"Eric Takabayashi" <etakajp@yahoo.co.jp>, haber iletisinde ?unlar?
yazd?:3F55F3DA.52D27BC5@yahoo.co.jp...
> MatthewOutland wrote:
>
> > why is there such SERIOUS INTELLECTUAL DEBATE about the motives of
> > momotaro and whether he was justified in taking some of the treasure,
> > when his  claim to fame was killing OGRES?
>
> For one, because it could be based on some historical truth, not
> involving monsters and animal sidekicks, but foreigners or pirates, and
> other real humans. Okayama Prefecture next to me is one origin of the
> Momotaro story. Just last weekend there was an hour long show featuring
> the pirates of the Seto Inland Sea also on the border. Far from being
> portrayed as evil despite their violent ways, one pirate leader was
> credited with creating the "Bible" of Japanese shipbuilding, as well as
> being marveled for his knowledge and execution of sea borne military
> tactics, able to resist or repel the advances of famous military leaders
> who later united Japan.
>

A cute japanese woman explained me once that those monsters could have been
Vikings, with their war helmets, blond hair and red faces (sun burnt).