About Kintaro - The Golden Boy

Inspired by Japanese Folk Tale

Kintaro is a Japanese folktale character with superhuman strength — a healthy boy wearing a red vest inscribed with the kanji character 金 (gold), carrying an axe (masakari) slung over his shoulder, sometimes depicted riding a bear.

The story of Kintaro is associated with Boys' Day in Japan, where he is the theme of the five-month dolls (五月人形, gogatsu ningyō) displayed to celebrate Children's Day.

Kintaro is said to originate from the childhood of a samurai named Sakata Kintoki (坂田公時 or 坂田金時) from the Heian period. According to legend, his mother was a Yama-uba (mountain woman, or yamamba) who became pregnant by the thunder god Raijin. Another story says that his mother gave birth to the child Kintaro from a red dragon.

Art by Sumigatari Studio