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cocoon
San and her best friend Mayu attend a boarding school for girls in Okinawa, but their studies are interrupted when they and the other students are recruited to help the war effort as assistant nurses. Sent to the front lines, the girls must deal with more than just the threat of enemy bombs overhead. Stuck working in the horrifying caves of a field hospital, San wishes she could wrap herself and her friends in a cocoon of protection. But invisible threads of affection are no match for the carnage that surrounds them, and day by day, more students perish. Worn down by starvation and loss, what will San and her remaining friends do when they are told to find their way home through the fields of total war?
226 pages, Paperback
Published June 16, 2026
About the author
Machiko Kyo
57 books38 followersMachiko Kyo (今日マチ子, Kyo Machiko) is a Japanese cartoonist and illustrator from Tokyo. She was born in 1980 and graduated from Tokyo University of the Arts.
Her daily one-page manga blog Sennen Gaho started in 2004 and was published as a book in 2008, attracting much attention. Among her comics are the slice-of-life series Mikako-san (2009-2013), the WWII drama Cocoon (2010) and the post-apocalyptic Mitsuami no Kami-sama (2011-2013). The latter was adapted into a short animated film in 2015 by the studio Production I.G., winning more than twenty awards around the world. In 2014, Machiko Kyo received the 18th Osamu Tezuka Cultural Award.
In addition to manga, she is also involved in a wide range of illustration and essay projects. Her war-themed picture book Ichigo Sensō received the 2015 Japan Cartoonists Association Award's Grand Priz. Her other illustration books include Essential, Distance and From Tokyo.
Her daily one-page manga blog Sennen Gaho started in 2004 and was published as a book in 2008, attracting much attention. Among her comics are the slice-of-life series Mikako-san (2009-2013), the WWII drama Cocoon (2010) and the post-apocalyptic Mitsuami no Kami-sama (2011-2013). The latter was adapted into a short animated film in 2015 by the studio Production I.G., winning more than twenty awards around the world. In 2014, Machiko Kyo received the 18th Osamu Tezuka Cultural Award.
In addition to manga, she is also involved in a wide range of illustration and essay projects. Her war-themed picture book Ichigo Sensō received the 2015 Japan Cartoonists Association Award's Grand Priz. Her other illustration books include Essential, Distance and From Tokyo.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 151 reviews
August 7, 2026
horribly depressing fictionalized account of young japanese school girls during the war; there are many heavy topics emphasized throughout the story, so read with care. nobody ever wins in war. the author’s note at the end is definitely worth reading.
September 18, 2025
A stunning, enthralling, and tragic tale of war-torn Japan.
I’m so appreciative that I had the chance to read this account and step into the lives of these girls, whose voices might have otherwise been forgotten. The way their struggles are portrayed is both raw and haunting, a reminder of the human cost of war that history books often gloss over.
It’s not an easy read emotionally—it’s incredibly depressing and unflinchingly tragic—but that’s what makes it so powerful. The resilience, the pain, and the quiet moments of humanity shine through even in the darkest chapters. This book doesn’t just tell a story; it leaves an imprint.
I’m so appreciative that I had the chance to read this account and step into the lives of these girls, whose voices might have otherwise been forgotten. The way their struggles are portrayed is both raw and haunting, a reminder of the human cost of war that history books often gloss over.
It’s not an easy read emotionally—it’s incredibly depressing and unflinchingly tragic—but that’s what makes it so powerful. The resilience, the pain, and the quiet moments of humanity shine through even in the darkest chapters. This book doesn’t just tell a story; it leaves an imprint.
June 27, 2026
What the actual fuck? Quoting from the book, "We have so much more freedom in this camp . . . Never imagined we'd living like this month ago. But even so, we're still prisoners." The author is leaving the story off on a 'happy note' with them in a prison camp? I had to go back and read it several times to make sure I wasn't mistaken.
Besides that, although the illustrations are amazing, there is so little dialoue and/or text that half the time the reader doesn't know what's happening. I had been going back and forth between a three and four star until I got to the end of the book. That's just crazy.
I received this book in a goodreads giveaway. My review is voluntarily given, and my opinions are my own.
