Sakaiminato City, Tottori Prefecture, is known as the mecca of Japanese monster culture. This is where the genius manga artist Shigeru Mizuki was born and raised, and where the great monster work "GeGeGe no Kitaro" was born. The author will visit Sakaiminato City and get to the essence of "GeGeGe no Kitaro" that he felt there.
Mizuki Shigeru Road and Gegege no Kitaro
When we arrived in Sakaiminato, we were surprised to find that the entire town was immersed in the world of GeGeGe no Kitaro. Mizuki Shigeru Road is not just a tourist spot. By walking here, you can feel closer to the world of the monsters created by Mizuki Shigeru, and at the same time, you can also come into contact with the profound messages contained in his work. This road, created together with the local Sakaiminato city and GeGeGe no Kitaro, is a valuable place to experience and deepen your understanding of Japanese monster culture. Why not experience the charm of Mizuki Shigeru Road, where the monsters await you?
Social criticism in the work Gegege no Kitaro
While Gegege no Kitaro is a beloved entertainment for many people, it also contains strong social criticism. The monsters that Shigeru Mizuki created are not just fictional characters, but are also tools to highlight the contradictions and problems in human society. For example, Ratman is known for his cunning and greed, but he is not just a villain. He symbolizes the self-centered behavior and corruption that pervades human society, and his very existence exposes the dark side of human society. Kitaro is also depicted confronting Ratman and other monsters, while sometimes seeking coexistence with them. This is also evidence that Shigeru Mizuki was exploring the foolishness of humans and how we can still live together.
The meaning behind the monsters that appear in Gegege no Kitaro
What struck me while speaking with the local people in Sakaiminato was that the yokai still have an important meaning in modern society. "GeGeGe no Kitaro" is not a work of the past, but one that reflects modern issues. For example, environmental destruction and excessive economicism are problems that have continued unchanged since Shigeru Mizuki's time to the present, and the yokai appear in the story as if to implicitly criticize them. Kitaro and his friends are depicted as being "different" even in modern times. However, it is this difference that highlights what is being overlooked in modern society and what needs to change. Shigeru Mizuki continues to offer sharp criticism of modern society through his yokai.
Through experiences in Sakaiminato City
What I felt in Sakaiminato was that "GeGeGe no Kitaro" is not just a work of entertainment. The work sounds a warning about social problems that continue to this day. And the perspective on monsters that Shigeru Mizuki developed here makes us think about how we view modern society and how we should live. I feel that this interview allowed me to touch upon the true nature of the author's humanity and a glimpse of the true meaning embedded in the work GeGeGe no Kitaro. At the same time, these two days were fascinated by Japanese monsters.
[Author: KA]