。, lit. “It Sure Is Hanitarou Again.”)</li>
<li>Volume 6: Upupupu, Hanitarou desu. (うぷぷぷハニ太郎です。, lit. “Upupupu, It's Hanitarou.”)</li>
<li>Volume 7: Nanabanme no Hanitarou desu. (7ばんめのハニ太郎です。, lit. “It's the Seventh Hanitarou.”)</li>
<li>Volume 8: Curry-Aji no Hanitarou desu. (カレー味のハニ太郎です。, lit. “It's Curry-Flavored Hanitarou.”)</li>
<li>Volume 9: Irasshaimase, Hanitarou desu. (いらっしゃいませハニ太郎です。, lit. “Welcome! It's Hanitarou.”)</li>
<li>Volume 10: Jukko-Iri Hanitarou desu. (10コ入りハニ太郎です。, lit. “It's 10 Hanitarous in a Pack.”)</li>
<li>Volume 11: Boyoyon, Hanitarou desu. (ぼよよんハニ太郎です。, lit. “Boioioing, It's Hanitarou.”)</li>
<li>Volume 12: Maa Ii Jan, Hanitarou desu. (まぁいいじゃんハニ太郎です。, lit. “Oh, It's Not Too Bad, Is It? It's Hanitarou.”)</li>
<li>Volume 13: Nan no Koccha, Hanitarou desu. (なんのこっちゃハニ太郎です。, lit. “What in the World? It's Hanitarou.”)</li>
<li>Volume 14: Jinrui Metsubou made Hanitarou desu. (人類滅亡までハニ太郎です。, lit. “It'll Be Hanitarou till the Extinction of Humanity.”)</li>
</ul>

Yoshio found Hani Taro, a clay figure that appeared from the sauceboat (receptacle for curry). Hani Taro was fond of mischief but everyone is always angry with Yoshio instead.