Learning Club: The First Regional Folklore Club Meeting Starts! ~Kappas, Prayers, and Regional Differences in New Year's Traditions~
The Kokugakuin University Media note "Learning Club: Regional Folklore Club" has finally started.
Although we were still feeling our way through the process, it was a warmer and more enjoyable time than I had imagined.
After our self-introductions, we spent an hour in the blink of an eye introducing folklore related to our own regions and asking questions about topics we were curious about.
I truly felt that a place where people of various regions and ages can gather and casually talk with others who share similar interests and sensibilities is incredibly valuable.
I'm excited about the prospect of it becoming even more interesting in the future if more people join from across the country or if we can hold offline meetings.♨🍠
The topics this time were...
・The theory that Kappas are a euphemism for "kuchiberashi" (reducing the number of mouths to feed)
・The theory that children of ethnic groups who could not fit into the community became Zashiki-warashi
・What we pray for at shrines
・Regional customs for the New Year
What left a particularly strong impression on me was the theory about Kappas and "kuchiberashi."
There is a folktale passed down in Kihoku Town, Mie Prefecture, called "Kankarakoboshi (Kappa) and Jirozaemon,"
and while I only had the image of Kappas as "symbols of water accidents caused by mischief in the river,"
the perspective of connecting them to the social background of "kuchiberashi (population control)" was fresh.
🏞 The folktale "Kankarakoboshi and Jirozaemon"
In this story, it is said that a Kappa swore to the family of Minato Jirozaemon
that it would "never cause mischief again for the rest of its life."
Since then, it is said that the custom of "exchanging parent-child sake cups with the Minato family" was born
to avoid the Kappa's mischief, which meant avoiding water accidents.
Information on the next meeting and a detailed report on this one are scheduled to be published on the Kokugakuin Media note.
If you are interested, please check it out!
And let's talk together next time!👺✨
↓ The detailed report has been uploaded✨