Besides that, although the illustrations are amazing, there is so little dialoue and/or text that half the time the reader doesn't know what's happening. I had been going back and forth between a three and four star until I got to the end of the book. That's just crazy.
I received this book in a goodreads giveaway. My review is voluntarily given, and my opinions are my own.
July 29, 2021
“La crisálida de los suelos me reguardó de la muerte que ahogaba mi realidad.”
El manga nos contará la historia de unas chicas que están en el instituto y tienen que ir a la guerra a prestar ayuda médica.
Amé que el dibujo sea tan simple y que al mismo tiempo te transmita varias cosas. Me encantaron las metáforas y el final fue demasiado, no me lo esperaba.
La simplicidad de los dibujos le da cierta ternura, pero al mismo tiempo varías escenas llegan a ser fuertes y crudas.
En cuanto a la puntuación, la historia va muy rápido y me hubiera gustado que profundice más cosas. Igualmente en la última parte la autora hace unos comentarios que complementan el manga y en que está basada la historia.
El manga nos contará la historia de unas chicas que están en el instituto y tienen que ir a la guerra a prestar ayuda médica.
Amé que el dibujo sea tan simple y que al mismo tiempo te transmita varias cosas. Me encantaron las metáforas y el final fue demasiado, no me lo esperaba.
La simplicidad de los dibujos le da cierta ternura, pero al mismo tiempo varías escenas llegan a ser fuertes y crudas.
En cuanto a la puntuación, la historia va muy rápido y me hubiera gustado que profundice más cosas. Igualmente en la última parte la autora hace unos comentarios que complementan el manga y en que está basada la historia.
August 29, 2021
比起謝謝你，在這世界的一隅找到我
那種一邊看覺得平民很可憐
又一邊覺得日本人總是搞不懂
為什麼自己國家會變成香菇培養皿
搞到廣島長崎長了兩顆香菇
這本書，完全就是悲慘的平民悲慘的戰火餘生錄啊啊
應該只會看一遍，但臉譜又不出電子書Orz
那種一邊看覺得平民很可憐
又一邊覺得日本人總是搞不懂
為什麼自己國家會變成香菇培養皿
搞到廣島長崎長了兩顆香菇
這本書，完全就是悲慘的平民悲慘的戰火餘生錄啊啊
應該只會看一遍，但臉譜又不出電子書Orz
September 20, 2019
A beautiful, heartbreaking, holy crap manga about a group of girls being drafted as nurses during the WWII in Japan. We see the events through the eyes of San and Mayu (though San is the real MC). How the girls are at first quite eager to do something for their country but quickly wishing to go home, to be safe, to go to their families. We see friends die in gruesome ways, we see the girls nurse people and have to help with sawing off legs and all that, we see bombs go off, we read that people are being told to commit suicide to avoid capture by the Americans who are coming (yes, really, and apparently they are even killing their own to make sure of that), and we see the girls running away when things go totally terrible. I was actually crying during many of the scenes as the girls are dying one by one. I was so hoping that San would survive, and Mayu as well. I didn't want everyone to die.
It was pretty horrific at times and at times my stomach was clearly not amused with what was going on. Also another warning, attempted (or actual) rape.
Oh, btw, I had a suspicion about Mayu.
The ending was wow, that is all I will tell.
Despite the gruesomeness, the fact this will break your heart, I would recommend this book.
It was pretty horrific at times and at times my stomach was clearly not amused with what was going on. Also another warning, attempted (or actual) rape.
Oh, btw, I had a suspicion about Mayu.
The ending was wow, that is all I will tell.
Despite the gruesomeness, the fact this will break your heart, I would recommend this book.
August 6, 2026
My thanks to NetGalley and VIZ Media LLC for an eARC of this book to read and review.
This was a LOT darker than I was expecting. No punches are pulled when it comes to showcasing the horrors of war: violence, death, rape, grotesque and visual things such as disembowlment, etc. This is not for the faint of heart.
The artwork, maybe to show the ugliness of war was sharp and very angular. It was confusing at times, it was hard to understand what was happening on the page, and maybe that was the point, how clearly can a 15 year old girl experiencing the horrors of war see and remember clearly before going insane? However, as the reader, I would have liked a bit more clarity when it came to some of the scenes that I was unable to figure out.
