The British Aviation Mission to the Imperial Japanese Navy

Extract

Japanese mythology (i.e., prior to the sixth century B.C.) seems to contain no reference to flying. There is therefore no close parallel to the story of Daedalus and Icarus with which we are familiar. There are, it is true, many references to the descent from Heaven of gods and goddesses, but no details are given.

One of the very ancient “ No ” plays tells of an angel descending from the sky at Tago-no-ura wearing wings made from the feathers of the crane (Tsuru). Being somewhat tired after her flight, she removed her wings, which were stolen by a fisherman. On discovering her loss, her distress was such as to move the fisherman to return the wings, which he did on the condition that the angel would dance for him before flying away. This dance (Hagoromo-no-Mai) is one of the most graceful found in the “ No ” plays.