A Tale of Two Tengu

A Tale of Two Tengu retold by Karen Kawamoto McCoy, Illus. by Koen Fossey, 1993.

This story has been briefly described in my post about the book Japanese Children's Favorite Stories in a tale called "The Long-Nosed Goblins." Two tengu, Japanese goblins with impressive growing and shrinking noses, constantly fight together over whose schnoz is the best. Kenji, the blue goblin, smells something good and sends his nose out in search of it. Little princesses having a party mistake the nose for a pole and decorate it with kimonos. Kenji hauls in this treasure and makes his cohort Joji, the red goblin, very jealous. So, Joji sends out his nose to see what he can find. Unfortunately, he locates some young princes playing together, who think that his nose makes a great toy to hit, jump and swing on. All Joji gets is a sore smeller. Then the tengu decide to send their snouts out together the next day and see who gets the best prize. Sadly, their noses visit the same family who they bothered the day before. All does not go well, but it ends the rivalry over the noses and makes the tengu better friends!

Fossey's created a light-hearted world that goes well with the silly story. His tengu are cute little bearded men with long hair and pointy caps, who look not unlike our American idea of fairy tale dwarfs. They live in a cheerful land of blue sky, green grass and flowers. The pictures often contain whimsical little animals, such as birds eager to land on a nose pole, a Siamese cat watching cautiously as one pole lengthens, monkeys capering as a nose snakes by and more. Even the fierce looking guards that are sent in to punish the tengus' beaks end up tumbling like fools. Read this book to the kids in your life for fresh and frothy fun.

A Brave Girl: The Samurai's Daughter

The Samurai's Daughter by Robert San Souci. Illus. by Stephen T. Johnson, 1992.

According to San Souci, this story is set in medieval Japan during the Kamakura period (1185-1333). Tokoyo has been schooled in the samurai virtues as well as learning abilities befitting a lady.She has also mastered boating  and underwater skills from women divers in her village. When she is eighteen, her father is banished by his mentally unstable lord. Tokoyo first cries, but then decides to dress as a peasant, and with a lucky cricket that her loyal nurse has given her, sets off to be with her father. Her journey to him will test her courage, compassion and training and will include ghosts and a terrible sea monster.

I have previously mentioned Robert San Souci's books The Silver Charm and Peter and the Blue Witch Baby. He has written more than 200 titles, 12 of them with his brother, Daniel. Many of them are from folktales and legends, including his scary tales in Short and Shivery series. See his website at Robert D. San Souci .

Johnson has illustrated the story with vivid paintings done with pastels. Even from the book's cover, we get an idea of Tokoyo's personality as a forthright and confident young woman. She is gazing frankly at the reader, arms akimbo, untroubled by the large and threatening sea monster that lurks behind her. Children will enjoy the action pictures when Toyoko jumps into the sea with a dagger between her teeth, ready to face down the serpent.She is a fine strong heroine to share with your sons and daughters.

Another little raccoon-dog: Tanuki's Gift

Tanuki's Gift: a Japanese Tale by Tim Myers, Illus. by R.G. Roth, 2003.

 Here is another tale retold by Tim Myer (See Basho and the Fox ) about another tanuki ( See my other Tanuki post). It is set in old time Japan and according to Myer, is a variation of a "ongaeshi" or "debt of gratitude" story. A humble and devout priest takes in a tanuki (raccoon -dog) on a snowy night. The two becomes best friends, and every night during the winter season, for ten years, the tanuki visits the holy man. Eventually, the priest's small friend asks if there is a way to repay him for all of his kindness. The priest shares a wish with the tanuki ,and upon its fulfillment, he learns something very important. This is a sweet and touching tale, moving without being sappy.

R.G. Roth's art is intentionally naive and joyful. The tanuki especially looks like it was drawn by a child. I really love the picture of the broadly smiling and exuberant priest enjoying his tanuki friend's juggling and another of the holy man, looking thrilled, floating off to paradise while wearing a halo, and holding on to a parasol. The illustrations are done in gouche, watercolor, oil pastel and ink.

