Hello, this is Miholly, a couple living in Kansai (Kyoto / Osaka) region, Japan:) In this blog, I would periodically want to write about our daily thoughts living in Japan. Hope it will be interesting for people living around the world ;)
*こんにちは、みほーりーです。英語でのアウトプットを心掛けて、定期的に日々思った事を英語で発信していきたいと思います。日本語訳も下につけるので、一緒に英語学習するという気持ちで読んで頂ければとても嬉しいです。いつか日本を飛び越えて世界に人たちにも読んでもらえたら嬉しいです(^^♪
This time I would like to share my thoughts after watching the film "The Tale of The Princess Kaguya". Hopefully more people will have an interest toward the film and the Japanese culture and history behind it. Here we go!
今回はスタジオジブリの「かぐや姫の物語」の紹介とそれを見て感じたことについて紹介したいと思います。たくさんの人にこの映画をみるキッカケとなったら嬉しいです。
- The Tale of The Princess Kaguya -かぐや姫の物語-
- Storyline -あらすじ-
- Full of Emotions -溢れ出る感情-
- Life of Heian Period in Motion -平安時代の暮らしが活き活きと-
- As a Closing Note -終わりに-
The Tale of The Princess Kaguya -かぐや姫の物語-
There are so many old tales around the world and so do in Japan. One the most well known is the tale of Princess Kaguaya that is written around Heian Period 9th-10th century. And in 2013 Studio Ghibili, an animation studio well known for several masterpieces, created a film of this tale "The Tale of The Princess Kaguya". The film, directed by Takahata Isao is nominated as an 87th Animation Award for Best Animated Feature. With this film, the very well known tale was suddenly reformed into dramatic story, and it made me feel burst into several emotions.
世界中に古くから伝わる昔話があるように、日本にもあります。そのうち、1番といっても良いくらいに知られているのが平安時代に書かれた「かぐや姫の物語（竹取物語）」です。2013年にはスタジオジブリで「かぐや姫の物語」としてアニメーションが高畑勲監督によって製作され、第８７回アカデミー賞の長編アニメーション賞にノミネートされています。この映画によって、誰もが知る昔話が突如ドラマティックで感情に溢れる物語と変貌することになりました。
Storyline -あらすじ-
First of all, let me share with you the basic story line of Princess Kaguya.
If you want to see the English trailer here it is:
まずはかぐや姫の基本的なあらすじについて紹介します。(ネタバレ注意) もし、予告編を見たい場合はこちらも見てみてくださいね。
In the Village -村で-
There was an old bamboo-cutter Okina ("Old man" in old Japanese), who was out in the mountain doing his routine of cutting and collecting bamboo and bamboo shoots. Then he finds one of a bamboo shining brightly in front of him. As he cut into the bamboo, he finds a tiny girl sleeping in it. And Okina and his wife decide to raise this girl feeling a sense of fate. The girl grows up in a very speedy manner, and starts to play around with the children in the village, and eventually be named "Takenoko (Baboo shoot in Japanese)". She also has a close relationship with a friend called Sutemaru.
昔、竹取の翁(おじいさん)はある光り輝く竹を見つけました。竹を切り開いてみるとその中に小さな幼子を発見しました。翁と媼(おばあさん)は、運命を感じ幼子を大切に育てることにしました。すると、それはスクスク育ち、周りの子供たちともよく遊ぶようになり「竹の子」と呼ばれるようになりました。また、捨丸という青年とも仲良くなります。
One day Okina finds again shining bamboo on the mountain, and there he finds lots of gold and variety of beautiful cloth used for dresses. By facing this incident, Okina realizes that this is the will of God to raise Takenoko as a member of the noble society in the capitol, and let her become the princess.
ある日翁は再度光り輝く竹を見つけ、その中から大量の金と雅な着物が出てきます。これを見て、翁は天は竹の子を都での貴族社会の一員として育て、姫にすることを望まれていると確信します。
To the Capital -都へ-
Okina and his wife move into the city to the palace with several servants, and let Takenoko a receive special training to become a noble princess. Eventually Takenoko is given a name Princess Kaguya. Although, Kaguya is opposed to the noble lifestyle that sacrifices her freedom, her reputation of beauty gradually spreads in the capital, and there comes five men who wish to marry her. Being doubtful about their intention, Kaguya gives each of them a quest to bring the precious treasures that the suiters say Kaguya have the same level of value. However, all of the suitors fail to bring the treasure.
翁たちは都に召使を多数抱えた宮廷を構え、竹の子に姫となるにふさわしい教育を受けさせます。やがて竹の子にはかぐやという名前が与えられることになります。かぐやは自由を犠牲にして過ごす貴族としての暮らしに疑問を持つ一方、彼女の美貌についての噂は広まるばかり。そして、５人の求婚者が現れることになりました。ただ、それぞれの思惑に懐疑的なかぐやは、求婚者が自分に相当するといわれた宝物を実際にもってくるように要望をします。ただ、どの求婚者もそれを持って来ることはできませんでした。
To the Moon -月へ-
Eventually Mikado (the Emperor) request Okina to let Kaguya be his wife. However Kaguya declines him feeling fear of his aggressive approach purely based on his desire. And at the same time, she spontaneously makes a wish to go back to her home place, the moon.
