SCRIPT Draft

Who does what (voiceover)

Chan Woo: About Japanese Folklore + Effects of Momotaro on Japan today
Julie: Background of Momotaro + Narration
Jenny: Genre Conventions + dialogue

About Japanese Folklore

The country of JAPAN is a land rich in myths, legends, and fairy tales. The folklore of Japan
has been influenced by foreign literature around the world. Traditional folktales are called
mukashi-banashi which means tales of long ago similar to the traditional opening in
European fairytales: once upon a time.
Storytelling is found in forms of oral tradition and folk literature. Japanese folklore are
heavily influenced by the two primary religions of Japan, Shinto and Buddhism. The Shinto
religion worship spiritual beings of kami which are deities or spirits.
Japanese folklore does not contain the typical european archetypal characters such as
princesses, princes, fairy godmothers, and evil step-mothers. Instead they often feature an
assortment of supernatural beings such as ykai, which are monster-spirits such as oni,
demons, ogres, and trolls. Defeating a demon is a favourite theme in famous tales of
warrior heroes.
Originally, adults were the audience of a fairy tale just as often as children. Literary fairy
tales appeared in works intended for adults, but in the 19th and 20th centuries the fairy
tale became associated with children's literature.

About the author

Yei Theodora Ozaki was an early 20th-century translator of Japanese short stories and fairy
tales.
Her most well-known work was Japanese Fairy Tales which was published in 1908.
Background of Momotaro
The myth of Kibitsuhiko-no-mikoto and Ura dating to the edo period is said to have been
the root of the tale, Momotaro which has been passed down orally from generation to
generation in the Kibiji District. Momotaro is strongly associated with Okayama Prefecture
and is listed among the "five great fairy tales of Japan. The tale of Momotaro is

familiarized through children's storybooks, manga, videogames, and anime.

Summary 1:

Narrator: There once lived an old man and woman who longed for a child to take
care of them in their lonely, old age. One day the old man goes to the hill to cut
grass and the old woman goes to wash laundry in the river. As she washed her
clothes, a great peach came down the stream. She had never seen such a big
peach before in her life!

Convention:
Old women and Old men:
In Japanese folk tales, the old women and/or old men are a symbol of wiseness. They are
considered experienced with the knowledge they have gained over the years. They often
give advice to the main character in the tale.

Summary 2:

Narrator: The old woman tries to get the peach but it was too far, so she claps her
hands and sings...
The peach comes closer and closer until she is able to pick it up.

Summary 3:

Narrator: The old woman brings the peach back to the old man as a present. He
has also never seen a peach so big! He brings out a kitchen knife, but just as he is
about to cut the peach open the peach splits itself open and out comes a little
boy!

Dont be afraid. I am no demon or fairy. Every day and every night you have

lamented that you had no child. Your cry has been heard and I am sent to be the
son of your old age!
The old couple was overjoyed and named him Momotaro.

Peaches were considered prized gifts. Gift from heaven/god

Summary #4:

Narrator: At the age of 15, Momotaro is stronger, wiser, and more courageous
than any boy his age.
He leaves home to travel to the Northeast of Japan to vanquish the devils who
bring evil upon the land.
The old couple prepares rice cakes for his journey, and they bid sorrowful
farewells.
Momotaro starts his long and rough journey.

Motifs of Action
means of success for hero: courage and strength
Actions of the hero:: This is the typical convention of the hero going on a journey or quest.
Unlike european tales, the hero is not a prince, but usually a bosatsu: One who is
Compassionate and highest aspiration is to save all sentient beings.
Symbolism: The peach, since the old days in Japan, has been a symbol of long life and was
also believed to be effective in warding off devils/oni. It was believed to symbolize
Immortality and Anti-Demon
Momo no Sekku (Peach flower festival) is the Girls' Day festival in Japan This is one of five
seasonal festivals which are intended to eliminate misfortune and evil spirits. Peaches are
associated with this ability because it was believed that they had spirit-banishing qualities

Summary 5:

Narrator: Along the way he meets a dog, a monkey, and a pheasant. He shares
with them his rice cakes and they became companions. With Momotaro as their
leader, they travel across the sea to the island of the devils.