SPOILERS BELOW
What did the twins eat that killed them? Was it really that toxic?
Why did Mayu have to go the way they did? That was a mean trick to play on the reader. I mean, you knew it was coming, but come on, did it really have to? This isn't someone's full and complete story. It's made up. Can't we have SOME glimmer of hope and happiness that isn't forced on us at the end?
All in all, this just didn't work for me. It's not bad and it's an important topic to be read about and learned by all, war is hell, but it was too tedious and forced heart string pulling for me to really get anything out of it.
2, completely me and not the book, stars.
This was a LOT darker than I was expecting. No punches are pulled when it comes to showcasing the horrors of war: violence, death, rape, grotesque and visual things such as disembowlment, etc. This is not for the faint of heart.
The artwork, maybe to show the ugliness of war was sharp and very angular. It was confusing at times, it was hard to understand what was happening on the page, and maybe that was the point, how clearly can a 15 year old girl experiencing the horrors of war see and remember clearly before going insane? However, as the reader, I would have liked a bit more clarity when it came to some of the scenes that I was unable to figure out.
SPOILERS BELOW
What did the twins eat that killed them? Was it really that toxic?
Why did Mayu have to go the way they did? That was a mean trick to play on the reader. I mean, you knew it was coming, but come on, did it really have to? This isn't someone's full and complete story. It's made up. Can't we have SOME glimmer of hope and happiness that isn't forced on us at the end?
All in all, this just didn't work for me. It's not bad and it's an important topic to be read about and learned by all, war is hell, but it was too tedious and forced heart string pulling for me to really get anything out of it.
2, completely me and not the book, stars.
June 29, 2026
I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.
Cocoon is a manga graphic novel set in Japan during World War 2 and follows a group of young Japanese girls being drafted as nurses during the war. This was such a harrowing read but an important one as it draws a light on girls and women during the war who's story's aren't shared enough.
The girls are keen to join the war effort and treat soldiers to do their bit but they never dreamed what horrors they would be facing.
I would advise to check the trigger warnings on this before reading as it does contain topics that may be triggering for some.
The illustrations are in black and white (as an ARC) and although done in manga style they are as harrowing as the story.
Cocoon is a manga graphic novel set in Japan during World War 2 and follows a group of young Japanese girls being drafted as nurses during the war. This was such a harrowing read but an important one as it draws a light on girls and women during the war who's story's aren't shared enough.
The girls are keen to join the war effort and treat soldiers to do their bit but they never dreamed what horrors they would be facing.
I would advise to check the trigger warnings on this before reading as it does contain topics that may be triggering for some.
The illustrations are in black and white (as an ARC) and although done in manga style they are as harrowing as the story.
February 28, 2024
4.5/5
Difficile dare una valutazione in sè a questo manga.
E' molto forte e crudo, con argomenti belli pesantucci ma che allo stesso tempo non sono da lasciare in disparte.
Mi sono trovata a leggerlo molto velocemente, complice il fatto della non troppa presenza di testo.
Le immagini parlano da sole e sono più che sufficienti per narrare la storia da sole.
Il tratto è molto particolare e devo dire che ci ho messo un pochino ad adattarmici.
Non è tra i più dettagliati, nè tra i più fini. E' un tratto quasi abbozzato, stilizzato, ma che riesce comunque nel suo intento.
Una lettura che consiglio a tutti per gli argomenti trattati e come sono stati trattati.
Una storia forte che vale la pena di leggere fino all'ultimo.
Difficile dare una valutazione in sè a questo manga.
E' molto forte e crudo, con argomenti belli pesantucci ma che allo stesso tempo non sono da lasciare in disparte.
Mi sono trovata a leggerlo molto velocemente, complice il fatto della non troppa presenza di testo.
Le immagini parlano da sole e sono più che sufficienti per narrare la storia da sole.
Il tratto è molto particolare e devo dire che ci ho messo un pochino ad adattarmici.
Non è tra i più dettagliati, nè tra i più fini. E' un tratto quasi abbozzato, stilizzato, ma che riesce comunque nel suo intento.
Una lettura che consiglio a tutti per gli argomenti trattati e come sono stati trattati.
Una storia forte che vale la pena di leggere fino all'ultimo.