 Readers will enjoy this lovely, gentle book. Share it with your own friends!

 

Basho and the Fox

Basho and the Fox by Tim Myers, Illus. by Oki S. Han, 2000.

Basho and the Fox is not a folktale, but an original story by Tim Myers about the great Japanese poet Basho.  As the tale begins, Basho lives in a hut in Fukagawa, writing haiku and enjoying the late-summer wild cherries until he has a run in with a fox who is also visiting the cheery tree. They disagree over who is more deserving of the sweet fruit. Basho may be a poet, but the kitsune announces that foxes are much better poets than people are. Basho might be a great poet, but the haughty fox will discuss it in springtime. When the cherry blossoms come out again, the two strike a bargain: if Basho can write one good haiku, he can have the fruit all for himself. He may have three tries, but if he fails, he'll lose his claim. Through this challenge, Basho learns a lesson about poetry and the foxes of Fukagawa. Three of the poet's actual haiku are included.

Oki Han's watercolors well support the story, with long views giving readers an eyeful of nature. The same treescape is shown during different seasons and times of day. Contrast in light and shadow add interest to the pictures. Especially lovely are the illustrations of the madly blooming cheery tree spreading its pink and white flowered branches over Basho and the kitsune, and the pictures accompanying the haiku: a frog pond with koi, dragonflies and intricate lilies, and the sun rising behind the jeweled plum trees. The foxes in their kimonos add a whimsical touch.

Screen of Frogs

Screen of Frogs: an Old Tale Retold & Illus. by Sheila Hamanaka, 1993.

This story is adapted from "The Strange Folding Screen." In long ago Japan lives the rich and lazy man, Koji, who would rather sell off most of his land than work. One day, he contemplates selling his last mountain to pay his debts and he is visited by a human-sized frog who pleads with him to keep and preserve the creature's homeland. It urges Koji to think of the bees, birds, foxes and frogs that will have nowhere to go if the land is lost. After this, Koji is a changed man who sells his costly possessions to settle his debts and works and values his land. He is rewarded with a special screen with amphibious charm. Read the story to find out more!

Hamanaka's illustrations combine whimsy and beauty. Her people are round and cheerful and often accompanied by animals, such as soft-faced horses, dogs, a calico cat and what appears to be three monkeys wearing kimonos. She also uses texture and pattern to enhance her art. People wear collage kimonos of strikingly patterned fabric, the frog appears to be dressed in weedy robes, and Koji dabbles his finger in a marbled stream of white, mint green and blues, with variegated cherry blossoms swirling through. Screen of Frogs is an enjoyable retelling and would be appropriate Earth Day reading.

The Fool and The Phoenix: a Tale of Old Japan

The Fool and the Phoenix: a Tale of Old Japan by Deborah Nourse Lattimore, 1997.

Although this is Lattimore's original story, it has the feel of a folktale. The author has set her tale in feudal Japan during the Tokugawa dynasty, which was from 1603 to 1868. It was a period of peace and plenty for the royal classes. This was not so for the farmers, who had to pay a rice tax to the shogun. Lattimore says that when creating this story, she imagined what a jealous small town official might do if he knew of the riches of the shogun.

Hideo is a mute birdcatcher who has captured a hawk and hopes to head to a nearby village to sell it. Before he arrives, he is knocked down by a scarred bandit on horseback and then turned away from the village by Nobu, the village council head, because he is judged a fool and considered a bad omen. Alone in the forest, he hears a noise in a pine tree and casts his net, only to catch a beautiful maiden/Phoenix. After he releases her, the two fall in love and stay together, until the day when the shogun's men come to find the bandit that has taken the shogun's treasure. To save the village, Hideo must find the thief who has stolen the riches, as well as life from town. The Phoenix maid gives Hideo a magical feather to aid him. Will he find the thieving man and retrieve the treasure ? Will his voice be restored? And will Hideo be reunited with his true love?

