Teito Monogatari

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Teito Monogatari
Alternate History

Science fantasy
Dark fantasy
Weird fiction
PublisherKadokawa Shoten
Published1985–1989; 1995 in print
Media typePrint (hardcover and paperback)

Teito Monogatari (帝都物語, lit., The Tale of the Imperial Capital) is an

occultist perspective.[2]

Widely regarded as the first mainstream novel to popularize onmyōdō and fūsui mythology in modern Japanese fiction,[3][4] the work was a major success in its native country. It won the 1987 Nihon SF Taisho Award,[5] sold over 5 million copies in Japan alone,[6] inspired several adaptations as well as a long running literary franchise. Likewise its influence can still be felt to this day.[7]

Overview

The work is a re-imagining of the 20th century of Tokyo as influenced by the occult. Most of the subject matter builds upon references to classic Japanese and Chinese folklore, although the centerpiece of the mythology is the legend of

onryo who was placated into a guardian kami
through centuries of worship.

The plot features many characters, both historical and fictional. Most of the narrative revolves around the

Izumi Kyoka; physicist Torahiko Terada, and author Yukio Mishima
. The resulting conflict, involving science, magic and politics; spans 90 years of Japan's history.

The story begins near the end of the

Shōwa period
.

List of characters

The historical characters who play primary or supporting roles in the story include:

Volumes

The tenth volume of the novel, published in 1987, was originally intended to be the final volume. However, when the novel was republished in 1987–1989, additional eleventh and twelfth volumes were also written to supplement more of the story around 1945, the end of World War II. When the novel was republished in 1995, volumes 11 and 12 were inserted in the chronologically appropriate spot between volumes 5 and 6.

  • Vol. 1: Great Spirit of Tokyo (神霊篇)
  • Vol. 2: Supernatural Babylon (魔都（バビロン）篇)
  • Vol. 3: The Great earthquake (大震災（カタストロフ）篇)
  • Vol. 4: Movement of the Dragon (龍動篇)
  • Vol. 5: Advent of the Devil (魔王篇)
  • Vol. 6: Great War in the Capital (戦争（ウォーズ）篇)
  • Vol. 7: Greater East Asia (大東亜篇)
  • Vol. 8: The Phoenix (不死鳥篇)
  • Vol. 9: Rampant Evil (The Demon's Journey of 100 Nights) (百鬼夜行篇)
  • Vol. 10: Shrine of the Future (未来宮篇)
  • Vol. 11: Power of the Mourning Spirit (喪神篇)
  • Vol. 12: Resurrection (復活篇)

List of publications

Concept and creation

The novel originally served as a minor side project for Hiroshi Aramata who, at the time, was focused on gathering materials for an upcoming natural history book he planned to publish.[8] He was asked by the editor in chief of Kadokawa Shoten, Hiroshi Morinaga, to produce a fantasy themed work for their periodical Monthly King Novel. At that time, Aramata had never written a fictional novel before. The initial idea for the story came from the legend of Taira no Masakado. Aramata was fascinated by the legacy of his spirit and its superstitious impact on modern Japan.[9]

In addition, while participating in the creation of

onmyodo Nihon Onmyodoshi Sosetsu.[11]

Legacy

Teito Monogatari, the novel and its various adaptations, is widely credited with pioneering a number of folklore tropes in popular Japanese fantasy media such as

onmyoji mysticism across Japan and the international scene.[14] Other similarly themed franchises which emerged in the wake of the novel's success include Clamp's Tokyo Babylon manga series, and Natsuhiko Kyogoku's Kyōgokudō (京極堂) series.[3]

Professor of human geography Paul Waley cites Teito Monogatari as a work that reminded a generation of general Japanese readers about Tokyo's former status as an imperial capital.[15] Dr. Noriko T. Reider, associate professor of Japanese Studies at Miami University, credits Teito Monogatari with raising "the oni's status and popularity greatly in modern times".[16] In 2009 Higashi Masao, a notable authority in the field of Japanese weird fiction, wrote an article entitled "The Impact of Teito Monogatari" where he discussed the novel's influence on contemporary Japanese supernatural fiction.[17] Akira Okawada, a specialist in Japanese science fiction literature, wrote a similar article in 2010 discussing the work's influence on that respective genre.[18]

