The Book of the Dead: A Tale of the Soul from the Nara Period ■ Public Media theater ■ Original Media novel ■ Release date February 11, 2006 - January 1, 0000 ■Distribution company Iwanami Hall, Sakura Eigasha Co., Ltd. ■Frequencies 70 min ■ Number of Episodes Episode 1 ■Original Story From Shinobu Orikuchi's "Book of the Dead" ■ Director Kihachiro Kawamoto ■ Production・Planning: Kihachiro Kawamoto New Puppet Animation Production Committee ・Production: Sakura Eigasha Co., Ltd. ■Works ©2005 Sakura Eigasha Co., Ltd. / Kawamoto Productions Ltd. ■ Story The time is Nara. It is an era when Yamato culture and the colorful culture that came from the continent competed and blended together. In Heijo-kyo, Otomo no Yakamochi and Emi no Oshikatsu are discussing the Yamato spirit and the talents of the Chinese. A young lady from the powerful Fujiwara Minami family has awakened to the newest culture of the time - Buddhism - and has begun copying a thousand copies of the Praise of the Pure Land Sutra. At dusk on the middle day of the equinox, she sees a solemn figure of a god appearing, sparkling above Mount Nijo. The evening after she has completed copying her thousandth copy of the sutra, it is raining, and as if possessed, she leaves her mansion and makes her way to the foot of Mount Nijo. She finds herself in the grounds of Taima-dera Temple, which is off-limits to women.
She meets the soul of Prince Otsu, who continues to wander because of his attachment to this world, and before long she begins to see the prince and her beloved in common. The souls of the prince and her beloved are drawn to each other, and her single-minded heart calms the wandering soul of Prince Otsu... ■Explanation The setting of "The Book of the Dead" is the Nara period. While culture in the capital of Heijo flourished, it was also a time when epidemics and plagues were rampant, and the Great Buddha of Todaiji Temple was built and an eye-opening ceremony was held in prayer for the emperor's recovery. It was also a time when people in power fought repeatedly over wealth and power. It was a time when it was believed that spirits resided in all things, and when Buddhism, which had been brought from the continent, was finally beginning to permeate society.
This work is set against such a historical background and tells the story of the salvation of the soul and the depth of faith. Director Kihachiro Kawamoto uses puppet animation to realistically express the scenery of the Nara period and the emotions of the people. The original work, "The Book of the Dead" by Shinobu Orikuchi, is a work that delves deeply into traditional Japanese beliefs and culture from a folkloric perspective, and recreating that worldview through animation was a very challenging endeavor.
The work depicts people living under the influence of Buddhism, and particularly emphasizes the deep faith of the young lady of the Southern Fujiwara family. Her act of copying a thousand sutras is not merely a religious ritual, but is depicted as an act of seeking purification and salvation for her own soul. Her encounter and interaction with Prince Otsu's soul is also a test of her faith, symbolizing her growth and change in her heart.
Furthermore, the work provides a detailed portrayal of the social and cultural background of the time, allowing viewers to get a glimpse into the life and customs of the Nara period. For example, the cultural exchanges in Heijo-kyo and the fear of epidemics and the growing religious faith of the people are depicted realistically. In addition, the setting of Taima-dera Temple, where women are not allowed to enter, is an important element that shows the religious norms and the status of women at the time.
Music and sound effects are also important elements in enhancing the atmosphere of the work, and Ryohei Hirose's music beautifully expresses the scenery of the Nara period and the emotions of the people, while Yukio Hokari's sound effects heighten the tension and mystique of the work.
Overall, "The Book of the Dead" is a beautiful and profound work that explores the themes of salvation and the depth of faith. Viewers will empathize with the protagonist's inner journey and be inspired to reflect on their own faith and values while learning about the culture and customs of the Nara period. ■Cast・The daughter of the Southern Fujiwara clan / Rie Miyazawa・Prince Otsu / Tetsunojo Kanze・Otomo no Yakamochi / Takaaki Enoki・Emi Oshikatsu / Toru Emori・Grandmother of the storyteller of Toma / Tetsuko Kuroyanagi・Misa's wet nurse / Noriko Shindo・Villager elder begging for souls / Noboru Mitani・Princess Ohaku / Yoko Kanze・Narration / Kyoko Kishida ■ Main staff Original story by Shakatiku (Orikuchi Shinobu)
Director, scriptwriter, puppeteers: Kihachiro Kawamoto Producer: Hideyo Murayama Producer: Junko Fukuma Cinematographer: Minoru Tamura, Kunihiko Itami Art: Mizuki Kudo Animation: Koichi Oikawa, Masaaki Mori, Yuri Norshtein (Friendship Animation)
・Sound effects: Yukio Hokari ・Music: Ryohei Hirose ・Lighting: Minoru Tamura, Kunihiko Itami ・Puppets: Junko Hosaka ・Planning: Kihachiro Kawamoto New Puppet Animation Production Committee ・Production: Sakura Eigasha Co., Ltd. ■ Main Characters・Daughter of the Fujiwara Nanke Family
Daughter of Fujiwara Toyonari Ason. She possesses both intelligence and sincere faith. Her single-minded love for her beloved led her to walk through the stormy wilderness to Taima Temple. She is modeled after Princess Chujohime, who is said to have woven the Taima Mandala.
