The series was based on
the on the novel, Hsi yu ch'i (Literally: “Record
Of A Journey To The West”) by Wu Ch'eng-en (1505-1580),
which in turn was based on the semi-legendary pilgrimage
of the priest, Hsuan-Tsang (602-664 AD) also known as
Tripitaka, to India in the 7th century.
While the pilgrimage is historical fact,
in time certain liberties were introduced to the story,
turning it into a “supernatural adventure”
of spiritual exploration. These legends told that Hsuan-Tsang
was helped on his journey by a trio of supernatural
animal spirits (the Monkey-King, a pig-spirit and a
fish-spirit -later developed into a Kappa or Water Goblin).
The Monkey-King became a legend onto itself, becoming
a folklore icon (the Monkey-King character may have
been based on the Hindu Monkey God – Hanuman).
Wu Ch'eng-en took these folk stories
and made a definitive version, combining satire, fantasy,
comedy and allegory. Hsuan-Tsang's pilgrimage to India
became an allegory for man's pilgrimage through life.
The Novel was brought to the West under
the title, MONKEY, by Arthur Waley, originally published
by Allen & Unwin in 1942.
The path to India from China is often
referred to as the “Silk Road”.
Comedian, Singer and all around entertainer,
Sakai Masaaki was a member of the 60’s Japanese
Mod Band, “The Spiders”. He can still be
frequently seen on Japanese TV hosting programs such
as NHK’s yearly special the “Kohaku Uta
Gassen” (Red-White Song Contest).
Popular comedian and Singer, Nishida
Toshiyuki is another familiar face on Japanese TV and
film. As a singer he garnered some respectable hits,
one of the biggest being the melancholy "Moshimo
Piano Ga Hiketanara (If I Could Play Piano)".
Nishida’s film credits include
"Gakko I" and "Gakko II" ("A
Class To Remember" and "A Class To Remember
II") as well as the very popular "Tsuri Baka
Nisshi" series of films ("A Fishing Fool's
Diary").
Nishida recently suffered a heart attack
(3/3/2003) and was hospitalized for three days.
Kishibe Shiro was a member of the very
popular 60’s “GS Idol” (Group Sounds)
band “The Tigers”. Fellow band mate, lead
singer Sawada Kenji would later go on to dominate the
70’s music scene (following the lead of David
Bowie, Sawada would also take on an androgynous alter
ego persona named “Julie”).
Kishibe would go on to host the Japanese
Morning TV show “Look Look, Konnichi Wa”
for a number of years.
The beautiful model and actress Natsume
Masako (who portrayed the male Sanzouhoshi) passed away
of Leukemia in September 1985 at the shockingly young
age of 27, a mere 6 years after her work on Monkey.
The tall and perky Natsume was a “Campaign
Girl” for Kanebo Cosmetics and appeared in a couple
of TV dramas and movies, among which were Nihon TV’s
“Ai Ga Mimasuka” (1976) and Toei’s
“Truck Yarou – Ippiki Momo Taro” (1977).
Special Effects supervisor Arikawa Teisho
has worked on a number of Toho Movies including Matango
(1963), Kaitei Gunkan (AKA Atragon –1963), Godzilla
vs. Mothra (1964), Frankenstein vs. Baragon (AKA Frankenstein
Conquers The World –1965), and Latitude Zero (1969).
Special Effects Supervisor Nakano Teruyoshi
has worked on a number of Toho Movies including ESPY
(1974), Nostrodamus No Dai Yogen (AKA Last Days of Planet
Earth –1974), Godzilla vs. Mecha Godzilla (1974)
and Godzilla (1984).
Special Effects Work was also done by
partly by Tsuburaya Studios.
The dubbed version of Saiyuki (AKA Monkey!)
was a huge hit in the U.K. where it played on the BBC
Network , where it aired from 1979 till 1981.
There have been many adaptations of
the story in Japan, three of the most famous being:
Saiyuki (AKA Alakazam The Great)-1960
(Movie Based on Tesuka Osamu’s Manga “My
Son Goku”). Directed by Shirakawa Daisaku
This is an anime version of Tesuka Osamu’s “Son
Goku” manga. The movie kept much of the basic
premise from the Saiyuki legend.
SF (Science Fiction) Saiyuki
– Starzingers (AKA Spaceketters) - 1979
(73 Episodes – Toei Animation) – Written
by Matsumoto Leiji. Directed by Serikawa Yuzou, Morishita
Kozo, Fukushima Kazumi.
In the middle of the Milky Way lies the Great Star Planet.
The Great Star Planet is the source of the universal
power force known as “Galaxy Energy” (similar
to the “Force” in Star Wars). For ages this
“Galaxy Energy” has kept the Universe in
harmony. But as the years progress the “Galaxy
Energy” has waned causing rampant “mutations”
across the Milky Way. These mutations gave way to the
creations of monsters which started to wreck havoc in
the galaxy. The only way to restore the “Galaxy
Energy” is to find a “Special ESPer”
to act as a “human battery” at the palace
where the “Galaxy Energy” resonates. The
current ESPer has grown old and now a replacement is
needed. Enter Princess Aurora, last survivor of the
Moon Kingdom. She is dispatched to Great Star Planet
to restore the “Galaxy Energy”. Boarding
the space cruiser “Cosmos Queen”, Princess
Aurora begins her journey. She is accompanied on her
quest by three knights, charged to protect her at all
costs: Sir Jogo from the Planet of Water, Don Hakka
from the Planet of Fire, and rebel cyborg Jan Kugo.