Analysis

In her essay "Oni and Japanese Identity", Dr. Noriko T. Reider argues that the work is a

Minamoto no Raiko (an imperial soldier related to oni) and Abe no Seimei. Whereas those heroes were ardent defenders and valuable servants of the Empire though, Kato is presented as its worst possible enemy. This inversion is also reflected in the character of Taira no Masakado, whom at the beginning is demonized by the narrator and the Japanese government as a national rebel and a threat. However, the story unfolds with him in the role of Tokyo's benevolent guardian deity worshiped by the various protectors of the city. The negative association becomes a positive one. Another example is found in the novel's fictional version of Emperor Hirohito. In pre-war Japanese culture, the Emperor was regarded as a divine figure incapable of human failing. In Teito Monogatari however, the Showa Emperor is presented as a frail figure who prolongs his life by unwittingly ingesting a nostrum made from human organs. This practice of cannibalism effectively puts him on the level of oni, a major paradox since the Emperor's divine status and the status of oni are incompatible with each other. If even the Emperor of Japan has the potential to become an oni, then when is an oni not an oni? [3]

Spin-offs and prequels

Adaptations

Stage

A humorous stage adaptation of the novel was performed by the

Yasunori Kato
in future film adaptations.

Manga

Film

In 1988, a cinematic adaptation of the same name, adapting the first four volumes of the novel, was released by Toho Studios. The film received positive critical reception and was a commercial success,[7] becoming one of the top ten highest grossing domestic movies of that year.[20] The movie was eventually distributed to Western markets under the title Tokyo: The Last Megalopolis

The success of this adaptation prompted the production of a sequel, Tokyo: The Last War (1989), loosely based on the 11th book, Great War in the Capital.

In 1991, the first cinematic adaptation was remade into a four-part

Madhouse. The anime was adapted to the US by Streamline Pictures under the title Doomed Megalopolis in 1995. Although the plot of the anime loosely parallels the original story, the production is renowned for being darker and more provocative than its source material or any other adaptation preceding it.[7]

Video games

See also

  • Musubi no Yama Hiroku – Another classic historical fantasy novel with a similar premise by renowned science fiction author Ryō Hanmura
  • The Sea of Fertility – Yukio Mishima's character arc in Teito Monogatari is modeled on this classic tetralogy

References

  1. ^ 文芸雑誌小說初出総覧:1981-2005. Pg. 92.
  2. ISBN 0312198698
    )
  3. ^
    ISBN 0874217938
    )
  4. ^ Kazuhiko, Komatsu. "Seimei jinja" 28-61
  5. ^ "日本SF大賞" (in Japanese). Science Fiction Writers of Japan. Retrieved June 1, 2009.
  6. ^ Kadokawa Shoten Press Release for SHIN TEITO MONOGATARI
  7. ^
    ISBN 0953656470
    )
  8. ISBN 0-517-57374-1
  9. ^ Fuji TV "Odessa of stairs" <2013.02>
  10. ISBN 0874217938
    )
  11. ^ Hayashi, Makoto et al.; "Onmyodo in Japanese History"; Japanese Journal of Religious Studies
  12. ^ Japanese Review of TEITO MONOGATARI (1988). Retrieved on 2012-8-07.
  13. ^ Shūkyō Kenkyūkai, Japanese Journal of Religious Studies, Volume 74, Issues 324-327, Pg. 273, University of Michigan, 2000
  14. ^ Rechio, Devin T. "Constructing Abe no Seimei: Integrating Genre and Disparate Narratives in Yumemakura Baku's Onmyoji". University of Massachusetts-Amherst. Masters Theses. May 2014
  15. ISBN 070071409X
    )
  16. ^ Reider, Noriko T. "Oni and Japanese Identity". Utah State University Press, 2010.
  17. ^ Masao, Higashi. "A Mammoth Story which Leads Reality: The Impact of TEITO MONOGATARI", KWAI Magazine, vol. 23
  18. ^ Okawada, Akira. "The Comprehensive Tokyo Related Science Fiction", S-F Magazine, September 2010, Hayakawa Shoubo
  19. ^ "Tokyo Grand Guignol". Usumaru Furuya Unofficial Website. Retrieved 2011-11-11.
  20. ^ John A. Lent. The Asian Film Industry, pg. 41, Christopher Helm Publishers Ltd, February 22, 1990

External links

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