Terry Ito Column Vol.75 The Birth of the New Momotaro Legend

I thought again about the familiar Japanese folk tale "Momotaro." Once upon a time, Grandpa and Grandma went to the mountains and the river to do their laundry, when a large peach floated down from upstream. They brought it home and, upon splitting it open, found a baby inside. They named the child "Momotaro" and began living together. This is a story known to all Japanese people. Years passed, and Momotaro grew into a young boy. One night, he told the two of them something important: "I'm going to Onigashima Island to punish the demons." The two were surprised, but Momotaro replied with a strong determination, "The demons have been ravaging the villagers' fields and stealing their food, which is causing us trouble. We must get rid of the demons." Worried about Momotaro going to war, they initially tried to stop him, but were persuaded by his enthusiasm and gave him permission. They gave him some millet dumplings, thinking he would get hungry on his journey.

Along the way, they make friends with a dog, a monkey, and a pheasant who are after millet dumplings, and head to Onigashima. At the time, the demons were in the middle of a feast. Momotaro and his friends suddenly attack, and the usually strong demons are defeated. The demons beg for their lives, but Momotaro says, "If you live honestly from now on, I won't take your life." The grateful demon boss gives Momotaro his treasure. Taking the treasure given to them by the demons as a gift, Momotaro and his friends return home in high spirits. They are warmly welcomed by the villagers, and they give the treasure to everyone, which improves the village's economy and security, bringing happiness. And happily ever after.

That's the story of the fairy tale "Momotaro," but is it really okay? Was the demon really that evil? Surely the demon clan was living a normal life on Onigashima Island? Perhaps they went to get food because there was no food for their children during the famine. Even recently, there have been frequent reports of bears descending from the mountains into human settlements in Hokkaido and the Tohoku region due to food shortages. Couldn't the root cause be the development of the mountains where the bears lived? Why didn't Momotaro talk to the demons before fighting? Perhaps a different solution could have been found if he had asked the demons about the situation. And surely bringing back the demons' treasure as spoils of war was going too far? The defeated demons' children would surely resent humans. New conflicts are entirely conceivable.

Proposal: "New Momotaro Legend"... How can humans and demons get along? It would be interesting to have a sports tournament between humans and demons. The tug-of-war would likely be won by the stronger demon team, but we can expect some heated battles in volleyball and basketball. What interests me is baseball. The demons who usually carry the magic sticks are not to be underestimated. They swing the bat with ease, but humans have the advantage in terms of delicate pitcher control. Oh no, I'm getting off topic again. The wish is for "coexistence between humans and demons."

Terry Ito (director)

Born in Tsukiji, Tokyo in 1949. After attending Waseda Jitsugyo Junior and Senior High School, he graduated from Nihon University's School of Economics.
In March 2023, he completed the Master's program at the Graduate School of Media and Governance at Keio University.
He joined the television production company IVS Television, where he worked on variety shows such as "Tensai Takeshi's Genki ga Deru TV" and "Neruton Benikujidan."
He then went independent and worked on planning and directing a number of television programs, including TV Tokyo's "Asakusabashi Young Clothing Store."
His book "Comedy North Korea" became a bestseller, and he subsequently made numerous media appearances under the name Terry Ito.
In addition to his work as a director, he is also active in a variety of fields as a producer, entertainer, and commentator.
YouTube channelTerry Ito's Comedy Backdrop'
Currently writing a column in LALALA USA
https://lalalausa.com/archives/category/column/terry