Jiraiya

Jiraiya (自来也 or 児雷也, literally "Young Thunder"), originally known as Ogata Shuma Hiroyuki (尾形周馬寛行), is the toad-riding protagonist of the Japanese folk tale Katakiuchi Kidan Jiraiya Monogatari (報仇奇談自来也説話) "The Tale of the Gallant Jiraiya"). The tale was originally a Yomihon that was published in 1806–1807, and was adapted into a serialized novel that was written by different authors and published in 43 installments from 1839 to 1868; one of its illustrators was woodblock artist Kunisada. Kawatake Mokuami then wrote a kabuki drama based on the first ten parts of the novel, which premiered in Edo in 1852, starring Ichikawa Danjūrō VIII in the leading role. Since then the story has been adopted into, several films, video games, and manga and has also influenced various other works.

Classic tale - Katakiuchi Kidan Jiraiya Monogatari

Katakiuchi Kidan Jiraiya Monogatari (報仇奇談自来也説話)  is considered the first novel or Yomihon to be adapted into a kabuki play, the novel was written by Kanwatei Onitake (感和亭鬼武) and was published between 1806 and 1807. The story was later adapted many more times with variations in the story.

Part 1: (Books 1–5)

The tale of Jiraiya starts with a poor masterless samurai, Isami Gentaro, who is wrongly jailed because he could not afford the rent for his farm. His family manages to get the money to pay his bail so Isami's father Kirakusai takes himself and his grandchild Tomokichi to pay Isami's bail. On the way to free Isami, Kirakusai is attacked and killed by Master Rokuyaon Gun. Master Gun then kidnaps the two-year-old Tomokichi and abandons him in a valley. During this time Ogata Shuma Hiroyuki, better known as Jiraiya who was a masterless samurai of the Miyoshi House, happens upon the young Tomokichi and decides to raise him as his son.

Gentaro is later released with the help of other villagers and becomes a vassal of Shiizu Kunihisa after proving his courage as a samurai. At the same time, Master Gun becomes a vassal of Shiizu Kunihisa as well. Gentaro and Master Gun then begin working together to capture Jiraiya as he is a wanted criminal, Jiraiya is caught at this time but manages to scheme his way out of jail. Gentaro eventually meets his wife Soe, who is now called Seino, and they discuss Gentaro's hatred for whoever murdered his father and his son. Master gun eavesdrops on this conversation and decides to steal their Amulet of protection also known as the seitensō (西天草). Master Gun proceeds to carry out his plan to steal the amulet of protection and then kills both Gentaro and Soe. Tomokichi learns that it was Master Gun who killed his family when he is dueling Master Gun for Midori, the stepdaughter of Gentaro. While the duel allows for a chance at Tomokichi's revenge he is unable to take his revenge as Master Gun uses the Amulet of protection to escape.

Master Gun is chased to Mt. Miyoko by Tomokichi and when he reaches the mountain he is accosted by the spirits of the dead until he comes along to a grotto where the Immortal Toad Ascetic lives. They converse and the immortal sees all of Master Guns' sins and even tells him that since there are dead souls haunting him and therefore must be a murderer and he would die from his sins. Master Gun begs the immortal to save him, the immortal feeling pity for Master Gun tells him he will help him once, he then uses his magic arts to send Master Gun down the mountain before warning him if he told anyone of this encounter he would die. He later gets drunk with one of Jiraiya's followers and tells him of the events at Mt. Miyoko. The morning after Master Gun leaves the Immortal, Jiraiya goes to Mt. Miyoko to visit the Immortal. The toad Ascetic then appears in front of Jiraiya and tells him even though he is a bandit who committed innumerable sins he will teach him one magic art as he admires his loyalty.

Shuma Hiroyuki, later known as Jiraiya, using a heavy gun to defeat a huge snake that preyed on his toads.

While Master Gun and Jiraiya are visiting the immortal Tomokichi has set out to find his missing stepfather Jiraiya and his parents' murderer Master Gun. Tomokichi finds Jiraiya and tells him what has happened to his father, mother, and grandfather. Jiraiya then vows he will help Tomokichi with his revenge and will be there to help when he is needed. Jiraiya then sends his troops to steal the Seitenso from Master Gun to lure him to where they planned to take revenge.

