Kojiki: The Birth of Japan: The Japanese Creation Myth Illustrated

by Kazumi Wilds

Take a step back in time to the origins of Japan's creation myth--told here for the very first time in illustrated form.

In the beginning there was nothing--a void. Then the heavens and the earth took shape, as the ancient gods of Japan breathed the first sparks of life into these islands. The 1300 year-old Kojiki myth traces the beginnings of the Japanese people, following the rise of the Japanese islands from their humble origins as a lump of clay to a great nation that would one day take its rightful place among the leading nations of the world.

Like all creation myths from around the world, the Kojiki story occupies a treasured place in the nation's literature and collective imagination. Kazumi Wilds's striking illustrations capture the drama and intensity of a mythic tale where chaos and demons are unleashed and where darkness is slowly pushed back by the righteous, as good prevails over evil.

The Birth of Japan combines the raucous rhythms and startling imagery of today's best graphic novels with a retelling of a classic and timeless Japanese story. This book will be remembered and treasured for years to come by lovers of mythology, folklore and anyone interested in Japanese culture and history.

For readers ages 14 & up

Genres: Japan, Japanese Literature

32 pages, Hardcover

Published October 22, 2019

Reviews

[Estefania Pereira · Rating 2 out of 5]

AAAAAAANNDDDD, that was not what i needed

[Latifaa °♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This little book felt like a tale a grandma would share with her little grandkid. It's basically a quick rundown of how Japan came to be according to Japanese mythology. I'm really into Japanese mythology, and this book is a great way to start exploring it.

[Andrez]

illustrated version of the Japanese creation myth

[Doc · Rating 3 out of 5]

How a nation was born

Just as I reviewed Detective Comic's 1975 Bible comic at the end of last year I decided to to start this year with this book I picked up from Rightstuf before it was absorbed by Crunchyroll about the creation of Japan. More kids book than graphic novel this book does not cover the entirety of the Kojiki instead focusing primarily on the Kamitsumaki aka "Volume of the Age of the Gods" which explains how the heavens and Earth were created as well as a variety of deities which show up in Shinto beliefs. Of course it is not all sunshine and kittens as even gods have hardships whether just illness or grief but the art, which I must say is really nice, does help bring the story to life and the hard cover is nice though being a larger book might make for awkward shelving for some people later on.

If you are curious about Japanese mythology this is not a bad book to start out with though I think I would have preferred a comic more than the shadow puppet style art chosen even if the concept of the story was portrayed efficiently.

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Creation of the World but the Japanese/Shinto version.

I admit I bought the wrong book and this was not what I was expecting but it was a nice surprise to read it and I did enjoy it. It follows the creation mythology of Japan with the spirits. Very beautifully illustrated but at 32 pages long very short too -something I didn't pay attention to.

For what it was I enjoyed it. It was nice to read the author/artists note too on the meaning of the Kojiki to them and how it relates to the place where they live and their life. Same with the process behind the illustrations in book.

I do intend on buying the comprehensive translation by Basil Hall Chamberlain to delve deeper into the subject

[Tobi ﾄﾋﾞ| Spanish Immersion Week‽ · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Izanagi’s hot tears fell like hailstones and out of the teardrops was born the deity of weeping.”

A beautiful interpretation of Japans oldest surviving written work, The Kojiki from 712 C.E., a Japanese creation myth.

“Standing upon the Floating Bridge of Heaven, Izanagi and Izanami pushed down the spear and stirred the brine till it went curdle-curdle.”

[Carola Garza A · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a beautiful book.

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Impressive art! When you read at the back of the book how the author/illustrator created the illustrations, you can only try to imagine how much hard work and creativity went into it.

[Raven Nivhaar · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm always down for myths, and the illustrations were pretty.

[Jessada Karnjana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can appreciate it, though it’s not quite my thing.

[Jane Francis · Rating 5 out of 5]

(I rented this book expecting it to have notes and be a more full version of the Kojiki, so I'm adjusting my review to account for my own folly of not having previewed what I was actually getting.)
This is an appretiative binding of the very beginning of the traditional Japanese creation myth with some really fantastic artwork to serve for illustrations, although it is definently a bare-bones translation. However, that being said, the sparse retelling can be viewed as more of a guide to interpreting the illustrations, so from the standpoint of it as an art book which visually retells a myth it's quite good.

Also suitable for kids, as long as you're comfortable with the Izanagi/Izanami dialog of outside parts fitting into hollow ones. So like 12+ yrs? But that's entirely up to personal judgement.