・Prince Otsu
The son of Emperor Tenmu. He was handsome, skilled in both literature and martial arts, and highly popular. In the story, he is executed for treason, but becomes obsessed with Mimimen Toji, whom he sees on his deathbed, and becomes a ghost, wandering the earth.
・Otomo no Yakamochi
One of the compilers of the Manyoshu. A gifted man who loved learning and poetry, he was politically unpopular. In the story, he appears as an introspective, unattached, resigned person.
・Emi Oshikatsu
The second son of Fujiwara no Muchimaro and Otome's uncle. He rose to great heights, but was later forced to rebel when his plot was discovered. In the story, he appears as a very worldly person.
・The Storyteller's Grandmother of Taima
An old woman who is a storyteller in the village of Touma. Otome listens intently to the story she tells of Prince Otsu. This makes the old woman develop an obsession with Otome, and later she takes on the appearance of a nun and helps her.
・Musanochiomo (nurse)
She is the wet nurse of the young lady. She values formality and is arrogant, but she protects and serves the young lady and respects her intelligence. She rushes to Taimadera Temple first and serves the young lady who is in abstinence at the hermitage.
・Soul-begging Village Elder
The elder of the villagers is sent to pray for the soul of a young woman who was spirited away. He ends up awakening the spirit of Prince Otsu, who was executed 50 years ago, from within his grave. ■ Related works・Prologue: The Heavens of the Past ■ Review "The Book of the Dead" is a very interesting work as a story of the soul of the Nara period. Director Kihachiro Kawamoto uses the technique of puppet animation to realistically express the scenery of the Nara period and the emotional movements of the people. This is a very challenging attempt, and his technique and artistry should be highly praised.
In addition, the original work, "Book of the Dead" by Shinobu Orikuchi, is a work that delves deeply into traditional Japanese beliefs and culture from a folkloric perspective, and it is extremely difficult to recreate that worldview in animation. However, Kihachiro Kawamoto has brilliantly taken on the challenge, deeply moving viewers.
The work depicts people living under the influence of Buddhism, and particularly emphasizes the deep faith of the young lady of the Southern Fujiwara family. Her act of copying a thousand sutras is not merely a religious ritual, but is depicted as an act of seeking purification and salvation for her own soul. Her encounter and interaction with Prince Otsu's soul is also a test of her faith, symbolizing her growth and change in her heart.
Furthermore, the work provides detailed portrayals of the social and cultural context of the time, allowing viewers to get a glimpse into the life and customs of the Nara period. For example, the cultural exchanges in Heijo-kyo and the fear of epidemics and the growing religious faith of the people are depicted realistically. In addition, the setting of Taima-dera Temple, where women are not allowed to enter, is an important element that shows the religious norms and the status of women at the time.
The music and sound effects are also important elements in enhancing the atmosphere of the work, and Ryohei Hirose's music beautifully expresses the scenery of the Nara period and the emotions of the people, while Yukio Hokari's sound effects heighten the tension and mystique of the work.
Overall, "The Book of the Dead" is a beautiful and profound work that explores the themes of salvation and the depth of faith. Viewers will empathize with the protagonist's inner journey and be inspired to reflect on their own faith and values while learning about the culture and customs of the Nara period.
Although this work is based on a historical background, it deals with universal themes, making it appealing to a wide range of audiences. In particular, it is a work that makes you think deeply about faith and the salvation of the soul, so I would especially recommend it to those who are interested in religion and philosophy.
It is also recommended for those who want to appreciate the technique and artistry of Kihachiro Kawamoto's puppet animation. His works are not only visually beautiful, but also have deep messages that will leave a strong impression on the viewer.
Furthermore, this work is a good teaching material for learning about the culture and customs of the Nara period, as viewers can experience the social conditions of the time, such as the cultural exchanges in Heijo-kyo and people's fear of epidemics and growing religious faith.
Overall, The Book of the Dead is a beautiful and profound work that explores the themes of salvation of the soul and the depth of faith. Viewers will empathize with the protagonist's spiritual journey and be forced to reflect on their own faith and values while learning about the culture and customs of the Nara period. Although the story is based on a historical background, it deals with universal themes, making it appealing to a wide range of audiences. In particular, it is a work that makes viewers think deeply about faith and salvation of the soul, and is especially recommended for those who are interested in religion and philosophy. It is also recommended for those who want to enjoy the technique and artistry of Kihachiro Kawamoto's puppet animation. His work is not only visually beautiful, but also has a deep message that will leave a strong impression on viewers. Furthermore, this work is a good teaching material for learning about the culture and customs of the Nara period. Viewers can experience the social situation of the time, such as the cultural exchange in Heijo-kyo and the people's fear of the epidemic and their growing faith. |