Lattimore's endpaper illustrations introduce  readers to some potentially unfamiliar ideas such as the shogun in his armor, an official's house and what a rice paddy looks like. Throughout the book, she uses a neutral beige background to make the greens, violets and blues of the story really pop. The pictures are very pretty and beautifully balanced.

On Cat Mountain

On Cat Mountain by Francoise Richard, Illus. by Anne Buguet, 1994.

 Sho is a servant in the house of a haughty, nasty woman, but luckily she has one friend to talk to: her black cat, Secret. Unfortunately, the uncaring mistress discovers the kitty, and throws it out of her house. When a fortune teller comes to town, Sho learns that she will find her Secret on the dangerous Cat Mountain, from which no one has ever returned. He assures her that what she's lost is more precious than anything her sour mistress has. Caring only about this promised treasure, the mistress sends her away at once. Sho reaches Cat Mountain and meets strange young women who offer her hospitality, but who she overhears talking of a terrifying possibility. Luckily, she finds herself reunited with Secret, who is now a cat-girl. She protects Sho and sends her home with a special bag that will bring her freedom. When the servant's jealous mistress learns of the results of Sho's journey, she is compelled to go to Cat Mountain herself. As we have learned by reading Japanese folk tales, or most fairy tales, it is best not to be a villain in a story, because you will certainly be punished, and this wicked old woman is no exception.

Anne Buguet's illustrations are lovely and intriguing. Sho's mistress is drawn with a sneer on her face and a haughty erect carriage. The ladies, both human and feline, have lustrous black hair and flowing robes. And the formidable wildcats that greet the unkind mistress are solid, slinky and well blessed with fangs and claws!

The Boy of the Three Year Nap

The Boy of the Three Year Nap by Diane Snyder, Illus. by Allen Say, 1988.

A poor widow lives on the banks of the Nagara river with her lazy son, Taro. She works hard to support them, because unfortunately, although Taro is healthy and smart, he most likes to sleep.  When a rich merchant and his family, including a lovely daughter, move into the neighborhood, Taro's mother wants him to work for the new neighbor. However, Taro has a secret plan that involves priest's robes, dark makeup, and Ugigami, the town's patron god. Could he win the rich man's daughter and a cushy life for himself? This good-natured traditional Japanese tale of a trickster tricked  will please readers of all ages.

This is another work illustrated by Allen Say (see my previous post about Under the Cherry Blossom Tree), this time a Caldecott Honor Book. The book's title page shows a full moon over rooftops, and behind one window shade we can see our anti-hero yawning widely. He is doing this same thing on the cover. Readers have no doubt that his nickname is suitable. All the characters are expressive, from the bucktoothed merchant during his disturbing encounter with "Ugigami", to Taro's displeased new mother-in-law to the widow, who easily moves from irritated to shocked to smug.

Under the Cherry Blossom Tree by Allen Say

Under the Cherry Blossom Tree: An Old Japanese Tale retold and Illus. by Allen Say. 1974.

This is a new kind of story to me. It is called a  pillow or makura, and is a short humorous tale used in Japanese joke houses or yose to prepare an audience for longer stories to follow.This makura is about a horrible, mean landlord who complains all the time. One day in spring he goes out to sit under a cherry tree to eat cherries and grump about the people celebrating the new season. Suddenly, he swallows a cherry pit, which does not go to his stomach, but instead to his head. The next day when a fruit tree begins to grow out of his skull, he is not pleased. This sets the wheels in motion for events that  eventually give the crusty old man what he deserves and bring pleasure to his neighbors.

These Allen Say illustrations are different from the ones in his later award winning book Grandfather's Journey, or his Tree of Cranes or Emma's Rug, primarily because Under the Cherry Blossom Tree is a smaller work with black and white illustrations.

