Akanoppo Aonoppo is based on a picture story (emonogatari) serialized in Asahi Shinbun [Asahi Newspaper] in 1934. As the serialization had been famous, and because of its low price, the book was very popular. It is a sequel to the story titled "Kurumitarô" ["Walnut Boy"] serialized in Yomiuri Sande Manga [Yomiuri Sunday Comic], in which Kurumitarô, a descendant of Momotarô, wishes to make friends with ogres and invites them to Japan. In Akanoppo Aonoppo the boy's name is changed to Imano Momotarô and a red ogre and a
blue ogre enter an elementary school, making funny disturbances. Their
life is described humorously. Each page consists of four frames and the
sequence forms the story.
Takei Takeo became famous as an illustrator for children. In this book he is creates a picture story very similar to manga comics. In the early Showa era many illustrators for children drew for newspapers, especially for the Asahi. Akanoppo Aonoppo is remembered by people for a long time together with Takei's other work titled "Hatsumei Hatchan" ["Inventor Hatchan"] also serialized in the Asahi.
Another sequel was serialized in Nippon Shôkokumin Bunko [A Series for Japanese Young Nationals] series from 1935 to 1937.
A revised edition of Akanoppo Aonoppo was included in Shôgakukan no Yônen Bunko [Shôgakukan Younger Children's Pocket Books] series in 1955. In the later edition references to wartime were removed from the story. A reprint of the original was published by Holp Shuppan in 1978. |
