The Amazing Adventures of Archibald Esq.

A Japanese Fairy Tale: The Peach Boy

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Dogs feature in folklore of all peoples of the world, from Native Americans to Northern Europeans such as the Grimm Brothers and Hans Christian Anderson.

So it stands to reason that Japanese fairy tales also involve the essential presence of dogs. One such tale is the story of the Peach Boy by Chizuru Shiraga.

The Peach Boy

Once upon a time there was an old man and an old woman. One day, the old man went to the mountain and the woman went to the river to wash clothes. Just then, she saw a peach running with the current in the river.

The old woman brought the peach home. She cut the peach in half when — Suddenly! — a boy jumped out of the peach! His name was “Momotaro” or, the Peach Boy.

Momotaro grew up to be big and strong. One day, demons invaded his village. The entire village was very troubled.

Momotaro had an idea. He asked his mother to make “kibidango.”

“I will go to Onigashima to fight the demons on their own territory!” he said. He took the kibidango his mother made for him to eat along the way.

A dog, monkey and pheasant accompanied him to Onigashima. They ate kibidango along the way.

When they arrived in Onigashima, the dog bit the demons, the pheasant pecked the demons and Momotaro fought against the demons with his sword. Finally, the demons gave up and Momotaro and his small army won! They went back to their village victorious.

And thus it is that the Peach Boy, the dog, the monkey and the pheasant (and kibidango!) became local heroes!

Awoof! Archie

Posted 16 Feb 07