(Note the names are variants of the Saiyuki characters).
Dragon Ball -1986
(153 Episodes – Toei Animation) – Written
by Toriyama Akira. Directed by Okazaki Minoru, Nishio
Daisuke, Takenouchi Kazuhisa.
Long ago there was a carefree fourteen year old orphan
named Son Goku. His kindly grandfather, the martial
arts sifu Son Gohan had recently been killed and he
is now forced to fend for himself. Son Gohan had left
Goku with two of his most prized possessions, a magical
staff and a glittering golden orb known as a Dragon
Ball. Unbeknownst to Goku, this Dragon Ball (when combined
with others of its kind) possesses incredible magical
powers; powers which other desperate individuals want
for their own. One such individual is the lovely 16
year old Buruma (Bloomer). She is the daughter of the
President of the Capsule Corporation, and wants to assemble
all seven of the Dragon Balls. Once assembled the Dragon
God Shen Long will grant the possessor three wishes.
Buruma wants the Balls to wish for a boyfriend. When
Goku refuses to give up his Grandfather’s treasure,
she tricks Goku into accompanying her on her journey
to obtain the four other balls in the collection (she
has already gotten a hold of two). Together they go
on an incredible journey to seek out the other Dragon
Balls; meeting up with several odd individuals along
the way – the shape changing pig Pooaru, the wild
bandit Yamcha (who albeit being incredibly handsome
is stifled by an intense fear of girls), and the perpetually
horny yet gifted Martial Arts Sifu Kameshenin (who had
been a contemporary of Son Gohan and who had been a
champion of the World Martial Arts Competition –
Ten Ka Ichi Budokai). However they are being pursued
by a sneeky goblin tyrant named Lord Pilaf and his two
bumbling underlings Shuu and Mai, who also want the
Dragon Balls so that they can become masters of the
world. Later on Goku finds that he is not even human
and is in fact a member of the Warlike Super Race –
the Super Siajin who had conquered galaxy after galaxy
and had send Goku to take over Earth (Goku was also
responsible for the death of his Grandfather, although
inadvertently).
In 1998, a fourth adaptation of the
Legend came in the form of “Monkey Magic”
which was based on the Sunsoft/Magic-Pen Playstation
computer game.
Monkey Magic -1998
(13 Episodes – S. Matsushita Co./B-F/Monkey Magic
Productions/Tokyo TV)
Directed by Konahara Tameo Character Designs by Matsushita
Shin
Manga creator Terazawa Buichi also incorporated
elements of the Saiyuki Legend in the Sci-Fi Manga series
“GOKU”.
The 70’s Japan Pop Band, Godaigo(
who provided the infectiously catchy theme song to Saiyuki)
has quite an interesting history.
Godaigo was formed in 1976 by keyboardist
Mickie Yoshino (who as a teen was a member of the Japanese
Vocal Group, the “Golden Cups” and a graduate
of the Department of Music University of California,
Berkeley) and Yukihide Takagawa (a singer song writer
who had previously done solo work and was at the time
attending the Tokyo Foreign Language School where he
was studying English-Japanese studies). They initially
began doing work mostly in the area of CM (Commercial)
Song Writing, Movie scoring and Drama themes (Mickie
Yoshino had previous founded the rock group called “Yoshino
Group” (of which Asano and Fox were a part).
With the recruitment of former Japanese
Rock Group “M” guitarist, Asano Takami,
French/American drummer Tommy Snyder and Yoshino’s
Berkeley classmate, Bassist Steve Fox, Godaigo became
something of a sensation in Japan (their unique mixing
of foreign born musicians and Japanese nationals would
later be used by more recent groups such as Globe and
1986 Omega Tribe). Most of Godaigo’s songs were
unique in that they were done either completely in English
or used a great deal of English lyrics (owing to everyone’s
fluency in the language).
“Monkey Magic” was their
first real hit, soon to be followed by a string of others
including “Ghandara” (the ending theme of
Saiyuki), “A Beautiful Name”, “Ginga
Tetsudo 999 – A Galaxy Express” and “Port
Pier”. From 1978 –1980, Godaigo was one
of the top rock bands of Japan.
However by 1980, the somewhat folksy
rock of Godaigo soon fell victim to the pop idol trends
and so the members of Godaigo split up to pursue their
own individual projects.
Mickie Yoshino has go on to found his
own school of music, called the Pan School of Music.
Yukihide Takagawa has gone on help collaborate with
other artists such as Nakamori Akina, Sakai Noriko,
Hikaru Genji and Matsuda Seiko. Steve Fox has been doing
Christian ministry work both in Japan and the U.S. (Hawaii)
periodically producing albums in Japan. |