Still, even in grey scale alone, the pictures are appropriate and perfect for this somewhat bizarre story.  The illustrations are quite detailed, with lots of shading.Whether the old grouch has a tree blossoming or a fish pond splashing in his head, Say keeps it comical rather than gross.   Readers won't feel much pity for the mean landlord because awake or asleep, he has a scowl on his face, but they will enjoy his transformations.

Three Samurai Cats: a Story from Japan

Three Samurai Cats: a Story from Japan Retold by Eric Kimmel, Illus. by Mordicai Gerstein, 2003.

Okay, pulling no punches, I need to tell you that I love this story and its illustrations. It's unusual and it's funny. A daimyo (powerful lord) finds that he has an unwanted visitor who mocks him and does just as he pleases: an obnoxious giant rat. He seeks help from a shrine well known for its corps of samurai cats. He gets the best cat of the best. The cat samurai is very impressive, but he fails to remove the smug rat. Another even larger, well armored feline fighter appears. He leaves in disgrace. So, the daimyo requests one more warrior. This cat is old, broken down and dressed in rags. All he seems to do is eat, sleep and ignore the challenges of the feisty rat. Is it possible that he can succeed where the mightier samurai failed? How can he force the bratty rat to go?

In an author's note, Kimmel explains that this is an example of a story a Zen master might use "to surprise their disciples out of conventional patterns of thinking." The conquering cat is a roshi or Zen master, and he shows that he can beat the rat through stillness rather than violence. The story's original source is Kenji Sora's The Swordsman and the Cat.

Gernstein's humorous illustrations really shine here, because they are a perfect match to the story. They are full of amusing details. The rat bully arrives at the temple with his belongs tied up in a hobo scarf hanging from his tail. He later uses this as a bib as he consumes all the fine food in the place. The slash happy 2nd samurai cat shows off slicing up everything from a bucket to an apple to a butterfly, but he is so absorbed with his form that he just doesn't see that powerful kick coming from Mr. Rat.  The 3rd cat seems barely responsive  most of the time, but as soon as the rat is vulnerable, his yellow eyes are wide open and he is ready.The art was made with pen and ink with oil paint on vellum paper.

One More Maneki Neko

Maneki Neko the Take of the Beckoning Cat by Susan Lendroth, Illus. by Kathryn Otoshi, 2010.

This is another version of the story described in my post Tales of Lucky, Happy Cats . Tama's beckoning habit is explained by her up and down face washing movements. Nevertheless, she leads a samurai to safety during a nasty thunderstorm, who in turn helps Tama's poor monk friend by giving him enough money to turn Kotoku Monastary into Gotokuji Temple.

Nearly all of the book's scenes are washed with plums and pinks, giving the land a magical feel. The action is backed by beautiful sunrise and sunset light. This contrasts well with the colors of the storm, when deeper purple and blue greys are used for the threatening skies and dark shadows. Tama and her monk share many scenes of companionship, from strolling through the marketplace, to cuddling, to enjoying the moonlight while drinking tea (the monk) and chasing moths (Tama).

Lady Kaguya's Secret: a Japanese Tale

Lady Kaguya's Secret. Art by Jirina Marton. 1997.

This book from Annick Press, which rather oddly does not credit an author or adapter, tells essentially the same bittersweet story as The Moon Princess , but also reveals the origin of the smoke plume issuing from Mount Fuji. Here, the maiden's name  is Kaguya-hime (Radiant Princess) and again she has many suitors whom she rebuffs by setting them impossible tasks, such as bringing her the jewel from the forehead of a dragon, fetching the stone bowl of the Buddha and obtaining a golden bow from the sacred tree of Mount Horai. When the Emperor himself comes for her hand, she must reveal her secret and leave her family forever. Yet, she comes to care for the Emperor and when she departs she has special gifts for her parents and her love.

