Compiled Image Boards of Pom Poko
 | |
| Front Cover with Obi | |
| Author | Yoshiyuki Momose Shinji Ohtsuka Isao Takahata |
|---|---|
| Original title (if not in English) | 平成狸合戦ぽんぽこ イメージ・ボード集 (Heisei Tanuki Gassen Pon Poko Imeeji Boodo Shuu) |
| Country | Japan |
| Language | Japanese |
| Publisher | Tokuma Shoten |
| Released | 31 July 1994 |
| Pages | 440 |
| ISBN | -10: 4-19-860144-5 -13: 9784198601447 |
Price: ¥2800
Note: Another publication of the original story by Takahata illustrated with image boards from the film.
The main title of this book is the magnificent 15-kanji string 菩提餅山万福寺本堂羽目板之悪戯 (Botamochi-san Manpuku-ji Hondou Hameita no Itazura) literally, The Mischief of the Wainscoting in the Main Hall of Manpuku Temple on Mt. Botamochi (!)
Manpuku-ji on Mt. Botamochi is the temple where much of the story of Pom Poko takes place. Botamochi (牡丹餅) are mochi rice cakes covered with red adzuki bean paste. But the Botamochi (菩提餅) used in the title refers to bodhi, meaning enlightenment or awakening. The name Buddha means "one who has attained bodhi." A mountain of enlightened mochi? Probably heaven on earth for the eternally hungry tanuki.
There are several real temples named Manpuku-ji written as (万福寺) or (萬福寺) meaning "ten thousand fortunes."
Wainscoting (羽目板 hameita?) is any kind of wood paneling or inlay used on interior walls. Also, there is a Japanese expression (羽目を外す hame o hazusu?, literally "to remove the wainscoting") which means to "cut loose" or "let one's hair down." Could this be a reference to the tanuki penchant for partying?
Enough grasping at linguistic straws. Hopefully someone fluent in Japanese will update this article with a better reading of the title and touch on the several kanji puns or idioms that are apparent.