September 5, 2020
*9*
Me habría gustado que este tomo fuese más extenso para poder profundizar más en cada capítulo, personaje y situación, pero aun así es increíblemente duro y triste.
Me habría gustado que este tomo fuese más extenso para poder profundizar más en cada capítulo, personaje y situación, pero aun así es increíblemente duro y triste.
August 21, 2020
Me ha impactado bastante más de lo que me esperaba y por suerte ha superado mis expectativas, que tampoco eran muy altas. És un manga con la crudeza y el punto de vista de obras como "La tumba de las luciérnagas" o "En este rincón del mundo" y hasta ahora nunca había leído nada que me desgarrara tanto por dentro como lo hacen este par de películas.
El dibujo es simplista y a veces un poco confuso pero va acompañado de una muy correcta narrativa. Machiko Kyo a veces nos regala alguna doble página memorable, como la del capítulo de los campos en llamas.
En resumen, es una lectura dura pero ligera que plantea diferentes ideas de la autora sobre las consecuencias de la guerra a través de un recorrido hacia el infierno.
El dibujo es simplista y a veces un poco confuso pero va acompañado de una muy correcta narrativa. Machiko Kyo a veces nos regala alguna doble página memorable, como la del capítulo de los campos en llamas.
En resumen, es una lectura dura pero ligera que plantea diferentes ideas de la autora sobre las consecuencias de la guerra a través de un recorrido hacia el infierno.
June 3, 2022
Muy bueno. La guerra desde el punto de vista de una niña que pierde a sus amigas es devastadora. Además de todos los temas que también toca, como el abuso sexual por parte de los soldados y la presión de serle útil a la patria. Tiene momentos devastadores en un estilo tan sencillo y bonito.
August 9, 2019
Ne parlo su Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xi9Mz...
April 30, 2026
Very touching story and beautiful artwork. I did find the artwork sometimes interfered with clearly portraying what was happening in the story. The style is very loose and sketchy so at times it was hard to make out what you’re looking at.
A disclaimer at the beginning to indicate you’re supposed to read it like manga would also help the reader. Besides that, the story was very touching and harrowing at times. Definitely worth the read.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in return for an honest review.
A disclaimer at the beginning to indicate you’re supposed to read it like manga would also help the reader. Besides that, the story was very touching and harrowing at times. Definitely worth the read.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in return for an honest review.
June 19, 2026
I requested this one from NetGalley on a whim. I liked the cover. I didn’t read the summary. I was not prepared for the psychological trauma that book brought on. In this story, there is a war and war has horrific costs. In this graphic novel, the horrific costs are laid bare. School is on hold because of the war and girls are recruits to be nurses to help aide the injured.
Don’t get attached to any of the characters.
This manga is dark dark.
Don’t get attached to any of the characters.
This manga is dark dark.
April 3, 2025
7.5/10
The Himeyuri were Japanese high school girls used as nurses during the battle of Okinawa, one of the last and most tragic episodes of WWII. Most of them did not make it to the end. Those not killed by diseases or the American bombings immolated themselves (with grenades), not to fall into the enemy hand, victims first and foremost of a foolish nationalism turned into madness.
This book is fictional, but provides a most horrifically realistic depiction of the Himeyuri misfortunes, as maybe only a fictional book can. Machiko Kyo is renewed for her art style, capable of combining the aggressiveness of simplified lines to a very elegant sense of shapes. Her art feels sketchy, but soft. Hence, it fits well the underlying theme here, i.e., the tension between the emotional softness of teen age and the macabre of a war that turns young girls into pieces of flash and fluids scattered along an indifferent sunny beach.
The pace is set by the format, as the story was serialised in fifteen monthly instalments, of twelve pages each. So, every twelve pages a new horror unfolds, as the girls are mowed one after the other. The lyricism of the author is strong but does not completely take over the tone of the book, which remains a no frills depiction of human butchery, how war should be depicted. Speaking of which, as I was finishing reading this news came out that they are making an anime adaptation, I assume in a style inevitably more realistic than the sketchy lines of Kyo. How are they gonna pull it? Visually, this is a terrifying story.
