Momotaro: Japan's Legendary Peach Boy

One of Japan's most famous folktales is the legend of Momotarō (桃太郎), or the Peach Boy as he is also known. Momotaro has been featured in a number of movies, books, songs, and more in Japan and around the world. He even has a blue jean brand named after him!

Momotaro is ancient Japan's equivalent of Superman, as well as a cultural icon and a hero for children and adults alike.

Interested in learning more about the Peach Boy, the legends about him, and his place in Japanese culture? Please read on and learn more!

The name of Momotaro comes from the Japanese words 'Momo' meaning "peach", and 'tarō', which means "eldest son" and is a popular boy's name in Japan. So his name is literally "Peach Taro"!

The most popular version of this story dates from the Edo period (1603-1868), but there are a few regional varieties that combine the Momotaro story with other folktales, or differ in details of Momotaro's arrival on Earth.

In the most popular version of the legend of Momotaro, Momotaro landed on Earth in a giant peach and was found floating down a river by an elderly woman who was washing her clothes in the river. The old woman took the peach home and, with her husband's help tried to cut it open. Lo and behold what should be inside but Momotaro!

He explained them that he was sent from Heaven to be their son since they never had children. They gave him the name Momotaro and happily raised him as their son.

When he grew up, Momotaro went to a faraway island to fight a band of oni (Japanese for 'demons'). During the journey there he met three animals: a dog, a monkey, and a pheasant. Momotaro became friends with these animals and together all four went to the island and fought the oni.

Momotaro and his friends successfully fought the oni, captured their chief, and plundered their treasures. They took the chief and the treasures back to Japan and Momotaro and his family lived happily ever after thanks to the captured treasures.

During the late 1800s and the early 20th century, Momotaro began making himself known to the West through a number of books about Japanese fairy and folk tales that were published in the West during and after the Meiji period (1868-1912) when Japan began opening up to the outside world.

In 1911, the famous children's song about Momotaro known as Momotarō-san no Uta, or "Momotaro's Song", was published. This is a children's song that has remained popular in Japan up to the present day.

In 1918, Momotaro appeared on the big screen in the Seitaro Kitayama silent anime short Momotarô.

During the Second World War, Momotaro becaeme hugely popular in Japan. At that time, the Japanese film industry had grown highly militaristic and Momotaro was featured in many wartime cartoons and movies. He was put to very good use as a propaganda character.

It was under these circumstances that Momotaro had the distinction of being featured in the very first animated films in Japan. The 1943 film Momotaro, the Sea Eagle and the 1945 film Momotaro's Divine Sea Warriors (桃太郎 海の神兵, or Momotaro's Gods-Blessed Sea Warriors) were directed by wartime animator Mitsuyo Seo and produced by Shôchiku Dôga Kenkyûjo.

Momotaro's Divine Sea Warriors was a propaganda film in every sense of the word. It was commissioned by the Japanese Imperial Navy as a morale-booster for Japanese children at a time when Japan was about to face its ultimate defeat in the war.

In this movie, Momotaro and his companions the bear, monkey, pheasant, and cat are sailors in the navy and help the Japanese navy "liberate" a number of Pacific islands from the British. They are warmly welcomed by the other animals living on the islands, and the hearts and souls of the Peach Boy and his band of animals are focused on one thing: victory.

At the time this movie was released (March 1945), Germany was on the verge of surrendering, bombings of the Japanese mainland had become very frequent, and Japan's military and economy were in ruins. Momotaro's Divine Sea Warriors is reflective of the methods the Japanese government was using to convince the public, including children, that the war was not lost and of the need to keep on fighting. However, Seo later said himself that beneath the propaganda in both movies, he hoped to help children dream a little and hope for peace.

Momotaro can be found throughout modern-day Japan. Momotaro statues, pictures, and more are very commonplace in Japan. And of course, he is still as present as ever in Japanese media.

An episode 1981 Doraemon anime series titled "Doraemon: Boku, Momotarô no nan na no sa" is a remake of the 1918 anime short Momotarô.

The RPG video game series Momotaro Densetsu (桃太郎伝説, or "Peachboy Legend") features the Peach Boy himself, plus a few other characters from Japanese folklore. This game series has been going strong since 1987 and publishers Hudson Soft have since released several other Momotaro-themed games, including the Momotaro Festival, Momotaro Katsugeki, and Momotaro Thunderbolt series.

One of Japan's most popular tomato varieties is none other than the Momotaro variety! This tomato variety is a very durable, tough, and sweet tomato that is worthy of the name Momotaro.

Also, Japan's most prestigious blue jeans brand is Momotaro Jeans. These jeans can be found around the world and are made by hand using natural materials. They have become one of the world's most popular brands of designer jeans!

Ultimately Momotaro's conquest of Oni Island is symbolic of our own personal conquest of our own daily problems and struggles. This is something that Momotaro has done for generation and still does today. He inspires all who listen to the stories or watch the films about his exploits to be brave and not be afraid to take on whatever challenges face them in Life.

Thank for taking the time to read this hub and may the story of the Peach Boy inspire you too! If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, feel free to leave them below.