I guess it’s similar to the tales of Aesop. Foxes are sly and unreliable in the stories. There are various theories, but it seems that foxes have come to be seen as the god Inari or its messenger because they eat the rats that ruin rice fields.įoxes also often appear in folklore and most of the time, they try to deceive human beings. And the word Inari carries the meaning ‘fox’. As you mentioned, Inari is the kami of foxes, but it was originally a kami of agricultural industry, which then went on to represent all industry. Could you tell us more about what the fox represents in Japanese culture? What is the significance of this folk practise in modern times?Īoko: I’m not so familiar with this topic, so I might be wrong. Inari worship has remained unchanged by Meiji Restorations and continues to centre around folk practices. Of course I didn’t visit a shrine wearing a belly band, but this is what it’s like in Japan.ĭipa: According to statistics by the Association of Shinto Shrines, some 2970 shrines are dedicated to Inari, the Japanese kami of foxes. This custom is just a superstition and yet it is included in almost all of the how-to books along with all the medical advice. There was a section explaining about Inu no Hi (Day of the Dog), which encourages women who are five months pregnant to put a band around their bellies and visit a shrine to pray for an easy delivery. I had a baby two years ago, and I read a well-selling how-to book about giving birth and childcare which I found very strange. There is one interesting story I want to share. So I have kind of mixed feelings about this. I don’t like these tendencies, but I do love the way that old folklore still can exist within modern life. All of these qualities have allowed tradition to survive for a long time. So even if something is actually weird, many people wouldn’t doubt it, but just accept what they are told.
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As you all know, Japan is still an unbelievably male-centric, aged society and people are forced to do what they are told without questioning it. Japanese people are taught to respect Japanese traditions and to believe that adjusting yourself to fit in with others is more important than being yourself. This phenomenon is so common that I myself even sometimes forget its strangeness. Why do you believe Japanese culture has been able to carry this forward-change with the times and yet retain the continuity of its cultural tradition?Īoko: This is a very interesting question. In a vast majority of countries over the world, myths are stories relegated to the history books of yesteryear. We explore the storytelling tradition of Japan as well as dive into the folklore that inspired the colourful characters in her wonderful book.ĭipa: In Japan, folklore and urban life seem to coexist seamlessly, even now. I am pleased to have Aoko Matsuda with me today. Welcome to another Fireside Chat at Mith Books. Humans live side by side with spirits who provide a variety of useful services-from truth-telling to babysitting, from protecting castles to fighting crime.
#JAPANESE FOLK TALES IN JAPANESE PORTABLE#
The truly remarkable characteristic of Aoko Matsuda’s work is the seamless way in which she blends the folklore of yesteryear with modern life in an urban city.įrom a busybody aunt who disapproves of hair removal to a pair of door-to-door saleswomen hawking portable lanterns to a cheerful lover who visits every night to take a luxurious bath Where the Wild Ladies Are is populated by these and many other spirited women-who also happen to be ghosts.Īoko Matsuda‘ s novel is a witty and exuberant collection of feminist retellings of traditional Japanese folktales. As a former resident of Japan and a lifelong lover of myths and folklore, I filled with glee when I got my hands on a copy of Where the Wild Ladies are by Aoko Matsuda.