After luring Master Gun to a place called Kagamigaura, Tomokichi and Master Gun then engage in a battle. While Tomokichi almost fails, he is able to turn the tide thanks to Jiraiya's encouragement, announces he will take revenge for his grandfather and parents, and finally cuts off Master Guns' head, ending part one and the first revenge story.

Part 2: (Books 5–10)

The second part opens with the immortal on Mt. Miyoko appearing to Jiraiya in his dream and asking for his help, in return for teaching him more magic arts. Jiraiya sets off towards the mountain to save his master, when he arrives he sees a monstrous snake fighting his master, a giant toad. Jiraiya kills the snake and is rewarded by the immortal with more magic arts, which he uses to rob a rich man right after learning them. Since Jiraiya was wanted by the government he became a pirate and started plundering commercial ships, until one night at sea the ghost of his former lord Miyoshi Nagashige who asks him to take revenge on the Ishido family, and more specifically Ishido Haruchika. Jiraiya agrees and he soon after saves a vassal of Ishido name Agawa Uneo, and his companion Nagisa, the younger sister of another vassal named Madeno Hamanosuke, to which he tosses Agawa Uneo into the sea and takes Nagisa hostage. Agawa Uneo is then saved by a former member of his group and after recovering begins to pursue Jiraiya. During this time Madeno Hamanosuke goes to Mt. Kinki to pray to Benzaiten, a god related to snakes, for the safety of his lord. He is answered by a goddess who appears before him and gives him The Stone Conch otherwise known as the ishihara (石螺), which holds the power to negate magic arts and repel evil.

Tomokichi after taking revenge on Master Gun becomes a vassal of Shiizu Kunihisa and is ordered to take back the Amulet of protection from Jiraiya, to which he sets off in search of his adopted father. Tomokichi finds Jiraiya to take back the Amulet of protection, Jiraiya promises to return the Amulet of protection six months later as he needs it to complete his revenge, to keep this meeting a secret he summons a tsunami to kill all of Tomokichi's troops despite Tomokichi insisting on mercy for his troops. As well, Jiraiya invites Tomokichi to go with him on his revenge quest so that he would not be punished.

Jiraiya then begins his revenge plan, he starts by robbing betrothal gifts for Ishido Haruchika's daughter, Tamahitohime which leads to the death of Nagisa. After sneaking into the Nitsuki house Jiraiya summons a tsunami to kill all of the servants of the Nitsuki house in order for his troops to pretend to be the servants from the Nitsuki house and sneak into the Ishido residence. Jiraiya then finds a mountain hermit who was going to treat one of Ishido Haruchika's sick daughters, Jiraiya kills the hermit and then pretends to be the mountain hermit to sneak into the Ishido house. Jiraiya sneaks into Ishido Haruchikas's room and then cuts off his head.

After this Jiraiya calls on Tomokichi to return the Amulet of protection as he has promised. However, Madeno Hamanosuke shows up and announces that the head of Jiraiya has cut off belonged to Agawa Uneo and all of his troops were captured because a member of the Jiraiyas group, Asazuma was a vassal of Ishido and warned the Ishido house of Jiraiya's plan. Jiraiya tries to use his magic arts to defeat Madeno Hamanosuke, however, Madeno uses the Stone Conch that was given to him by Benzaiten to negate Jiraiya's magic arts. Jiraiya finally realizes that his death is at hand as he lived a sinful life and this is his justice, so before anyone can kill him he commits suicide and then turns to stone.

Characters

Isami Gentaro - Tomokichis's father who is imprisoned at the beginning of the story, later becomes a vassal of Shiizu Kunihisa and hunts down the bandit Jiraiya. He is killed by Master Rokuyaon Gun as part of his plot to steal the amulet of protection.

Kirakusai Gentaro - Isamis's Father and the Grandfather of Tomokichi, is killed by Master Rokuyaon Gun when he is on his way to pay his son's bail.

Soe Gentaro - Isami's wife and Tomokichis mother, sells herself to a brothel to pay for her husband's bail. She is later reunited with her husband but is killed by master Rokuyaon Gun as part of his plan to steal the amulet of protection.

Master Rokuyaon Gun - One of the story's main antagonists, is killed by Tomokichi as part of the first revenge plot that makes up the story.

Tomokichi Gentaro - Jiraiyas adopted son, he is kidnapped by Master Rokuyaon Gun as a child and left to die where he is found by Jiraiya. He grows up and takes revenge on Master Rokuyaon Gun for killing his family.

