Many anime watchers have fallen in love withKaguya-sama: Love Is War, and it’s easy to see why. The anime’s unique approach to romance stands out among the soft, slow, and overtly romantic shoujo anime of the past. However, many fans do not know about the piece of Japanese literature the show is inspired from.
Kaguya-sama: Love Is Waris a romantic comedy showcasing an overly dramatic cat-and-mouse game between the two protagonists, Miyuki Shirogane and Kaguya Shinomiya, who are persistent in forcing the other protagonist toadmit their love for each other first. Miyuki Shirogane and Kaguya Shinomiya are both the top student body representatives, and often the other representatives get roped into their shenanigans. Funimation has licensed the English dub, and the manga reached over 15 million copies sold in April of last year. The manga began in 2015 in Shueisha’sMiracle Jump, but was transferred toYoung Jumpin 2016. The 26th volume was just released last month, on June 17. The third season also ended with an hour-long episode last month as well, and a movie has been recently announced. AlthoughKaguya-sama: Love Is Warisn’t a direct adaptation, it still takes plenty of inspiration from a piece of classic Japanese literature forthe main characters in the anime. In fact, the classic Japanese literature that inspiresKaguya-sama: Love Is Waris considered to be the oldest surviving monogatari, a form of Japanese fiction often likened to long fantasy epics of the modern day.
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The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter
The monogatari thatKaguya-sama: Love Is Waris calledThe Tale of the Bamboo Cutter, or in Japanese竹取物語, romanized asTaketori Monogatari.The Tale of the Bamboo Cuttertells the story of Kaguya-hime, a princess who was discovered in the stalk of a bamboo plant, andlater discovered to be sent from the Moon. Once she is mature, there are five suitors who profess their love for her and attempt to win her over, much to Kaguya-hime’s annoyance.
Five of the many suitors who want to marry Kaguya-hime after she becomes an adult are nobles. Prince Ishitsukuri (石作皇子), Prince Kuramochi (車持皇子), the Minister of the Right Abe no Mimuraji (右大臣阿倍御主人), the Grand Counselor Ōtomo no Miyuki (大納言大伴御行), and the Middle Counselor Isonokami no Marotari (中納言石上麻呂).Kaguya-hime isn’t interested in a suitor, so she gives each of these nobles an impossible task to complete if they want her hand, the nobles agree.
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The first noble, Prince Ishitsukrui, was tasked to bring her the stone begging bowl from Buddha himself. The first noble decided to bring Kaguya-hime a fake bowl, however, as it does not glow with holy lightKaguya-hime turned the first noble down. The second noble is asked to bring a jeweled branch from a mythical island, and he commissions one from the finest jeweler in the country. However, the bill from the jeweler is sent to Kaguya’s residence, and he is also caught in his lies. The third noble is deceived by a merchant claiming to have the magical robe of Chinese fire-rat skins, the fourth gives up during his quest, and the fifth noble dies from a drastic fall when trying to gather his item.
The Emperor of Japan visits and although Kaguya-hime falls in love, rejects his request as he is from another country than she is from.Although Kaguya-hime continues to reject his many proposals, they stay in contact via letter. Meanwhile, Kaguya-hime confesses to her adoptive parents that she is not of Earth, and is instead from the moon and will have to return soon. The reason why varies historically. The Emperor sends his guards to protect Kaguya-hime, not knowing the visitors from the moon are her people.
Finally, she ascends to the moon where she belongs. She apologizes to her adoptive parents, and those who she became friends with on Earth, but especially to the Emperor.Kaguya-hime has also left an elixir of immortalityfor the Emperor, however, he burns it as he does not want to live an eternity without Kaguya-hime.
How Does This Apply To Kaguya-sama: Love Is War?
Aside from a few references sprinkled throughout the anime,The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter’s main influence onKaguya-sama: Love Is Waris on the main cast of characters.Plot-wise there is little effect, however, the personality and other character traits of the main group of characters are directly inspired by characters in the monogatari, according to the official fanbook as well as interviews with the author of the manga, Aka Akasaka.
Kaguya Shinomiya, the protagonist and titular character, is of course inspired by Kaguya-hime. According to the official fanbook, Kaguya’s personality is inspired by how the manga’s author feels aboutKaguya-hime’s reluctance and callousness toward the suitors. Miyuki Shirogane, the other protagonist and main love interest, is based off of the fourth suitor who gives up on his quest to find a specific mythical gem after encountering a storm at sea. However, when he dives into the river to save Kaguya’s hair ribbon despite his inability to swim, it is speculated that this represents him overcoming the obstacle the noble he’s based on had encountered.
Chika, however, is based off of the second suitor,who was tasked to find the jeweled branch. In fact, Chika’s bad habit of cheating during board games is representative of the noble she represents passing off the forged branch as the real one to Kaguya-hime in the monogatari, according to the official fanbook. As an added bonus, all of her family have names that mean ‘branch’ in Japanese.
Finally, out of the main four Yu Ishigami is based off of the fifth suitor,who had died after falling off of a cliffwhen trying to retrieve his goal, a cowry shell in a swallow’s nest. It has been confirmed that Ishigami’s gloomy personality is based off of the noble he represents having died. In chapter 156, it is implied that Ishigami nearly falling to his death on stairs is representative of the noble he’s based off of’s past.
Although there are not significant plot tie-ins, most of the names and character personalities in the anime and manga are representative of characters and entities in the oldest recorded monogatari,The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter. Fans ofKaguya-sama: Love Is Warwill have to stay tuned during the upcoming movie and final manga chapters to pick up on more references.
