Traditions and customs

Moko

If you cry, "Mocco" will come!? Investigating the mystery of trauma among children in Tsugaru [Aomori Prefecture]

"If you cry, Mokko will come from the mountain."

This phrase, which has been used for a long time, mainly in the Tsugaru region of Aomori Prefecture, isa "discipline phrase". Even today, if you talk to people from Aomori Prefecture, a fairly high percentage of them will say, "When I was little, my parents threatened me with the story of Mokko..."

In fact, lullabies featuring the word "mokko" are still passed down in the area around the former Kizukuri town (now Tsugaru City) in Aomori Prefecture

Although there are slight differences in pronunciation, such as "Moko," "Mokko," and "Moko," it seems to be a common creature found in northern Akita Prefecture and parts of Iwate Prefecture. Butwhat exactly is a Mokko?

A ghost? A monster? Or something else...?

This time, we'll explore the history and legends of Tsugaru while introducing various theories about this mysterious entity called "Mokko" !

Mocco = Mongolian (Mouko) theory

Many people who hear the sound might think, "Could it be?", but one of the most frequently discussed theories is that "Mokko" might be a play on words meaning "Mongol."

Furthermore, thistheory that "Mokko" means "Mongol" (or "Mōko")branches into two further theories.

Oral legends of refugees from Tsushima and Iki during the Mongol invasions

During the Kamakura period, the Yuan Dynasty (Mongol Empire) invaded Japan twice, in 1274 (Bun'ei War) and 1281 (Kōan War)

Picture Scroll of the Mongol Invasion, Volume 1, Picture 7. [Bun'ei War]
The Mongol Invasion Picture Scroll, Volume 1 – Picture 7 [Bun'ei War] Source:Wikipedia

The Mongol invasions, a major event taught in Japanese history classes, saw Tsushima and Iki, now part of Nagasaki Prefecture, become the front lines of defense due to their remote island location. Villages were burned and many residents were massacred.

Furthermore, there are many families in the Tsugaru region who bear the surname "Tsushima," and it is said that "people from Tsushima who fled the Mongol invasions drifted north and settled in Tsugaru."

In other words, the hypothesis is that the "terror of the Mongol army" recounted by refugees who arrived in Tsugaru from Tsushima eventually evolved into the legend of "a mountain monster that snatches away crying children," which is what became known as "Mokko ."

Oral legends from refugees of the Yuan (Mongol Empire) invasion of Sakhalin

The Yuan Dynasty (Mongol Empire) also sent troops north in the late 13th century

It appears that there were three invasions of Sakhalin Island starting in 1284, following the Second Korean Invasion of Japan in 1281 (the Kōan War)

The second theory is that, given the possibility that the Ainu people of Sakhalin were driven from their land by this expedition and fled to Hokkaido and even Honshu, the "terror of the Mongol army" recounted by refugees who arrived in Tsugaru from Sakhalin, similar to the refugees from Tsushima and Iki, became establishedthein region in the form of "mokko."

Although compelling, there is no clear evidence for either theory

There is no clear evidence for either theory, so it is merely speculation, but they do have a certain degree of persuasiveness

Perhaps both are true, and refugees came from the south, but a few years later they also came from the north

It's possible that this fueled the fear of the people of Tsugaru, making them wonder, "Just how terrifying is the Mongol army, which is wreaking havoc both in the south and the north?"

It's possible that the fear of "mokko" that was so deeply etched in the hearts of the people of Tsugaru is what has made it possible for stories to be passed down without fading even after several hundred years

There are various other theories

There are various other theories about the origin of the word"mokko." However, please note that all of these theories are merely speculations.

The spiritual existence of mountains

In ancient Japan, it has been believed that gods and spirits reside in the mountains, and there are legends throughout the country that say "you will be taken away by the mountain god." The saying "if you cry, a Mokko will come from the mountain" can be seen as an influence of this nature worship

Onomatopoeia and emotional expression theory

There is a theory that the word "mokko" itself does not have a meaning, but is an onomatopoeia intended to evoke a sense of fear through its sound . In other words, this theory suggests that "mokko" was created as a "discipline word" to instill fear in children solely through its sound .

Ainu language and northern origin theory

"Mokko"may be a corrupted form of a northern language, such as Ainu. Some areas in the Tsugaru region are said to have had contact with Ainu culture since ancient times, and it cannot be denied that some aspect of that culture may have influenced the tradition.

The theory that it symbolizes a punisher like "Namahage"

There is a theory that, similar to the "Namahage of Oga" in Akita , there may have been a figure called "Mokko" who served as an "educator" in a custom passed down in some region or village in Tsugaru.

Tohoku Rokken Trivia Media NEFT
Why do Namahage carry blades and punish people? - Oga Peninsula and Demon Legends (1) [Akita Prefecture]
https://jp.neft.asia/archives/34981
When you hear the word Oga, the first thing that comes to mind is the "Namahage." Every year on New Year's Eve, demon-like figures wearing frightening masks and straw costumes visit homes, shouting, "Any lazy people here? Any crying children here?" They carry deba knives and buckets in their hands. The Namahage are gods who pray for the villagers' health and prosperity in the new year, as well as for good health and abundant harvests in the coming winter. A Namahage descend from the mountains into the village (at the Namahage Sedo Festival). ©Akita Prefecture. While the Namahage may seem frightening at first glance, they are actually there to encourage lazy villagers who spend all their time warming themselves around the kotatsu or hearth during the winter farming off-season, ensuring good health and prosperity...
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summary

The Tsugaru region is located on the Sea of ​​Japan side of Aomori Prefecture, and is a region where trade using the sea flourished in exchange for the abundant products of the Tsugaru Plain. It is possible that a creature like the "mokko," a mixture of various memories, was born as diverse cultures from the north and south came and went

In the end, we were unable to determine the true identity of Mocco, but through various theories, we can see that

"Mocco" is a symbol of "fear" and "warning" that remains in the region

That's what it means

If you're traveling through Tsugaru and"Mokko kuru zo...", it might be a memory from hundreds of years ago still quietly speaking to you.

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