Japanese Folklore Analysis Project: The Legend of Momotaro - Assignment Example

 Japanese Folklore Analysis Project: The Legend of Momotaro Introduction The legend of Momotarō(also known as the Peach boy) is one of the most famous Japanese folktales. Momotarō and his mission to subjugate a gang of demons, have been narrated and featured in numerous movies, songs, children cartoons, war propaganda and books not only in Japan but also in many parts of the world (Kahara 33). The story goes on that a long time ago in prehistoric Japan, an elderly married couple lived. The couple’s only desire was to get a child of their own. One day, when the aged lady was cleaning clothes down by the stream, a monster peach floated to her. Thrilled by her breakthrough, she took the peach home and prepared it so that they can eat it with her husband. To their astonishment, the giant fruit cracked open and exposed a newborn baby boy. The duo took the child in and brought it up it as their own. They gave him the name Momotaro, with the meaning ‘’Child of Peach’’. A few years afterward, Momotaro sets out on a journey to remove a burglar in the land mass. One the eventful day, reports came from the East side that a group of thieving giants were trying to raid Japan. Angered by the incident, Momotaro decided to act. Although they were fewer than the gang of giants, Momotaro and his associates fought courageously and won. This paper critically analyzes the folktale of Momotaro based on it role in the construction of the Japanese national identity during the Meiji and Showa periods as well as how it was used as a war propaganda during the period leading to World War II. Momotaro as a Patriotic Hero There are a number of ways through which the legend of the heroic Momotero attempts to construct the Japanese national and imperial identity. Firstly, in the story, Monotero is depicted as having resemblance with the Japanese emperor himself while the people of the mythical community in which he belonged are represented as closely joined together on the basis of kinship with the emperor being the father of the Japanese national extended family. The plot elements in the legend such as the depiction of the opponents in various Japanese books and films also follows the same pattern in which their character, location and appearance is always demonized while Momotaro is represented as a hero. For example, the opponents are seen as the demonic enemy and their location as the island of devils. In addition, Momotaro appears in many caricatures and films as a strong and youthful embodiment of the new Japan as compared to the British and American who are presented as feeble and aging. He is the ancient Japan equivalent of our contemporary Superman as well as a hero and cultural icon for both the children and adults alike. One of the manifestations of how the legend of the Momotaro promoted Japanese national identity was consequently used as a justification for the Japanese imperialism was seen during the Japanese colonialism of Korea, China as well as the Greater East Asia Co-prosperity Sphere. During this period, many Japanese animations figured the Chinese and the Koreans as primitive demons who can only be civilized and taught to follow the ways of Momotaro(Imperial Japan) once they have been subjugated. On the other hand, during the events leading to the World War II, branding Japanese enemies as the demonic other and assigning them to a diametrically opposed position was one of the popular ideological pillars used to in the war propaganda. According to (Casas, Dianne, 2006), Momotaro’s Sea Eagle is a simulation translation of Mitsuyo Seo and illustrates the ‘’Pacific War’’ when Japan assaulted Hawaii in the year1941. When kids observe this animation, they tend to believe that America is an enemy to Japan. In the story, Momotaro is a commander of his military and he has a subsidiary that is the dog, a bird and a monkey. Their work was to hit on the devil island. They began to attack in the air making the foe surrender or retreat. In this regard, Momotaro is depicted a pure Japanese hero while the enemies are presented as the foreign demons who have been defeated. Momotaro was an immeasurably popular personality in Japan in the course of World War II. He appears in several wartime cartoons and films. Momotaro symbolized the Japanese administration, United States was the oni the demonic and the people were animals. Even though it is not openly discussed, it is disguised that Onigashima was Pearl anchorage. It was used to communicate the idea that Japan would wrestle against the evil, yet influential United States and conquest could only be realized if the society supported the government. Furthermore, the treasure and food that Momotaro and his animals earned after defeating the oni was supposed to be a sign of the beauty that the authoritative Japanese territory would have had after defeating the United States. In addition., a series of Japanese magazines, caricatures, articles and films of the war years primarily depicted Momotaro as a patriotic hero who succeeded in overcoming even a seemingly superior enemy portrayed in the fairly tale as a devil. For example, although they were fewer than the gang of giants, Momotaro and his associates fought courageously and won.In this regard, Momotaro was generally used as an embodiment of the Japanese heroic courage. A remarkable example of this depiction is a 1945 film titled the “Devine troops of the Ocean-Momotaro” which presented Momotaro and his followers as the divine tropes from the east who were destined to liberate the inhabitants of Southern Asia from their oppressors and enemies. Throughout the film, Momotaro is seen as a great commander of the divine army while his foes are figured as gangling pale human figures who are possessing the horns of demons. Casas, Dianne (67) suggests that “the Japanese had attempted to continue being in the battle, but with their vibrancy, along with other features of Japanese films, being reliant upon war and its funds, tranquility drove him and many others like Massaokka out of the trade” and “Seo was burdened with the ideologically deduce but precisely masterful Momotaro movies as his principal legacy (p.228). The overwhelmed Japan was on the brink of unthinkable crush, and the film portrays the Peach Boy as the gallant figure from Japanese folklore. Momotaro had recruited some charming animal acquaintances into his ever so sociable and righteous crusade to “set free” southern island in the South East Asia and Pacific region (Griffin, David, 1996). In this animatronics, everyone will depict that Momotaro’s army symbolizes the Japanese defense force that is very fine while the other region stand for the United States military that is portrayed as evil. At the conclusion of the traditional fairy animation and tale, Momotaro overpowers the Fiend Island and gets back home with fantastic treasures. Although the Americans are depicted as humans while the Japanese as figured in Animal form, it is worth noting that the American is presented as having demon horns on his head, constantly carrying many beer bottles and his behaving very badly as compared Momotaro. On the other hand, Momotaro is depicted a honored and respected leader who is not only upright , strong and brave but is also doing his best for the justice. Finally, Animation account and children’s tale version is pretty comparable to conclude with a cheerful ending. Both of them illustrate Japanese “deliverance from Asia”, as declared by the administration of the time. Moreover, they tried to give hope, dreams, and peace to the children with this story past the manifestation of the war propaganda. The folktale of Momotaro has also been used to teach children the national values and guide them by giving them a role model. This is particularly because the mythical hero represents bravery and humility and bravery which are regarded as the Japanese national virtues. For example, the legend suggests that Momotaro was born and raised an elderly couple in a humble background. However, the animated version of the folktale primarily focuses on Japanese nationalism and the international standing of the Japanese military forces. Conclusion In conclusion, the legend of Momotarō and his heroic mission to subjugate a gang of demons was primarily used in the construction of the Japanese national identity through depiction of the country’s superiority over other nations and its virtues that outshone those of the other lands. The legendary patriotic hero was used in legitimizing Japan’s claim for the leadership of the entire East Asia region. This particularly explains why the fairy tale hero Momotaro was widely used during the Japanese imperialism of the Meiji and Showa periods and also as a tool for war propaganda during the period leading to World War II. Works Cited Casas, Dianne. Kamishibai Story Theater: The Art of Picture Telling. Westport, Conn.: Teacher Ideas, 2006. Print. Griffin, David Ray. Insight of Japanese culture. New York: State U of New York, 1996. Print. Top of For Bottom of FormGriffin, David Ray. Exploring fundamentals of tales. Louisville, Ky.: Westminster John Knox, 2004. Print. Kahara, Nahoko. “From Folktale Hero to Local Symbol: The Transformation of Momotarō (the Peach Boy) in the Creation of Local Culture.” Journal of Asian Studies 25.2(2004), pp. 35-61. Read More