“Umi no Minwa no Machi” Will Adapt 25 Japanese Folktales in 2023
The pleasure of rediscovering something that was commonplace in the past is unparalleled. Both myths and historical evidence attest to the splendor of the past. When one contemplates it, they experience a sense of belonging to something vast and eternal.
One such effort that uses anime to spread “local folklore” to a new generation is “Umi no Minwa no Machi” (The City of Sea Folktales).
The Nippon Foundation revealed the series’ new animated iteration for ‘Umi no Minwa no Machi’ on Monday. There will be 25 episodes in the first season, which premieres in December 2023. As chairman of the executive and certification committee, Shinnosuke Numata is in charge of the project’s management.
In 2018, production began on an animation that would pass on Japan’s affinity for the ocean and the country’s sense of regional pride. They hope that the ideas, warnings, and lessons presented in these tales may help the youngsters who read them.
There are already 42 animated stories available on the website and YouTube as of the year 2022.
All twenty-five sea tales selected for the 2023 series adaptation have been posted on the official website. Yamanashi, Nagano, and Shiga will be featured as inland regions, while Yamagata and Ishikawa will be featured as coastal regions.
List of Episodes
| Ep. No. | Japanese Title | English Translation | City & Prefecture of Origin |
| 1. | Shima no Tengu-sama | Tengu-sama of the island | Haboro, Hokkaido |
| 2. | Kanda Kani | Kanda crab | Sotogahama, Aomori |
| 3. | Kamiwari Geki | Kamiwari rock | Minamisanriku, Miyagi |
| 4. | Kurokami to Akakami no Tatakai | Battle of the black god and the red god | Oga, Akita |
| 5. | Todo no Ongaeshi | Sea lion’s gratitude | Sakata, Yamagata |
| 6. | Karo-san no Tenga Myо̄jin | Long-armed god of Mt. Karо̄ | Shinchi, Fukushima |
| 7. | Yukideko no Shirohebi | White snake of the thawed snow mound | Funabashi, Chiba |
| 8. | Senju О̄hashi to О̄kame | Senju Great Bridge and the giant turtle | Adachi, Tokyo |
| 9. | Kujira Mikoshi | Whale palanquin | Imizu, Toyama |
| 10. | Tako Kamisama | Octopus god | Nanao, Ishikawa |
| 11. | Nishiogawa 11-men Kannon Bosatsu | Nishiogawa 11-headed bodhisattva | Obama, Fukui |
| 12. | Maritsuki-uta | Maritsuki song | Fujikawa, Yamanashi |
| 13. | Utо̄tо̄ge | Utо̄ Pass | Shiojiri, Nagano |
| 14. | Okuhamanako no Densetsu | The legend of the nue of Okuhamana Lake | Hanamatsu, Shizuoka |
| 15. | Ama no Tomokazuki | Female diver’s tomokazuki, or aquatic yо̄kai | Toba, Mie |
| 16. | Shikobuchi-san | Mt. Shikobuchi | Takashima, Shiga |
| 17. | Bettō no Shio | Steward’s tide | Awaji, Hyōgo |
| 18. | Daisen no Amidasama | Amida of Daisen | Daisen, Tottori |
| 19. | Kyūri no Kamisama Yamabe Jinja | Cucumber god’s shrine near the mountains | Gotsu, Shimane |
| 20. | Hyakkanjima Monogatari | Tale of Hyakkan Island | Fukuyama, Hiroshima |
| 21. | Naruto no Taiko | Naruto’s taiko drum | Naruto, Tokushima |
| 22. | Jizō ga Hama | Jizō seaside | Saijo, Ehime |
| 23. | Umi ni Shizunda Oni | The oni who sank in the sea | Nakatoka, Kochi |
| 24. | Koto no Umi no Tennyo | Celestial maiden of the koto’s sea | Higashisonogi, Nagasaki |
| 25. | Okanegahama to Okuregahama | Okanegahama to Okuregahama | Hyuga, Miyazaki |
I think these tales would help introduce foreign anime fans to Japan and its culture, allowing them to better understand and enjoy anime and manga. Adding the 2023 series to the website’s archive with English subtitles would be fantastic.
Umi no Minwa no Machi
In 2018, Shinnosuke Numata began production on the anime series “Umi no Minwa no Machi” (The City of Sea Folktales). The series retells regional Japanese sea tales to illustrate the country’s deep connection to the ocean.
Its secondary goal is to disseminate the lessons and insights contained in these traditional tales.
42 stories have been adapted as of the year 2022. Twenty-five regional Japanese tales will be adapted for the 2023 season.