One last thing. I know it would have been unrealistic to produce (at the pace of one chapter per month), but I would have loved to see this story fully coloured, because Machiko Kyo is a great watercolorist.
The Himeyuri were Japanese high school girls used as nurses during the battle of Okinawa, one of the last and most tragic episodes of WWII. Most of them did not make it to the end. Those not killed by diseases or the American bombings immolated themselves (with grenades), not to fall into the enemy hand, victims first and foremost of a foolish nationalism turned into madness.
This book is fictional, but provides a most horrifically realistic depiction of the Himeyuri misfortunes, as maybe only a fictional book can. Machiko Kyo is renewed for her art style, capable of combining the aggressiveness of simplified lines to a very elegant sense of shapes. Her art feels sketchy, but soft. Hence, it fits well the underlying theme here, i.e., the tension between the emotional softness of teen age and the macabre of a war that turns young girls into pieces of flash and fluids scattered along an indifferent sunny beach.
The pace is set by the format, as the story was serialised in fifteen monthly instalments, of twelve pages each. So, every twelve pages a new horror unfolds, as the girls are mowed one after the other. The lyricism of the author is strong but does not completely take over the tone of the book, which remains a no frills depiction of human butchery, how war should be depicted. Speaking of which, as I was finishing reading this news came out that they are making an anime adaptation, I assume in a style inevitably more realistic than the sketchy lines of Kyo. How are they gonna pull it? Visually, this is a terrifying story.
One last thing. I know it would have been unrealistic to produce (at the pace of one chapter per month), but I would have loved to see this story fully coloured, because Machiko Kyo is a great watercolorist.
December 30, 2024
"If I was a silk-worm, I wouldn't come out in a world like this. I would stay safely inside my cocoon and in my imaginary cocoon, I would slowly die away but, truthfully, none of us wanted to die."
"My cocoon broke open and I emerged transformed. I may have wings, but I'm unable to fly which is why... I decided to live instead."
"My cocoon broke open and I emerged transformed. I may have wings, but I'm unable to fly which is why... I decided to live instead."
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 14, 2022
如果《謝謝你在這世界的角落找到我》還有一些可愛的日常可以撫慰療癒，還有力氣可以控訴天皇和國家，《Cocoon》 只會強烈感受到戰爭中受傷最深的就是平民，輕飄飄的筆觸看得很快，不過衝擊感很強，重新思考過故事名稱之後，實在不太想看第二次⋯⋯
March 14, 2024
4.5⭐️ sujet difficile mais il y a du beau …
May 17, 2026
“Si fuera un gusano de seda, no querría volver a vivir en este mundo. Me quedaría en mi crisálida, donde nadie pudiera hacerme daño. Iría muriendo poco a poco dentro de mi capullo de sueños. Aunque... creo que en realidad... nadie está preparado para morir.”
Estoy destrozada. Completamente. En pedacitos. No me sentía así desde que ví La tumba de las luciérnagas, y esto es como esa peli pero duplicado. Hay escenas que me dieron náuseas de lo crudas que eran, aunque entiendo que ese era el propósito, mostrar los horrores de la guerra lo más crudo y directo posible. Creo que igual tiene un punto importante al mostrar como las propagandas de los gobiernos hacen que los jóvenes se entusiasmen con "entregar un servicio a su país" en la guerra, cuando al final los bandos pasan por ser una ilusión y los soldados de su propio país pueden ser monstruosos. No hay honor en la guerra, solo sufrimiento, horror y pérdida, y eso se deja claro.
Hay algunas cositas que sentí que faltó profundizar, especialmente la historia de Mayu, aunque la autora explica todo en la nota que deja al final.
En fin, es un manga que, en mi opinión, se puede leer una sola vez. Nunca lo volvería a leer, no lo soportaría🥹
Estoy destrozada. Completamente. En pedacitos. No me sentía así desde que ví La tumba de las luciérnagas, y esto es como esa peli pero duplicado. Hay escenas que me dieron náuseas de lo crudas que eran, aunque entiendo que ese era el propósito, mostrar los horrores de la guerra lo más crudo y directo posible. Creo que igual tiene un punto importante al mostrar como las propagandas de los gobiernos hacen que los jóvenes se entusiasmen con "entregar un servicio a su país" en la guerra, cuando al final los bandos pasan por ser una ilusión y los soldados de su propio país pueden ser monstruosos. No hay honor en la guerra, solo sufrimiento, horror y pérdida, y eso se deja claro.
