Momotaro's moral story

Momotaro grew up to be a strong boy who defeated a band of ogres. He plundered the orge’s treasures and brought it to the elderly couple. From then on, the elderly couple lived with no worries. Basically Momotaro is the ideal son who takes care of his parents in their old age.

That would be his moral of the his story.

Momotaro Multimedia reference part 2

Books 

There are many books that has the same title and story of Momotaro except from the illustration for a picture book for children. For example George Suyeoka was one of the illustrator of Momotaro picture book. There's even a Momotaro-Zamurai Manga by Kazuo Koike and novel by Kiichirō Yamate based on the TV series.

Song 

It's popular children's song about Momotarō titled Momotarō-san no Uta (Momotarō's Song) was first published in 1911; the text's author is unattributed, while the melody was written by Teiichi Okano. 

"Momotarō-san no uta"		"Momotarō's Song"
Momotarō-san, Momotarō-san		Momotarō, Momotarō
Okoshi ni tsuketa kibidango		Those millet dumplings on your waist
Hitotsu watashi ni kudasai na?		Won't you give me one?
Yarimashō, Yarimashō		Let’s do it, let’s do it
Kore kara oni no seibatsu ni		From now, on a quest to conquer the oni
Tsuite kuru nara agemashō		If you come with me, I'll give you one

Commercials

Commercial are my most favorite reference of all time. Most of the commercials I found are in Japanese. There are lots of commercials has something related to momotaro. Here's 6 of the videos that are related to momotaro.

AU by KDDI (Jan 2015 - Now) - Japan's 2nd telecommunication company

Softbank (May 2015) - Japan's 1st telecommunication company

PLUS X by LOTTE (2008) - Furit Chewing Gum

Hi-Chew Premium by Morinaga & CO. (April 2015) - Fruit Chew

Pepsi Nex Zero (Aug 2014)

Momotaro Multimedia reference part 1

There many kinds of reference to Momotaro. It's because of the famous story most the multimedia are used for commerical, books, televion, film, video games and many more. 


Here are the few examples of the reference:

Video Games

Momotaro Densetsu (桃太郎伝説 Momotarō Densetsu, Peachboy Legend) is a role-playing video game series in Japan featuring the character Momotarō from Japanese folklore, as well as other Japanese folklore characters such as Kintarō, Urashima Tarō, and Princess Kaguya of The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter. Started in 1987, the series was initially produced by Hudson Soft. Konami absorbed the company in 2012. In 2015, a rumor stated that the franchise was acquired by Nintendo, though no official word from either Nintendo or Konami has been given. The title is sometimes confused with that of Momotaro Dentetsu, another video game series by Hudson Soft.

Animation

Momotarō: Umi no Shinpei (桃太郎 海の神兵, lit. Momotarou: God Warriors of the Sea or Momotaro, Sacred Sailors) is the first Japanese feature-length animated film. It was directed by Mitsuyo Seo, who was ordered to make a propaganda film for World War II by the Japanese Naval Ministry. the plot was about after completing naval training, a bear cub, a monkey, a pheasant, and a puppy say goodbye to their families.While they are preoccupied, the monkey's younger brother falls into a river while chasing the monkey's cap and is carried towards a waterfall. The dog and the monkey work together to save the child just before he is swept downstream.A plane lands in the airstrip and from inside emerges Momotaro, depicted as a General, together with the bear, monkey, dog and pheasant, who by this point have become high-ranking officials. The subsequent scenes show the jungle animals being taught the alphabet via singing, washing clothes, given military training, and loading weapons in warplanes. The animal residents of the island are shown as simple primitives who are star struck by the glamorous and advanced Japanese animals.

Television & Film

Momotarō-zamurai has been the basis for many jidaigeki films and television series. The first, with the same title as the novel, was released in 1952. The second version (1957) was directed by Kenji Misumi (1921–1975), who also directed Shintaro Katsu in the Zatoichifilms and directed a film version of Lone Wolf and Cub. Raizo Ichikawa starred in the title role. Kōtarō Satomi took the role in the 1960 production, and Kōjirō Hongō played the part in the 1963.

Charaters

Momotaro (桃太郎)

The main character of the story. the old couple raise him as his son and name him Momotaro, from momo (peach) and taro (eldest son in the family). Years, later he decide to leave his parents and fight a band of marauding oni (demons or ogres) on a distant island. Momotarō is strongly associated with Okayama, and his tale may have its origins . 

Dog 

The dog was the first animal who came up to momotaro and said:

"Good morning, Momotaro! You are welcome in this part of the country. Will you allow me to go with you?" . Momotaro gave one dumpling and the dog became his follower with pleasure.

