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Momotarō and the island of ogres : a Japanese folktale

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The amazing adventures of Momotaro, a boy found inside a peach and raised by an elderly couple, is one of Japan's most popular folktales. An exquisite handscroll painted by Kano Naganobu (1775-1828) contains one of the finest illustrated versions of the tale known today. The illustrations are reproduced in their entirety as the story follows Momotaro's journey to the terrifying Island of Ogres. After befriending a dog, a monkey, and a pheasant, Momotaro crosses the sea with his new companions and lays siege to the demons' fearsome mountain fortress. The battle is a fierce one, but Momotaro and his friends prevail; they recover the demon's ill-gotten treasure and restore it to its rightful owners.
One of the first Japanese folktales to have been translated into English, the story of Momotaro is a delightful and lively voyage of the imagination that can be enjoyed by young and old alike. A lengthy postscript to the tale looks at the tradition of illustrated folk stories in Japan, with examples of Momotaro pictures and related imagery in various forms of art, including painting and woodblock printing. The career of the artist, Kano Naganobu, and the artistic climate in which he worked are also reviewed.

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Availability

19119

W

Picture Book

Available

Detail Information

Series Title

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Call Number

W

Publisher

New York, USA : George Braziller., 2005

Collation

47 pages : illustration ; 22 cm

Language

English

ISBN/ISSN

9780807615522

Classification

NONE

Content Type

text

Media Type

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Carrier Type

-

Edition

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Subject(s)

Folklore

Specific Detail Info

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Statement of Responsibility

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