10 Examples of Japanese Legends

Japanese legends

The japanese legends they are stories of written or oral transmission that tell imaginary stories, but that may have some real component, and that are transmitted in Japan. These stories often include fantastic elements.

The legends Japanese can be ancient or modern. Ancient legends have existed for several centuries and are very important in Japanese cultural identity, as many of them are are linked to present practices, for example, in rituals and festivals that take place in relation to some of these characters stories.

These ancient legends also appear in other cultural productions, such as manga, movies, series and video games. In some cases, a character or only characteristics of this can be taken and, in addition, places that are typical of these oral narratives usually appear.

Modern legends can be urban or from rural areas. Both have the characteristic that they originated recently, began to circulate by word of mouth and have a very strong presence on the internet and in the cinema.

Characteristics of Japanese legends

Examples of Japanese legends

1. Momotaro

This legend tells that an elderly couple could not have children. One day, the woman one day found a peach in the river, from which later a child was born, whom they named Momotaro. Momo in Japanese means peach, that's why the name of this character is Momotaro.

Growing up, Momotaro had to fulfill his destiny: go to an island to fight demons, whom he defeated with the help of three animals that are his friends: a pheasant, a fox and a dog.

This legend is one of the oldest and most traditional in Japan and appears in manga, anime and movies.

1. Emperor Jinmu

Jinmu was a person who supposedly actually existed and is believed to have been the first emperor of Japan. The legend has many fantastic elements, for example, Jinmu would be a descendant of Amaterasu, goddess of the sun, and Watatsumi, the god of the sea.

As it appears in two later chronicles, the Kojiki and the Nihongi, this emperor was the one who achieved for Japan to unify, after ending the wars that existed until Jinmu established the peace. There is no consensus regarding the years of Jinmu's rule, but it is believed that this man was governor between the 8th century BC. C. and the VII a. C.

This is an ancient legend that seeks to explain different historical events and that is fundamental in Japanese culture, because it is part of the beliefs of Shinto, a Japanese religion.

1. Kappas

Kappas are fantastic beings that supposedly have a shape similar to salamanders, a shell that serves as protection and a hole in the upper part of their head that is always full of water. These beings are said to live in rivers and lakes.

These beings are well known in Japan and there are many versions of what they are like. For example, it is believed that kappas often steal cucumbers or that they can attack people, but if a person bows, the kappa returns it and when the water falls on their head, the kappa go dead.

These fantastic beings appear in oral narratives and in many traditional Japanese tales and they can be good or bad. At present, there are still many rituals and beliefs regarding these beings.

1. The tengu

Tengu are beings that appear in many traditional Japanese narratives and also in various works of art. These beings are a mixture of man and bird and have a red color. They are said to be very large, very strong, and very skilled warriors.

Regarding their behavior, it is believed that they can be aggressive because they are protectors of nature, but they are also said to be fair, since they punish men who do wrong, but help people who do well.

1. Yuki-onna

The name of this character means "snow woman." This being appears in many Japanese legends, folk tales, and contemporary artistic productions.

Yuki-onna is believed to be a spirit that appears when it snows and has the power to turn people into statues of ice or that makes people lose themselves in the forest, but in other versions it helps people to return to their homes.

1. Sakura and Yohiro

This legend explains the origin of the Japanese cherry blossom. According to legend, in a time when there were many wars, there was a forest that had some very beautiful trees, but there was a tree that never gave flowers. One day, a fairy helped the tree with magic, as he cast a spell on it by which the tree could transform into a human, so that it could flourish.

The tree was transformed into a human and he met a woman, Sakura, whom he told that her name was Yohiro. They talked a lot and fell in love. Then Yohiro told him about the spell he was in and that he would soon transform into a tree again. Yohiro transformed into a tree, the fairy appeared, asked Sakura if she wanted to join Yohiro and she answered yes. This is how Sakura stopped being human and she became part of the tree like the cherry blossom.

1. Tsukimi

This legend is believed to come from China, but it is related to Japanese practices that take place in the present, for example, with the festivities of the autumn moon.

There are many versions of this legend, in one of them it is said that an old man was walking in a forest, but he was very tired and sat down to regain strength. Soon after, a fox, a rabbit and a monkey appeared who wanted to help the man by giving him something to eat. The fox gave him a bird, the monkey some fruits, but the rabbit did not find anything, so this animal decided to light a fire and sacrifice itself so that the old man could eat something.

But the man did not allow it, since he really was not a human being, but a god. The god, who was the embodiment of the moon, decided to take the animal to the moon as a reward for his noble gesture.

Some people believe that if you look at the moon you can see the rabbit. Tsukimi means "looking at the moon" and it is because of this legend that the first days of autumn are held in different types of celebrations in Japan.

1. Legend of the mirror

According to this legend, a samurai, who had a wife and a daughter, had to go to meet the new king and when he returned he brought a mirror to his wife as a gift. The woman saw herself in the mirror, but she did not know to whom the image that was reflected belonged. Her husband told her how the mirrors worked and told her that it was she who was reflected.

The years passed and the woman fell ill. Before she died she gave the mirror to her daughter and told her that whenever she looked at the mirror she would see the face of her mother. The woman died and the girl looked in the mirror every day to remember her mother, because she believed that the reflected image was that of her mother when she was young.

This legend is used to teach that people always remain in the memory of their loved ones.

1. Legend of the Kiyotaki Tunnel

This is a modern legend and, like many, it is an urban horror legend. The Kiyotaki Tunnel exists, it was built in 1927 and is 444 meters long. In Japanese culture, the number four is an unlucky number, so many stories emerged regarding this place.

It is believed that many workers died in the construction of the tunnel, that their spirits are still in the tunnel and that they frighten people who approach or pass through it.

1. Legend of the Kunekune

This is a modern legend that is often told in rural areas of Japan. The Kunenuke is a monster that is very tall, white and very bright and that usually appears in the middle of the crops, away from people. Supposedly he can attack people, but if someone walks away it will not hurt him, instead, if someone gets too close to this being, he could go crazy.

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