Jirina Marton has illustrated the book with beautiful oil pastels and the pictures seem to glow with jewel-like tones. There are paintings of serene stillness, such as the couple's home by night, illuminated by the bright full moon, or the maiden Kaguya-hime communing with a bird, but also active scenes, as when a suitor's boat is caught in the middle of a lightning storm, or when the Emperor's Guard falls back in surprise when the Princess' original father is revealed. Kaguya-hime is drawn as lovely, pale and expressive, with compassion in her eyes.

Lady Kaguya's Secret is a pleasing version of this tale to share with a loved one.

The Golden Crane

The Golden Crane: a Japanese Folktale by Tohr Yamaguchi, Illus. by Marianne Yamaguchi, 1963.

Little Toshi, a "deaf and dumb" child of a fishing village, loses his family during a terrible spring storm, but is adopted by kindly old Oji-san. Toshi helps his new guardian unload his fishing catches and loves to watch the cranes fly out at sunrise. One day, he finds a wounded bird, which the two nurse back to health. Unfortunately, few have seen such a holy bird close at hand, and soon their home and village are overrun with visitors, many of them powerful, clamoring to see and even buy the beautiful crane. Oji-san protects the crane as best he can, but soon their are orders that the emperor will be coming to claim the bird. It will take a miracle to save it.

Marianne Yamaguchi has provided black and white illustrations for The Golden Crane.

Belching Hill

Belching Hill  Retold by Morse Hamilton, Illus. by Forest Rogers, 1997.

This retelling is based on "The Old Woman Who Lost Her Dumplings," recorded by (you guessed it) Lafcadio Hearn and "The Old Woman and the Rice Cakes" by Ethel Johnston Phelps. On the famous Belching Hill or Geppuyama live a poor old woman and her pig, Hanako. They are very happy eating rice dumplings, which the old woman loves to cook. One day a hot dumpling rolls away and is grabbed by a giant hand that comes up through the grass. The old woman and Hanako follow it down under the hill and finds a "snarl of ogres", and one of them has gulped down her dumpling! She scolds the ogres, but they give her an ultimatum: cook more dumplings or be their dinner herself. Well, she loves making dumplings, but how will she feed so many ogres? Luckily, they have a magic spoon and fortunately the old woman has a few tricks up her sleeve, enough to get her and Hanako home safely with a little something extra for her trouble.

Rogers' pictures are gently humorous, beginning with the old woman making fish, frog, and pig faces with her animal friends. The brightly colored fuzzy and scaly ogres are appropriately weird and scary, but in a fun way. They may have extra eyes, horns and impressive tongues and talons, but as long as their attention is turned to the dumplings, they are more silly than threatening.Watercolors, gouache and colored pencils were used to make the art, which is also bursting with life: trees, birds, flowers, little animals, etc.

I found this book an overall treat!

The Badger and the Magic Fan

In honor of April Fool's Day, let's trick a trickster!

The Badger and the Magic Fan adapted by Tony Johnston, Illus. by Tomie dePaola, 1990.

This amusing story comes from Tony Johnson, writer of more than 100 children's books. One day, three long-nosed tengu (goblin) children are playing with a magic fan, making their noses grow and shrink, when they are observed by a crafty badger. He really wants that magic for himself, so he turns into a little girl and bribes the tengu kids with some bean-jam buns. There are four buns and three tengu children, so the badger tricks them into shutting their eyes and holding their breath, and the one who can do this the longest will win the extra treat. Then he makes off with the special fan!
Badger finds a rich and beautiful girl and fans her, making her nose grow unacceptably long. Then the naughty creature sits back and waits as her father tries to find a solution, consulting Japan's best doctors, thinkers and a witch before he gives up and declares that he will give his daughter and half of his riches to the one who can restore her button nose. Perhaps the badger can do it, and enjoy a life of luxury and a lovely new wife. However, three tengu children are after him with mischief on their minds...
This light and funny story is great to read to a group. We recently had an origami program and I shared it with a bunch of 9 to 12 year olds. They listened and I noticed that they all looked up from what they were doing to see the pictures. We all enjoyed it!