Ogata Shuma Hiroyuki - otherwise known as Jiraiya, is the titular protagonist of the story.

Shiizu Kunihisa - the head of the Kunihisa household and is who Master Rokuyaon Gun and Isami Gentaro served before their deaths and who Tomokichi serves after he takes revenge on Master Rokuyaon Gun

The Immortal Toad Ascetic - the immortal toad ascetic that lives on Mt. Miyoko and helps Master Rokuyaon Gun escape Mt. Miyoko. As well he teaches Jiraiya several magic arts throughout the story.

Miyoshi Nagashige - Ogata Shuma Hiroyukis late lord, he appears to Jiraiya as a ghost and asks him to take vengeance on the Ishido house, but more specifically on Ishido Haruchika.

Ishido Haruchika - the head of the Haruchika family, he is the second antagonist of the story as he is the one that Jiraiya is asked to kill by his late lord Miyoshi Nagashige.

Agawa Uneo - is a vassal of Ishido Haruchika and is captured by Jiraiya and tossed into the sea, but later is used as a decoy for lord Ishido during Jiraiyas plan to take revenge.

Madeno Hamanosuke - is a vassal of Ishido Haruchika, his sister is captured by Jiraiya and later dies and so he planned to take revenge on Jiraiya. He is also given the Stone Conch otherwise known as the ishihara (石螺) which was given to him by the god Benzaiten in order to negate Jiraiya's magic arts.

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  Jiraiya, Sunrise and Boat, Ukiyo-e by Utagawa Kunisada (1852).
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  Jiraiya riding a giant toad, depicted in an 1866 print by Yoshitoshi

English Translation - Jiraiya, or the Magic Frog

Plot

A popular version of the story was translated by William Elliot Griffis. The story starts with Jiraiya's father who was a castle lord being killed during one of many civil wars after he is killed young Jiraiya is hidden by a retainer and is able to escape to a place called Echigo where he spent the rest of his childhood. After escaping with the retainer, they are attacked by a band of robbers, and the retainer is killed after resisting. Jiraiya now led a wandering life in several provinces but wished to restore his family name. Since he was talented at swordsmanship and was exceptionally brave Jiraiya soon become a chief of his own band of robbers, where he would sneak in disguise to the places he robbed to learn where the treasure was stored. He would then come back and rob them later.

One day Jiraiya heard of an old man who lived in Shinano and he started off to rob him. The land was a place full of mountains and was full of snow in the winter. During the journey, he was beset by a great snowstorm and he took refuge in a small house that he happened upon, inside was a beautiful woman who treated him with great kindness. This did not change Jiraiya's nature as a robber though and after midnight he went to kill her with his sword while she was reading. However, in a flash, her body changed to a very old man who grabbed the heavy steel blade and easily broke it into pieces. He then announces his name as Senso Dojin, and that he is a giant frog that has lived on the mountain for hundreds of years. He pardons Jiraiya after telling him he could kill him easily and then teaches him magic arts. Jiraiya stayed with Senso Dojin for several weeks learning the magic arts of the mountain sprites in order to control the weather as well as to control frogs and change their shape and size at will. After Senso teaches him he forbids him from robbing or inuring the poor and helpless and to instead take from those who use and acquire money dishonesty and to help the need and suffering. He then turns into a giant frog and hops away.

After this Jiraiya sets out on his journey to help the poor and needy by helping a poor farmer whose crops failed and he could not pay his rent or loan on time. As well whenever a miser was robbed they would say that the young thunder had struck, as Jiraiya was very popular with the poor people of the time.

The image above is of Jiraiya wrestling with Yashagorō

During this time when Jiraiya was helping the poor and needy, a young maiden named Tsunade also lived in the same province of Kiushiu. She was a model daughter and was always obedient and kind. One day during her trip into the mountains for firewood she met a very old man who approached her and told her he had lived in the mountains for hundreds of years and that his body was really that of a snail. He then offers to teach Tsundae the powers of magic he possesses. She gladly accepted and began training daily with the old man. Once she had mastered the magic, she was advised to use her powers to defend the poor and destroy wicked robbers, and to join her powers with Jiraiya in the form of marriage. The old man then turns into a snail and crawls away. Tsunade then remarks that she and Jiraiya with the combination of slug magic and frog magic would be able to destroy a robber named Orochimaru, who was the son of a serpent. Tsunade and Jiraiya eventually met and were married soon after.

