The Irish legend Tír na nÓg and the Japanese tale Urashima Taro explore similar themes, such as the passage of time, family connections, happiness and death. Although these stories come from different cultures, they share similar symbolic meanings and human values, while also reflecting different attitudes towards life.
Characters and symbols in the two stories represent values. For instance, Oisín is an embodiment of bravery and strong physique as a representation of personal honor. On the other hand, Urashima Taro represents a kind and caring fisherman who helps the turtle. Magical animals act as a link between human beings and supernatural worlds in both stories. The white horse in the Irish story represents the journey between two different worlds. The turtle in the Japanese story represents the qualities of kindness and appreciation, as well as reciprocal relationship between humans and nature. It can be noted from the two contrasts that the Irish story highlights heroism while the Japanese story highlights care for nature.
Both stories address common human needs and desires, such as love, happiness, family connections and the desire to escape death. The magical worlds represent an ideal life without ordinary human problems. But at the end, both of them come to a realisation that happiness cannot replace families and homeland. The sad fates of their lives represent the inevitability of time and mortality. However, they have different consequences. Oisín accidentally breaks the magical protection while helping others, whereas Taro deliberately opens the forbidden box. This suggests that even a perfect world cannot provide a permanent solution to human problems.
Moreover, the stories can be studied from three perspectives of Hofstede's cultural dimensions. Individualism versus Collectivism is seen in the characters' choices to seek happiness for themselves and then to want to be with their families. Oisín's strength and success as a warrior contrasts with Taro's kindness and compassion, highlighting the difference between masculinity and femininity. But love and relationships are important to both characters, too. Lastly, Indulgence versus Restraint is symbolized by magics worlds with people having happiness and pleasure. The warnings and sad endings, on the other hand, emphasize the significance of restrictions and consequences. These dimensions do not necessarily represent the values of Irish and Japanese society but are used to interpret the values in the stories.
Similar themes can also be found in the Vietnamese tale Từ Thức Meets a Fairy, where the main character visits a magical world but loses his connection with his previous life. Unlike Oisín and Taro, he does not suddenly die but disappears after failing to return to the fairy world. This demonstrates how different cultures explore similar concerns about time and belonging.