Well known and greatly loved illustrator Tomie dePaola did the pictures for The Badger and the Magic Fan, and they fit the story particularly well. His Tengu children are cute as buttons, with their matching brush-like hair, plaid kimonos, and expressions of mischief. The contrast between the undisturbed beautiful maiden with her serene countenance and her shocked look as her noses grows is comical. Readers will also giggle over dePaloa's serious faced doctors and formerly intimidating witch being pelted with cabbages and pepper by the maiden's irate father.

For those that may wonder, Tony is a she:

http://www.childrensliteraturecouncil.org

 

 

 



 

and Tomie is a he:

 

 

Here are some of their other collaborations:

• Alice Nizzy Nazzy, the Witch of Santa Fe
• Four Scary Stories
• The Quilt Story
• The Tale of Rabbit and Coyote
• The Vanishing Pumpkin

Japanese Magic Kettles

I can't find a cover picture for Gonbei's Magic Kettle, but I did find this lovely image from Flicker Here

Gonbei's Magic Kettle told by Michiko Nakumura, Illus. by San Murata, 1980.

This is basically the same story I mentioned in the post about Japanese Children's Favorite Stories. It is a bilingual edition in both English and Japanese. In this variation, Gonbei, a farmer, finds a group of bratty kids tormenting a raccoon that they have caught and tied up. He bribes the children to leave the poor beast alone by giving them his sack of rice balls. Afterward, the grateful raccoon promises to make Gonbei a rich man. The creature turns into a kettle, and after some adventures, returns with the well-off Gonbei and the two friends retire together to enjoy their older years.

I am writing about a small paperback book with only grey scale illustrations inside. The cover picture includes modest color. I don't know if it was ever published in another form. The pictures are cute, but readers today are used to full color, and so these would pale in comparison.Still, it is a nice little book, and the final drawing of the raccoon and the old farmer walking away together and holding hands is sweet.

The Furry-Legged Teapot retold by Tim Meyers, Illus. by Robert McGuire, 2007.

In Meyers' Author's Note, he tells the reader that this story, known as "Bunbuku Chagama" is famous in Japan and probably came from medieval times. The Morinji Temple in Tatebayashi (north of Tokyo)is said to have the original teapot. Meyers has a different opinion. :)

The kettle-animal in this tale is a tanuki or raccoon-dog. I am unacquainted with those, so I googled away:

Isn't it cute?

Yoshi the tanuki drives this story; he lives with his family and can't wait to transform himself into another creature or object, as his people do. He is impatient, but sure enough, as he grows older, he's able to change into a butterfly, a rock, a snail, etc and then, to trick the farmer's wife, a kettle! But, whoops, he can't change back, at least not completely. He is kept in a monastery for strangers to look at and he is unable to ask them for help or kindness. Is Yoshi doomed to be a teapot forever? Or will the visiting emperor and his grandson be able to see the truth?

 Robert McGuire lived in Japan for four years, working as a teacher and designer, in addition to illustrating. His acrylic paintings of the tanuki and his family show anthropomorphic beasts standing upright and wearing clothing. The people Yoshi interacts with are realistically drawn and wear shocked expressions when they see a kettle with animal legs. Unlike the other animal-kettles we've read about, Yoshi can't pop his head out, making the hybrid teapot even stranger to see.

Japanese Children's Favorite Stories

Japanese Children's Favorite Stories Edited by Florence Sakade, Illus. by Yoshisuke Kurosaki, 1958.