The tale contains Archetypal characters of talking animals. In Japan, these animals
represent something of value
The Monkey is a prominent figure in Japanese folktales. the monkey is described as a
smart, and cunning animal. it is believed that monkey statues guard against Oni
Dog : They carry a sense of duty in the things they do and have a high level of loyalty towards others.
Pheasant : national bird of japanimportant symbol of power, abundance and

promise.

Motifs of Objects
Motif of object: The rice cake is a symbol of trustworthiness, and unity. The rice cake
represents increasing power as Momotaros army became larger as he shared his rice
cake.
Token of Recognition: those who ate the rice cakes are now friends and companions
Rice cake is called kibi dango in Japan and is a specialty sweet of Okayama Prefecture.

Summary 6:

Narrator: They reach the shore where they find two maidens who are being forced
to served the demon king. Momotaro promises to rescue them, so they lead him
to the stronghold of the devils. The four fight ferociously and defeat all the devils.
The Chief of Devils knows Momotaro was too powerful and surrenders.

Archetypal characters:
Villain- devil (represents the United States during war times) overwhelmingly evil, no grey
spots
In Japanese folk tales, Demons or Ogres are known as the Japanese name 'Oni'. In the
Buddhism religion they were believed to be the guardians of Hell,
Folktales show them as dumb, sadistic brute, content only to destroy. Today in Japan they
are variously described as the spirits of the dead, of the Earth, of the ancestors, or the
vengeful, of pestilence, or of anger. The Oni is today seen as something to avoid and ward
off.
Motifs of Settings
Bad place- Devils Island (can be interpreted as Hawaiian Islands during WWII
Escape desired-- held prisoners

The young maidens were similar to the convention of damsel in distress found in european
tales.

Summary 7

Narrator: Momotaro sets free the prisoners that were being held captive by the
devils and gathers all the treasure he finds. Momotaro becomes the hero who
freed the country from the devils who had been the terror of the land for a long
time.
The old couple is happier than ever upon their sons return home and the treasure
Momotaro brings back with him allows them to live in peace and riches to the end
of their lives.

Motifs of Action
Rewards of the hero: wealth
Momotaro has a happy ending which are commonly found in all fairy tales

Today
In Inuyama Japan, there is a Momotaro Shrine and every year in the summer and autumn,
a festival is carried out in honor of Momotaro called Okayama Momotaro Matsuri. In
summer, a firework display and large groups of locals dress themselves as ogres and
compete against each other with energetic dances. In autumn there are exhibition of local
products and folk arts.
In Okayama there are various Momotaro statues and Momotaro themed manholes.
Momotaro influences many pop culture in Japan such as momotaro jeans, momotaro video
game and anime characters.

NEED TO ADD IN LATER

uses the folktale to build national pride, but it also depicts World War II themes in order to justify
Japans actions at Pearl Harbor.
build a strong sense of nationalism.

primary part of nationalistic propaganda

Japanese Nationalism

fairy-tale tradition was also interpreted and utilized in a nationalistic sense

Momotaro is the embodiment of Japanese heroic courage and succeeds in overcoming a
seeminglv superior enemy, who, in an analogy to the iairy tale, is a devil.

Audience: tale is taught in school for young children

Morals:

be thankful to those who lend you help

importance of teamwork

be helpful to the community

Important Role in World War II

wartime films and cartoons

Momotaro=japanese government

animals=Citizens of Japan

Oni(devil)= United States

Onigashima=Pearl Harbor

Treasure represented what would have been Japans glory if

they had won
Message: Japan would fight against the wicked, yet powerful United States and victory
could only be achieved if the citizens supported the government

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JuBXOyplT2Y --Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uw5CMeaTxCY -- audio
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6X7NRozADQLWJe2d7s-KVwqNcztoV9g4&feature=iv&src_vid=AqYOwJVne0&annotation_id=annotation_2832237185 -- Tutorial on using VideoPad
Sources
https://japanesemythology.wordpress.com/the-peach-as-a-kami-and-mother-goddess-and-symbol-of-fertility-andimmortality/
https://japanesemythology.wordpress.com/momotaro-the-peach-boy/
http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Japanese_folklore_and_mythology
https://prezi.com/eutiu7redxvl/history-of-japanese-folktales/ http://okayama-japan.jp/en/history/
http://japanesereligions.blogspot.com/2009/02/peaches-yum.html
http://www.asianart.com/articles/rubin/
http://www.japanvisitor.com/japan-city-guides/okayama-city-guide#ixzz40wtxDRWv