the Japanese archipelago (Center versus periphery theory of dialectical diffusion over time). Momotarō no Tanjō (桃太郎の誕生) – In this work, Yanagita provides analysis into themes of Japanese folklore and society. The name of the work is derived from the famous Japanese tale of Momotarō, as one of the examples he uses in his commentary on folktales as a form of reference material for understanding Japanese culture. In this work, he analyzes Momotarō to discuss some facets of Japanese society as a whole. His methodology in this has since been followed by many ethnologists and anthropologists. Kaijō no Michi (海上の道) – This piece, published only a year before Yanagita’s death, records the history, culture, and folk tradition of the Okinawa islands of Japan. In his studies of Okinawa, Yanagita sought the origins of Japanese culture in the area, though many of his speculations were denied by later researchers. It is also said that his inspiration for this research came from picking up a palm nut borne by the Kuroshio Current when he was wandering on a beach in the cape of Irago Misaki, Aichi Prefecture. Kunio Guide to the Japanese Folk Tale – This is a selection of Japanese folktales and data from Yanagita Kunio's Nihon mukashi-banashi meii (日本昔話名彙), translated by Fanny Hagin Meyer. Nochi no Kari-kotoba no Ki (後狩詞記) – He privately published a work based on his travels around Kyūshū, focusing on the traditions and ways of life of a mountain community from Miyazaki Prefecture, including details about their hunting practices and the vocabulary used to discuss it. This work is considered one of the first works of Japanese folklore studies from Japan. See also Center versus periphery: Yanagita's theory about dialectal diffusion and vocabulary propagation over time Nihonjinron Yanagita･Matsuoka Family Memorial (Japanese) Notes References External links Japanese ethnologists Japanese folklorists Japanese Esperantists Japanese lexicographers Japanese government officials 1875 births 1962 deaths People from Hyōgo Prefecture University of Tokyo alumni Academic staff of Keio University Recipients of the Order of Culture