Mt. Monmon is Crying

STORY

This is an imaginary short story reminiscent of a folk tale, created by Osamu Tezuka based on his childhood experiences.

In the fall of 1925, a young boy named Shigeru, who is in elementary school, faces constant teasing from his classmates due to his short stature and timid nature. Each day, he is pressured to compete in a Poplar Wrestling Match against a stronger child, a game that involves pulling on intertwined stems of a Poplar tree—something Shigeru has never won. One day, while visiting Mt. Monmon to collect new stems, he encounters a mysterious young man who claims to be the spirit of a white snake worshiped at the Snake Shrine. This young man assists Shigeru in various ways.

As time passes and Shigeru enters junior high school, it becomes evident that war is approaching, even in his small village. The young man, who is actually a pacifist, is ultimately sent to the battlefield.

The story does not disclose whether the young man is truly obsessed with snakes; it can be interpreted that he pretends to be delusional, claiming to be the spirit of a snake to avert the attention of authorities. However, it is obvious Tezuka intended to convey an anti-war message and a warning about the destruction of nature. In the final frame, he poignantly expresses his sorrow for his hometown, which is being devastated by human actions.