The Secret of the Blue Glass

by Tomiko Inui, Ginny Tapley Takemori (Translator)

On the first floor of the big house of the Moriyama family, is a small library. There, on the shelves next to the old books, live the Little People, a tiny family who were once brought from England to Japan by a beloved nanny. Since then, each generation of Moriyama-family children has inherited the responsibility of filling the blue glass with milk to feed the Little People and it's now Yuri's turn.
The little girl dutifully fulfils her task but the world around the Moriyama family is changing. Japan is caught in the whirl of what will soon become World War II, turning her beloved older brother into a fanatic nationalist and dividing the family for ever. Sheltered in the garden and the house, Yuri is able to keep the Little People safe, and they do their best to comfort Yuri in return, until one day owing to food restrictions milk is in shorter supply...

Genres: Middle Grade, Japan, Japanese Literature, Fiction, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Childrens

192 pages, Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 1957

About the author

Born in Tokyo in 1924, Tomiko Inui joined a publishing house in 1950, where she began working as an editor, as well as writing books for children. She published many books over her long career, winning prizes along the way including the Mainishi Publishing Culture Award and the Akaitori Award for Children's Literature. She was also runner-up in 1964 for the Hans Christian Andersen prize. The Secret of the Blue Glass is the first of her books to be translated into English. She died in 2002.

Reviews

[Ιωάννα Μπαμπέτα · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ανοίγοντας το βιβλίο, το πρώτο που θα δούμε είναι ένας πρόλογος της Μαρίας Τοπάλη. Διαβάζοντάς τον, ένιωσα μια γλυκιά συγκίνηση. Αναμνήσεις από τα παιδικά μου χρόνια με κατέκλεισαν. Γιατί όπως και η Μαρία Τοπάλη, έτσι κι εγώ πρωτοδιάβασα αυτό το βιβλίο ως παιδί της Ε’ Δημοτικού. Και δεν το διάβασα μόνο μια φορά αλλά πολλές. Έτσι γινόταν τότε με τα βιβλία που είχαμε. Δεν ήταν πολλά γι’ αυτό τα διαβάζαμε και τα ξαναδιαβάζαμε μέχρι που νιώθαμε πια πως είμαστε κι εμείς μέσα στην ιστορία.
«Το γαλάζιο κύπελλο» είναι μια μαγική ιστορία σε ιστορικό φόντο. Η οικογένεια Μοριγιάμα έχει αναλάβει να προστατεύει τους Μικρούς Ανθρώπους, τους Μίλκυ, οι οποίοι προέρχονται από το εχθρικό στρατόπεδο, την Αγγλία. Τα παιδιά της οικογένειας είναι αυτά που αναλαμβάνουν να φροντίζουν τους Μικρούς Ανθρώπους. Πρέπει κάθε μέρα να γεμίζουν το γαλάζιο κύπελλο με γάλα. Αλλιώς οι Μικροί άνθρωποι θα πεθάνουν. Φαινομενικά αυτό δε μοιάζει και τόσο δύσκολο. Όταν όμως ξεσπάει ο Β’ παγκόσμιος πόλεμος τα παιδιά και συγκεκριμένα η μικρή Γιούρικο, δυσκολεύεται να βρει γάλα. Η ίδια πεινάει πολύ. Το γάλα είναι δυσεύρετο και οι ξένοι είναι μισητοί. Κι ενώ ο πατέρας της Γιούρικο φυλακίζεται και ο αδερφός της υποστηρίζει τους πολεμοχαρείς, η μικρή πηγαίνει να ζήσει στην εξοχή. Μακριά από την οικογένειά της για να γλυτώσει από τους βομβαρδισμούς.
Πρέπει λοιπόν να προσπαθήσει για δύο πράγματα: Να σώσει τον εαυτό της αλλά και τον Μπάρμπο Μίλκυ, την Φαν Μίλκυ, τον Ρόμπιν και την Άιρις, την οικογένεια δηλαδή των Μικρών Ανθρώπων.
Μια ιστορία που μιλάει κατευθείαν στην καρδιά. Μαθαίνουμε ιστορικά γεγονότα αλλά και πράγματα για την Γιαπωνέζικη κουλτούρα της εποχής. Αλλά φυσικά δεν είναι μόνο αυτό. Αυτή η ιστορία μιλάει για τις πολύτιμες αξίες της ζωής: για την αγάπη, την προστασία της φύσης, για την ειρήνη και τον σεβασμό της παράδοσης. Η αγάπη των παιδιών προς τους Μικρούς Ανθρώπους είναι ανιδιοτελής. Δεν περιμένουν κάτι από αυτούς, σχεδόν δεν τους βλέπουν. Απλά τα παιδιά αναλαμβάνουν την ευθύνη να τους φροντίζουν και πρέπει να το κάνουν πάση θυσία. Ακόμα κι αν είναι πόλεμος. Ακόμα κι αν δεν υπάρχει γάλα πουθενά. Ακόμα κι αν πρέπει να το στερηθούν τα ίδια για να το προσφέρουν σ’ εκείνους.
Θα κλείσω με κάποιες φράσεις από τον πρόλογο της Μαρίας Τοπάλη: «Τα μαγικά βιβλία, δεν τα θυμόμαστε με την κανονική μας μνήμη, όπως συμβαίνει με τα βιβλία γνώσεων. Όχι, είναι εντελώς διαφορετικά. Τα μαγικά βιβλία έχουν “ατμόσφαιρα”. Κι έτσι, τα θυμόμαστε με ένα άλλο μέρος της μνήμης μας, όπως θυμόμαστε τη μουσική ή μια αγαπημένη γεύση ή το άρωμα του βρεμένου χώματος ή μια ζεστή αγκαλιά. Σαν να ακούγεται μέσα μας ένα παράξενο φσσσσσσς…! Και η ανάμνηση του βιβλίου σκάει στο μυαλό μας σαν πυροτέχνημα.»
Ένα τέτοιο φσσσσσς ακούστηκε μέσα μου ολοκληρώνοντας την ανάγνωση αυτού του βιβλίου ή πιο σωστά ταξιδεύοντας με τους ήρωες του βιβλίου. Κι αυτό το ταξίδι δεν θα τελειώσει ποτέ. Γιατί οι Μικροί Άνθρωποι και η οικογένεια Μοριγιάμα θα συνεχίσουν να ζουν στην καρδιά μου.

