Momotarō is a hero of Japanese folklore. Its legend is particularly well known in Japan and East Asia. This name means "fishing boy," Tarō is a very popular Japanese boy's given name, and Momo means fishing.

According to the version of the legend dating from the Edo period, Momotarō came to Earth in a peach that came down a river. It was discovered by an old woman who was washing her clothes there. She adopted him and raised him with her husband. Momotarō explains to them that he was sent from heaven to be their son.

However, Momotarō was lazy and found excuses not to work. When he made up his mind to go get "some" wood, he came back with a huge tree. This drew on him the attention of the lord, who asked him to leave his parents to go and fight demons on the island of Onigashima.

Along the way, Momotarō meets a dog, a monkey, and a pheasant with whom he befriends. They will defeat the demons and their leader, Ura. He will return to his parents with his friends and the demon treasure. He and his family had a good life together.

Momotarō is associated with the city of Okayama, where the story is said to have been made up. Some historians believe that it has its origins in antiquity, when the deified prince Kibitsuhiko-no-mikoto was sent by his father Emperor Kōrei to subjugate the province of Kibi. As the saying goes, "only victors make history," and as was often the case in Japanese history, enemies were demonized and associated with Yokai, who in turn joined popular folklore.