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The Magic Ballad
TITLE DETAILS

The Magic Ballad

1982-01-01 · 26 min · ★ 5.2

Animation

The 25 minute film tells the tale of an ailing elderly woman named Itako who encounters a fox named Okon. The story opens with Itako lying bedridden, as she has for a long time. Okon enters her home and Itako tells the fox that he is welcome to take anything that he wants, for she has no use for anything anymore. Okon is delighted and in order to return the favour (the act of ongaeshi), Okon performs a magic jyōruri (a ballad with shamisen accompaniment) that heals Itako so that she is fit enough to walk again. Everyone is surprised by Itako's sudden recovery. She then hears of a hunter who has been badly injured and is near death. Itako hides Okon in the back of her shirt and has the fox sing the song while she plays shamisen in order to heal the man. This act of kindness is repeated for others until Itako's good fortune leads some to be suspicious of her.

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Production details

Directors
Tadanari Okamoto
Production companies
Unavailable
Countries
Japan
Status
Released

Top Cast

Teruko NagaokaTeruko Nagaoka
Tetsuo GotoTetsuo Goto

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