やがて帝がかぐやの噂を聞きつけ、彼女を手に入れようと迫ってきます。ただ、それを恐れたかぐやは帝を拒絶し、心の中で月に戻りたいという願いをしてしまいます。
Although Kaguya actually has the strong thought towards her life in the capital, it is too late to regret it and take back her wish. She also imagines the possible life that she could have spent in the village with Sutemaru.
かぐやは現世の生活に強い思いがありましたが、もはや月への願いを取り消すことにはすでに遅し。彼女は捨丸と村であのまま過ごせていたらと思いめぐらせます。
Kaguya confesses to Okina and his wife that she came from the moon, and at the next full moon there will be a she need to go back. Okina could not accept her confession and try as much as he can to protect Kaguya from the people of the moon.
かぐやは翁たちに実は月から来たことと、次の満月の時には迎えがくることを打ち明けます。翁はそれを受け入れることはできず、あらゆる手立てを講じてかぐやを月から守ろうとします。
However, on the night of the full moon, none of the protective measure had an effect. Kaguya is taken back by the Gods in the moon, and she had to wear a cloth that erased her memories during the time spent with Okina and his wife . Finally, as Kaguya approaches to the moon, she looks back at the earth with tears, having slight dream of the days she spent on the land.
しかしながら、満月の夜、対抗策は無力でかぐやは現世での記憶を消されて月に戻されてしまいます。月に目指す最中、かぐやは涙を浮かべて地球を見て現世でのわずかな思いを巡らします。
Full of Emotions -溢れ出る感情-
Though this tale is well known story for us, I have never thought about the real feeling of the characters in this story until now. Then I was surprised by watching this film by Studio Ghibli. The emotions of each character were portrayed in detail, and it gave me an impact to feel as if I am experiencing the story in the film. Not only Kaguya, but Okina and her wife and the friend Sukemaru... all of them experience a transition of Emotions as they spend the time together with Kaguya. It is just my surprise that the old time story, the emotions are portrayed in detail and thorough manner.
日本ではよく知られた物語であるにもかからわらず、それ以上に登場人物の気持ちをじっくりと考えたことはありませんでした。そこで、スタジオジブリが製作したかぐや姫の物語をみて驚きました。翁や媼、かぐや姫と各登場人物の心情が丁寧に表現されていて感情移入、強いインパクトを感じました。馴染みのある昔話がこんなにも今を生きている私たちの心を揺さぶることに驚きました。
Such world that we live in may be far different than that of the perfected environment of people in heaven. But looking through Kaguya's point of view, it made me realize the beauty of our world that is filled with a variety of emotions, not only happiness but also sadness, anger and many more. Thing are not always what we intend to be, but that is what makes our life interesting... and it made me cry.
完全な月の天上人の世界とは全然異なるかもしれない。けれど、喜怒哀楽に溢れた私たちが住む世界の素晴らしさについてかぐや姫の感情の変化を通して考えさせられました。喜びだけではなく、悲しみや怒りなども含め、物事は思うようにはいかないかもしれないけれど、それがまた人生を興味深くすると思いました。そうしたら、なんだか涙が出てきました。
Life of Heian Period in Motion -平安時代の暮らしが活き活きと-
Also, the way the various scenes of the Heian period society were illustrated in the film were very interesting. The way noble people enjoy rich and gorgeous living, and how the people in the village make their living through hunting, gathering, and crafting of the plates.
そして、この映画で描かれている日本の平安時代の様子が、活き活きと描かれているのも面白かったです。貴族の宮殿での贅沢で雅な暮らし、そして庶民が山で狩りや収穫をして暮らし、木から茶碗を掘って作成し、都へ卸にいく様子。
For most of us, the way we imagine the life of the past time is through historical pictures in the textbook, which is not really fun to see.. (especially during examination time..) If I could watch this film during my past school time, surely I would have more interest to my history classes.
私たちはこの時代のことを教科書の歴史的な絵画を見ながら想像してきましたが、(私は特に試験前とかは、、)特に興味深いとは感じなかったような気もします（笑）。当時にこのかぐや姫の物語をみることが出来たら、歴史の授業ももっと楽しくなっていたかもしれません。
Just as an example here are some of the painting that depicts the tale of Princess Kaguya. Both are painted around the 17th century. How interesting to see this at this moment after watching the film :)
一例として、かぐや姫の物語を描いた絵画を紹介しますね。こちらは17世紀中ごろに描かれたものです。映画を見た後だと、すごく興味深く感じられます（笑）
As a Closing Note -終わりに-
If you are interested in the film, please take your time and watch. The Blu-ray and DVD provide English dubbing and subtitles as well, so it should be great for learning English and Japanese as well. I am very interested to hear your comments as well, not only Japanese but especially the people living abroad :)
もし、かぐや姫の物語に興味が出てきたら是非みてみてください。ブルーレイやDVDでは、英語の音声や字幕もあるので、英語や日本語の勉強にも適していると思いますよ。ぜひ海外の方にも見ていただきたいなと思いました。どんな反応を持つのかすごく興味があります(^^)/
Thank for reading and if you are interested please try my other English blog as well :)
ここまで、読んでくれてどうもありがとうございました！もし興味があったら、こちらの英語ブログも読んでみてくださいね(^^♪
See you again in the next article (^^)/
それでは、また次の記事で(^^)/