Soon after Jiraiya and Tsunade were married war broke out in Japan between the Tsukikage and the Inukage. In the war, the Tsukikage sought out the help of Jiraiya and Tsunade who agreed to help them with the war, while the other clan the Inukage sought the help of Orochimaru otherwise known as Dragon-coil. Orochimaru was known as a very wicked robber whose father was a man and mother was a serpent that lived at the bottom of lake Takura, he was skilled in the magic of the serpent and would spew venom on the strongest of warriors to destroy them.

During a respite between the conflicts, Jiraiya and Tsunade were resting in a monastery. In the monastery, there was also a princess named Tagoto that had fled from Orochimaru as he wanted her to be his bride. She hated Orochimaru and did not want to marry him, however, when Orochimaru upon hearing that Tagoto and Jiraiya were in the same monastery, immediately made his way to the monastery. He then kidnapped the princess Tagoto and poured poisonous venom onto the sleeping Jiraiya and Tsunade. After they are poisoned one of Jiraiya's pages, Rikimatsu, volunteers to go to India to retrieve the only antidote to cure Jiraiya and Tsunade. Rikimatsu then uses the magic he learned from the Tengus of the mountains he flies to India and back in one day and one night to deliver the antidote. After Jiraiya and his wife recovered the war broke out again, and in a great battle Orochimaru was killed and the Tagoto was rescued. Jiraiya was rewarded by being made a daimyo of Idzu.

At this point, Jiraiya had grown tired of war and the hardships that an active life brought, and he was glad to settle down to a peaceful life in Idzu. He spent the remainder of his day in peace and tranquility among his children and his grandchildren.

Characters

Ogata - Jiraiyas's late father was a castle lord in Kiushiu and was slain during a civil war.

Jiraiya - otherwise known as “young thunder”, is the protagonist of the story, his father was a castle laird in Kisushiu but is killed when he is young. He then becomes a bandit who uses his frog magic arts to help the poor and needy.

Tsunade - Jiraiya's wife, is taught slug magic by an old man whose real body turns out to be a slug. Her magic is strong against snake magic

Senso Dojin - he appears as an old man who teaches Jiraiya frog magic, and later reveals himself to be a giant frog

Orochimaru -otherwise known as Dragon-coil, is the son of a snake and is able to use snake magic which is strong again frog magic. He is the main antagonist of the story.

Rikimatsu - he is one of Jiraiya's pages, he learns Tengu magic and is instrumental in saving Jiraiya and Tsunade when they are poisoned by Orochimaru.

Popular Culture

The story of Jiraiya inspired three homonymous characters from the manga and anime series Naruto.

A Persona representing the spirit of Jiraiya is summoned by the character Yosuke Hanamura in Persona 4.

The 18th Super Sentai season, Ninja Sentai Kakuranger, features a character named Jiraiya (played by Kane Kosugi) who summons a giant black toad mecha.

The seventh installment of the Metal Hero Series, Sekai Ninja Sen Jiraiya features ninja student Toha Yamaji who identifies himself as Jiraiya to combat The Sorcerers Clan.

In Urusei Yatsura in episode 179, Cherry summons a giant slug and a giant toad to fight the spirit of a giant snake that possessed Sakura.

In Pokémon, Greninja is a dual Water/Dark-type Pokémon, the evolved form of Frogadier, and the final evolved form of Froakie, the Water-type starter of the Kalos region. with the appearance and abilities of both a frog and a ninja, pulling inspiration from Jiraiya.

See also

• Japanese folklore
• Jiraiya the Hero
• The Magic Serpent
• Sekai Ninja Sen Jiraiya
• Susanoo
• Yamata no Orochi

References

• "The Gallant Jiraiya". 2001-07-13. Archived from the original on July 13, 2001. Retrieved 2013-09-18.
• Zhang, Jin. The Didacticism of “Katakiuchi Kidan Jiraiya Monogatari” (2012). Web.
• Griffis, William Elliot (1880). Japanese Fairy World: Stories from the Wonder-Lore of Japan, New York, Steam Printing House pgs. 126–140.
• Jiraiya Goketsu Monogatari" (# 7, pp. 4–5), ca. 1850 | Brian P Coppola". Retrieved 2019-11-13.

External links

• Vintage Ninja writeup about the 1921 film Jiraiya
• 1821 version of the story (in Japanese)