Monkey

Second animal who came to Momotaro. The dog and the monkey did not get on well together. They were always snapping at each other as they went along, and always wanting to have a fight. 

Pheasant

 A miserable bird and it begged to be taken into Momotaro's company. the pheasant was a brave bird  walk all the way through the long valleys and over the hills.

The Old Couple

An old man and an old woman; they were peasants, and had to work hard to earn their daily rice. The old man used to go and cut grass for the farmers around, and while he was gone the old woman, his wife, did the work of the house and worked in their own little rice field. the couple had always taken good care of momotaro ever since he came from the peach.

Oni (demon or ogres)

Oni are demon who often heard how they invade the land, kill and rob the people, and carry off all they can find.  These devils are very hateful beings. until they gave up and defeated by momotaro including the dog, monkey and pheasant.

The story of Momotaro

A long, long time ago an old man and his wife lived in a remote corner of Japan. They had no children and were a little lonely. Every day the man gathered firewood in the mountains and his wife washed clothes in a nearby stream. One day, as the old woman was doing her washing, an enormous peach came bobbing downstream. She picked it up with difficulty - it was so big and heavy - and took it home.

The old woman waited for her husband to come home before eating the peach. When he had arrived, she took out a knife and plunged into the juicy peach, exclaiming, "What a tasty treat!" At that very moment, the peach split in two and with a loud wail out sprang a sweet boy. At first the couple was startled; then overjoyed at having been blessed with a child. They called him Momotaro (momo means peach; Taro is a common Japanese boys' name) and brought him up with tender loving care.

Momotaro grew up strong, powerful, and kind. In no time at all he had become the strongest in the village. One day Momotaro heard about the ogres on Onigashima (Ogres' Island) who spread fear among his countrymen. He begged the old man and woman to allow him go to Onigashima to drive away the ogres. At first they were surprised and worried but Momotaro insisted so earnestly that they finally gave in to his plea. They prepared some millet dumplings for Momotaro to eat on his journey and saw him off.

Momotaro set off in high spirits. At the edge of the village he met a dog. "Momotaro, where are you going? What are you carrying in that bag?" asked the dog. "I'm off to Onigashima," replied Momotaro, "and I'm carrying the most delicious millet dumplings in all Japan. If you help me drive away the ogres I'll give you one." The hungry dog gobbled down a dumpling and became Momotaro's steadfast companion. Soon they came across a pheasant. In return for a tasty dumpling, the pheasant also agreed to join Momotaro's party. Next they met a monkey who was also persuaded to join them in exchange for a millet dumpling.

When Momotaro's party finally reached Onigashima, they found a large gate blocking their way. The pheasant flew over it and unlocked it from inside. The party passed through and were met by a strange spectacle. The ogres were in the midst of merrymaking. "We've come to punish you for plaguing my countrymen!" bellowed Momotaro and charged towards the drunken ogres with his three animal friends. The pheasant pecked the ogres all over, the monkey pounced and scratched them, and the dog bit their arms and legs. Thanks to having eaten the best millet dumplings in Japan, Momotaro's party had the strength of a thousand people and had the ogres running for their lives.

Completely overpowered, the defeated leader of the ogres dropped to his knees before Momotaro. With tears streaming down his face he said, "I promise we will never trouble human beings again, and we will return all the treasures we have ever taken from your village. But please spare our lives! I beseech you!" Thereupon, Momotaro loaded the treasures onto a boat and joined by his small but feisty party headed back home with it in triumph.

THE END

Introduction

Momotarō (桃太郎 Momotarou , "Peach Boy") is a popular hero of Japanese folklore originating from Okayama Prefecture. His name translates as Peach Tarō, a common Japanese boy's name, and is often translated as Peach Boy. Momotarō is the title of various books, films and other works that portray the tale of this hero.

Picture from above: Momotaro from softbank commercial

The story has been translated into English many times. Rev. David Thomson translated it as the first volume of Hasegawa Takejirō's Japanese Fairy Tale series in 1885. Susan Ballard included it in Fairy Tales from Far Japan (1899). Yei Theodora Ozaki included it in her Japanese Fairy Tales (1911). Teresa Peirce Williston included it in Japanese Fairy Tales, Second Series, in 1911. And there are many other translations. 

Momotarō was an immensely popular figure in Japan during World War II, appearing in many wartime films and cartoons. Momotarō represented the Japanese government, citizens were animals and the United States was the oni, the demonic figure. Even though it is not directly mentioned, it is implied that Onigashima was Pearl Harbor.

Statue of Momotarō outside Okayama railway station.

Momotaro has various references from folktales, picture books for children, Japanese commercial, festivals in Japan and more. 

Inuyama holds a festival called the Momotarō Festival at the Momotarō Shrine on May 5 every year.