Dream of A

"Dream of A," an original story by Yuki Ishiguro, reimagines the Nutcracker through Japanese folklore, as Akinosuke journeys between reality and a virtual dream world, reflecting on our immersion in digital realms. This fusion of mythology and contemporary themes explores life’s transience, the blurred lines between reality and illusion, and spiritual awakening, bringing new meaning to the Nutcracker’s journey.

・Dream of Akinosuke: A story of illusion and life’s fleeting nature, where Akinosuke dreams of ruling a world, only to awaken and find mere moments have passed.

・The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter (Princess Kaguya): The oldest known Japanese folk tale tells of a bamboo cutter who finds a celestial being, Princess Kaguya, inside a glowing bamboo stalk. Though she finds love and attachment on Earth, Kaguya must ultimately return to the moon, leaving behind her earthly connections. The tale reflects Buddhist themes of impermanence, spiritual detachment, and the sorrow of parting, embodying a journey away from worldly desires.

・Moon Bunny & White Bunny of Inaba: The Moon Bunny, a symbol of wisdom and good fortune in Japanese folklore, appears in tales where it aids deities like Ōkuninushi, embodying kindness and guidance on spiritual journeys.

・Tsukuyomi Legend: The moon god, Tsukuyomi, is tied to celestial elements and enlightenment, often symbolizing the journey of letting go of worldly attachments to reach spiritual clarity, a theme mirrored in Princess Kaguya’s story.

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The young Akinosuke created an avatar based on a samurai for himself in the virtual world of the metaverse and enjoyed his activities in this dream-like realm.

As he met various people in the virtual world, the boundary between reality and the dream world gradually blurred, drawing him deeper and deeper into the virtual realm.

In the depths of the dream world, Akinosuke encountered bunny. The bunny was a guide to the moon and led Akinosuke to Kaguya, the Queen of the Moon.

Akinosuke enjoyed his time with Kaguya and the people of the moon, admiring beautiful cherry blossoms, savoring delicious foods like ramen, and dancing the fan dance together.

As Akinosuke delighted in these experiences, he was gradually drawn deeper into the dream world. Kaguya was not only the Queen of the Moon but also held another aspect as Tsukuyomi, the deity of the underworld.

Kaguya tries to make Akinosuke a resident of the land of Yomi, the underworld, but the bunny—symbolizing compassion for others—helps Akinosuke awaken, giving him the right to choose whether to remain in the dream world or return to reality. Although Akinosuke feels admiration for his ideal self, represented by his avatar in the dream world, he ultimately chooses to return to reality.　Akinosuke and the rabbit awaken the other residents who were trapped in the dream world, helping them return to the real world as well.

Upon returning to the real world, Akinosuke likely gained several important lessons from this experience:

Balancing One’s Essence and Ideals: While he admired his ideal self within the metaverse, he chose reality, realizing the importance of balancing his ideal image with his real self. He learned that while pursuing one’s ideals is valuable, the worth of his real-life existence is equally significant.
The Value of Connection and Empathy: Meeting and awakening others in the dream world helped him understand the power of human connection and empathy. Through this experience, he likely recognized the importance of relationships and mutual support in the real world.
The Boundary Between Reality and Dreams: As he was drawn deeply into the dream world, with the lines between reality and fantasy becoming blurred, Akinosuke chose to return to reality. This may have heightened his awareness of the dangers of losing touch with reality and renewed his focus on living meaningfully in the present.
The Importance of Compassion and Choice: The rabbit’s compassion granted him the choice, teaching him the value of kindness toward others and the importance of choice. He gained a deeper understanding of the responsibility that comes with free will and how his choices impact both himself and others.

With these lessons, Akinosuke would return to reality with a more mature outlook on life and relationships, carrying a deeper perspective on his journey forward.