This collection has twenty stories chosen in 1953 from Silver Bells magazine, an English language version of a popular Japanese children's magazine. There are familiar stories such as "Peach Boy", "The Old Man Who Made the Trees Blossom", and "The Grateful Statues" as well as tales I've been totally unacquainted with, like "The Toothpick Warriors" "The Bobtail Monkey" and "The Rabbit in the Moon."
 My favorite tale in the book is called "The Magic Teakettle." In fact, my next post will be of some picture book versions of the story. The story goes that an old priest buys a secondhand iron tea kettle and when he puts it over the fire to heat it up for tea, it suddenly grows the head, feet and tail of a badger and tries to run away. The priest's pupils chase it, and it becomes an ordinary kettle again. As this is unsuitable for a kettle, they sell it to a junkman, who soon learns that the badger-kettle is a Bumbuku, who can bring good luck if treated kindly.
Some other interesting stories in the collection are "The Long-Nosed Goblins," in which blue and red goblins find new uses for their smellers and learn a lesson about literally putting their noses in other people's business and "Why the Jellyfish Has No Bones," an odd tale about enemies octopus and jellyfish, and the Dragon's King's  daughter, who is ill and needs unusual medicine for her recovery.

Each story is illustrated by several small greyscale drawings, and a full page color picture, such as the cover illustration of "Little One-Inch".  I love the cheerful vintage feel of the pictures. Many of the characters are rounded and smiling. The badger-kettle looks like he's having a ball as he walks the tightrope in view of a crowd of awed, happy faces and  I like this picture even more than the picture book versions of the story!

The Crane Wife

The Crane Wife Retold by Odds Bodkin, Illus. by Gennady Spirin, 1998.

The Crane Wife is yet another animal bride/bridegroom story where one spouse is given a simple rule to follow and she/he can't help breaking it, bringing about sorrow. Think of stories like "East O' the Sun, West O' the Moon," "Beauty and the Beast," the Selkie legends, and in a recent post "Urashima Taro." These restrictions are spelled out clearly: don't look at me during a forbidden time, don't speak of me to others, don't let me find my animal skin, don't open the box I've given you, and don't watch me at work!

In this case, the lonely sailmaker Osamu ruins his chance at happiness when he intentionally observes his wife as she is making a magical sail for him to sell. He watches her even though he has been explicitly asked not to, even though he knows that she makes these sails at a great personal cost. He is stupid, yet the reader can't help feeling empathy for his self-created trouble. He has not been a particularly cruel man, saving and nursing a crane harmed during an autumn storm. He seems to love his wife Yukiko. Yet, he can't keep his promise to her, allowing conceit, ambition and rationalization  to overcome his better judgement.

The injured crane

I've already expressed my admiration for illustrator Gennedy Spirin in my post about the Russian folktale "The Firebird" here , and I continue to be impressed by the  watercolor and gouache art in The Cranewife. Fortunately, Spirin mentions finding visual references from medieval Japan, so we know in what his art is grounded. He uses rich but subtle colors in his beautiful paintings and the spreads swirling with leaves, clouds and snow brings a mystical feel.

More Momotaro, Peach Baby

Two more books about the legendary Momotaro. See Super Fruit Babies .

The Adventure of Momotaro, The Peach Boy Retold by Ralph F. McCarthy, Illus. by Ioe Saito, 1993.

This is Momotaro's story told in Japanese and English verse. The details are the same as in the Fruit Babies post. Momotaro is born from a peach and later,in the company of a dog, bird and monkey,  defeats pesky demons that have been terrorizing his village. The pleasure here comes from the verse, which gives the characters a chance to express themselves and be slightly less flat. When Grandmama spies the huge peach floating down the river, she entices it:

"'The water's bitter over there!" she sang.

"It's made of fishes tears!

The water's sweeter over here!'

Now, peaches have no ears..."

 

 

The verses are also subtly funny. When Momotaro bests the Demon King, we are told:

 

"Our hero dodged about so fast, it made the king's head spin.

At last he fell (from dizziness) and landed on his chin.

Momotaro jumped on his back and gave his arm a twist.

'Surrender, fiend!' he cried. The king said:





'Well, if you insist!'"

This is an enjoyable version of the story. McCarthy also retold The Moon Princess .

The art by Ioe Saito, painted more than fifty years ago, is outstanding. Vibrant, action filled pictures bring the story alive. Momotaro's parents look joyful throughout, well pleased with their serendipitous son.