Hay algunas cositas que sentí que faltó profundizar, especialmente la historia de Mayu, aunque la autora explica todo en la nota que deja al final.
En fin, es un manga que, en mi opinión, se puede leer una sola vez. Nunca lo volvería a leer, no lo soportaría🥹
December 5, 2023
I don’t really know what I want from fictional stories that cover the Battle of Okinawa anymore. I’ve read or watched a lot of war-related media where the protag is bright-eyed and committed to their side of the war, wanting to do their all. It’s not a tired story, it’s necessary, it’s a song that must be sung over and over and over cause same reality keeps happening and happening and happening.
But, I wish I knew more about the characters outside of their war-time lives, the before and after—the manga covers that all the girls were attending a school similar to the Himeyuri students, but their lives are narrowed to prominent shoujo tropes. I just get their pain, which, should be known, but not just their pain. Unfortunately, when narratives focus on just the war, readers just might not get how much was truly lost by the war, may struggle to understand the land, the people, or culture when it’s not tied down to violence and power. I’m always shocked when I see pre-wartime photos of Okinawa, when you see trains running or whole neighborhoods divided by limestone/coral walls.
The only war-time media that meets what I yearn for is In This Corner of the World / この世界片隅に.
But, I wish I knew more about the characters outside of their war-time lives, the before and after—the manga covers that all the girls were attending a school similar to the Himeyuri students, but their lives are narrowed to prominent shoujo tropes. I just get their pain, which, should be known, but not just their pain. Unfortunately, when narratives focus on just the war, readers just might not get how much was truly lost by the war, may struggle to understand the land, the people, or culture when it’s not tied down to violence and power. I’m always shocked when I see pre-wartime photos of Okinawa, when you see trains running or whole neighborhoods divided by limestone/coral walls.
The only war-time media that meets what I yearn for is In This Corner of the World / この世界片隅に.
July 24, 2026
Pretty good story but hits a lot of the traditional themes of a good old “war bad” story. I wasn’t a big fan of the rough art style it was pretty hard to understand what was going on in some panels. I struggled to get attached to a lot of the characters since I knew their inevitable fates. Not a bad time by any means and doesn’t overstay its welcome, but by no means nothing special.
August 21, 2020
Un manga desgarrador que retrata una época horrible. Me ha gustado sobre todo como todo se va degradando cada vez más y a más velocidad y llega un punto en el que es casi doloroso seguir leyendo. Muy interesante.
December 22, 2022
Ai 😢 Feia temps q no llegia un còmic tan dur.
Cocoon és la història d'unes nenes que han de donar suport al cos d'infermeria durant la segona guerra mundial. La crueltat de la guerra es palpa a cada pàgina. 😔
M'ha trencat el cor 💔 🎌
Cocoon és la història d'unes nenes que han de donar suport al cos d'infermeria durant la segona guerra mundial. La crueltat de la guerra es palpa a cada pàgina. 😔
M'ha trencat el cor 💔 🎌
May 22, 2025
everything about this was perfect. devastating isn't a strong enough word though for what that was ! 😭
March 22, 2026
很文青，從畫風到故事都是。
日本軍國主義可惡之處，不旦在禍害了其他國家的，也弄了不少自己人。
沖繩被逼著「玉碎」的無辜平民多了個去，但沒多久帝國就投降了，他們的死變成了毫無意義，就不知道戰後這座島嶼的人是怎麼看待這段歷史了。
日本軍國主義可惡之處，不旦在禍害了其他國家的，也弄了不少自己人。
沖繩被逼著「玉碎」的無辜平民多了個去，但沒多久帝國就投降了，他們的死變成了毫無意義，就不知道戰後這座島嶼的人是怎麼看待這段歷史了。
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April 9, 20264 ⭐
June 8, 2026
Muy representativo. Es una historia clara, bien contada. Te lo cuenta "rápido", sin entrar en detalles en ocasiones, pero creo que a veces no es necesario porque ya te lo imaginas.
November 2, 2022
que manera de llorar por la chucha
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