Momotaro

Jing Yi Gan, Julie Ka Li Huang, Chan Woo Park

BACKGOUND
JAPAN is a land rich in myths, legends, and fairy tales
traditional oral and literary folk literature
Based on another legend, Kibitsuhiko-no-mikoto
Story originated from Okayama Prefecture, Japan
Island in story refers to Megijima, also called Onigashima

Okayama

MEANING
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

Purpose of the Tale:

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

Summary

Old woman: How

delicious that peach
must be! she said to
herself. I must certainly
get it and take it home
to my old man.

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 has never seen such a big peach before in her life!

Old woman:
Distant water is bitter,
The near water is sweet;
Pass by the distant water
And come into the
sweet.

Narrator: The old woman tried to get the peach but it was too far. she claps her hands
and sang...
{Sing song here}
The peach came closer and closer until she was able to pick it up.

Momotaro: Wait a bit, old man!

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!

Narrator: The old woman gave the peach to the old man as a present. He has never
seen a peach so big! He brought out the kitchen knife, but as he was about to cut the
peach open the peach split itself open and out came a little boy!
{**dialogue**}
The old couple was overjoyed and named him Momotaro.

Old couple: Go with

all care and speed. We
expect you back
victorious!

Narrator: At the age of 15, Momotaro was 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 brings evil upon
the lands.
The old couple prepares rice cakes for his journey and they bid sorrowful farewells.
Momotaro starts his long and rough journey.

Momotaro: From now,

you three, the dog, the
monkey and the
pheasant, must be
friends with one mind.

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

Chief of Devils: I am afraid of

you, he said meekly. I cannot
stand against you. I will give
you all the treasure hidden in
this castle if you will spare my
life!

Narrator: They reached the shore where they found two maidens who were forced to served
the demon king. Momotaro promised to rescue them and they led him to the stronghold of the
devils. The four fought ferociously and defeated all the devils. The Chief of Devils knew
Momotaro was too powerful and surrendered.

MOMOTARO

DEVIL CHIEF

A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
H

A
A
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A
A
A
A
A
A
H

WOOOOOOOW, so prettay

Secret technique LOL

FINISH HIM or K.O

**announcers voice or whatever**

lol, idk what im doing

(laughs)
Momotaro: It is not like you,
big devil, to beg for mercy, is
it? I cannot spare your
wicked life, however much
you beg, for you have killed
and tortured many people
and robbed our country for
many years.

**dialogue**
Narrator: Momotaro set free the prisoners held captive by the devils and gathered all the
treasure he found. Momotaro became the hero who freed the country from the devils who
had been a terror of the land for a long time.
The old couples was happier than ever that their son has returned home and the treasure
Momotaro had brought back with him allowed them to live in peace and riches to the end of
their lives.

 (find audio)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uw5CMeaTx
CY

"Momotar-san no uta"

Agemash, agemash

Momotar-san, Momotar-san
(Momotar, Momotar)

Okoshi ni tsuketa kibidango

(From now, on a quest to conquer the

(Those millet dumplings on your waist)

ogres)

Hitotsu watashi ni kudasai na?

Tsuite kuru nara agemash

(Won't you give me one?)

(If you come with me, I'll give you

one)

(I'll give you one, I'll give you one)

Kore kara oni no seibatsu ni

Fairy tale conventions

Archetypal characters:
Villain- devil (represents the United States during war times)
overwhelmingly evil, no grey spots
talking animals: dog, peasant, monkey
Motifs of Settings
Bad place- Devils Island (can be interpreted as Hawaiian Islands during
WWII
Escape desired-- held prisoners
Motifs of Objects
Objects in groups usually make a pattern: rice cakes represent power as
Momotaros army grew as he shared his rice cakes
Token of Recognition: those who ate the rice cakes are now friends and
companions
Motifs of Action
Rewards of the hero: wealth
means of success for hero: courage and strength

Fairy
Tale
Conventions

mention momotaro's influence: momotaro jeans, momotaro video game characters, anime
originated in Okayama: ead of ura said to be deep in okamaden palace,
known for best tasting peaches
kibi dango is popular souvenir when visiting the area
Purpose: nationalistic propagada during war years in school
momotaro embodied state ideals
context: japanese nationalism, for centuries the people of japan was not accustommed to
thinking of themselves as an entire nation until the Meigi Restoration
Meiji restoration: adoppting western standards/technology to create a "japan" that could compete
with the world as an imperial national state, no more social caste and territorial units
1890 imperial rescript on education
primary education: unified teach plans/curriculum to level out regional differences
cultivate national pride and pan-japanese sense of community
objective: to familiarize children with what he political leadership of the country
viewed as the core of national tradition
convention of character
japanese folklorist ashiya mizuyo (1939) foxes do not appear as selfish deceptive
animals as they have in earlier japanese stories and fables , but rather as
intelligent/industrious animals that fights off a foreign enemy out of communal
feelings toward each other (changed to suit purpose)
tiger comes from korea/china and is used to represent an enemy from the continent

Works Cited
original story:
http://etc.usf.edu/lit2go/72/japanese-fairy-tales/4845/momotaro-or-the-story-of-the-son-of-a-peach/
Sources:
https://japanesemythology.wordpress.com/the-peach-as-a-kami-and-mother-goddess-and-symbol-of-fertility
-and-immortality/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Momotar%C5%8D