Here, Momotaro is born:

From myopera.com

And here, he meets the dog:

From myopera.com

I don't have a picture to show, but this book has the scariest  looking demons I've yet seen in a Japanese folktale. They are realistically built like a man, but have skin tones that range from bright white to peacock blue to brilliant red. Mops of hair, horns, fangs and eyes like the wolf creature in Michael Jackson's Thriller video complete their looks. They're creepy!

Momotaro and the Island of the Ogres Retold by Stephanie Wada, Paintings by Kano Naganobu, 2005.

"Momotaro-san, Momotaro-san

Please give me one of those

Millet dumplings you're carrying.

I'd gladly give one to you,

If you'll go along with me

To conquer the ogres!"

 

Japanese folk song preceding the story



This is the longest and most detailed version of this story that I've read. Momotaro is described as a gift from the gods and is said to be the strongest, bravest man alive. An anecdote of him defeating a charging bear shows this.  He is also the handsomest in the countryside, is wise and kind, and is loved by all. His animal companions are rather vicious and constantly fight on the way to meet the ogres, and Momotaro has to remind them to work together for the common good.
Another addition is that among the vanquished ogres are women, children and the elderly. The king ogre not only admits defeat, but agrees that his people will give up their demonic ways and become fishermen.
The Postscript of the book discusses the Momotaro story's popularity with both children and adults and talks about similar Japanese tales and another boy hero, the mighty Kintaro.

According to the book's Postscript, Kano Naganbou was a Japanese artist who lived from 1775-1828 and painted the illustrations of Momotaro's tale on handscrolls. He used ink, colors and gold on silk. He belonged to the Kano school of painting and became an official painter to Japan's military government, which was considered an honor. Apparently, the story of Peach Boy was popular even before Naganbou painted his scrolls, and there was at least one earlier illustrated version!

Mysterious Tales of Japan

Mysterious Tales of Japan by Rafe Martin, Illus. by Tatsuro Kiuchi, 1996.

Rafe Martin has retold ten magical stories, most previously recorded by Lafcadio Hearn more than a century ago. While I have already written about The Boy Who Drew Cats, the other tales have not yet been discussed on this blog. They all have an eerie, otherworldly feel, like some campfire or Halloween tales.  Loved ones can be more than human, as in "The Pine of Akoya" in which young Akoya falls in love with a man who plays hauntingly beautiful  music on a silver flute  and "The Snow Woman" where lovely Yuke coaxes her husband to tell her about a strange winter meeting long ago. Some of the tales are ghost stories, such as "Ho-ichi the Earless" where an accomplished blind storyteller finds himself performing for a potentially deadly company and "Black Hair" in which a financially poor samurai abandons his good first wife and later realizes his mistake. And in some, those who don't obey the rules become sorry like in "The Crane Maiden" when the aged parents peer at something they shouldn't and  "Urashima Taro" in which a kindhearted fisherman foolishly opens a box his wife advises him to keep closed. Each story is prefaced by a relevant Haiku, such as
" On the low-tide beach
Everything we pick up
Moves"
Chiyo-ni
which puts readers in the frame of mind for the story of "Kogi, "a priest who has a special affinity for fish and wishes that he could experience a carp's life. As promised, the tales are all deliciously mysterious. The author's Story Notes follow the tales, providing more details for the curious reader and a Bibliography is also included.

From "Urashima Tasho"

Mr. Kiuchi has contributed ten color plates to Mysterious Tales of Japan as well as small grey scale sketches that precede each story, such as a turtle before "Urashima Taro," a crab for "Ho-ichi the Earless," and a fish taking the line for "Kogi". The color pictures show characters in key moments of action, like the unearthly Snow Woman entering the woodcutters' hut amid a swirl of crystal flakes or
the disguised warriors coming for the Snake Lord's "bride" in "A Frog's Gift."