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Prior to reading The Secret of the Blue Glass all I knew about it was that it is a Japanese children's fantasy novel about miniature people from the 1960s. I was basically expecting a Japanese version of The Borrowers. The Secret of the Blue Glass is certainly similar to The Borrowers in many ways, but at its heart it is about the experience of everyday Japanese citizens during WWII. This is no cutesy tale. Characters have thoughts like, "Our life as students is just a stay of execution - just until we go to war and die." Before handing this book to a child, maybe think about what they can (or can't) handle.

Overall I enjoyed The Secret of the Blue Glass. I haven't read much on the experience of the Japanese people during WWII and I liked reading about it from the view of miniature people. The whole time I was reading it, I was mindful of the original publication date - the 1960s. For someone used to modern middle grade reads, The Secret of the Blue Glass is going to be very different, perhaps not in a positive way. It certainly reads as old-fashioned and there's a certain lack of characterization. It's not atypical of older children's fantasy, but others may be dissatisfied. The only real complaint that I have is that there's a lack of closure. The book ends fairly abruptly and leaves a lot of questions unanswered. Still, I liked it and am glad it's now available in translation. 4 out of 5 stars.

I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Mathew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entrusted with the job of looking after a small family of Little People (think Borrowers), the Moriyama family have, for decades, ensured that they are safe and well-protected. Their single role as custodians? To leave a glass of milk each night for them to drink from.

But when war descends upon Japan, it tears the family apart in many ways as the care of the Little People is left to the youngest of the family: Yuri. Physically frail, she, along with the Little People, is taken to live with some distant relatives in the mountains, far away from the bombing. But will Yuri have the strength to care for the Little People and can she say strong enough for her brothers and parents who are away and under fire?

Originally published in Japan in 1967, it offers a fascinating insight into wartime Japan and young readers will find the parallels to the stories told in the UK revealing. How and why does war divide a family and what does it mean to honour your country and your family: this little book has some big themes within it and it's so well told and translated by Ginny Tapley Takemori. I think, in the UK especially, we can adopt a very Westernised and limiting view of the war and the effect that it had on so many; it is a part of almost all world cultures and to read this is to offer a window into another life in which the choices of the people and their lives will do more than echo those upon our doorstep.

[図書館屋 Sharon the Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book. There are a lot of Japanese stories about how Japanese suffered during WWII. This one is different. The kobito (little people) are foreigners who were brought back to Japan during a time of peace and only drink milk. But milk is very hard to get during the rationing of war-time. How does this Japanese family fulfill its obligation to keep the little people alive?

There is a French translation - but no English. I even started one myself. Somone, please publish a good English translation. It is a lovely, heartwarming story that needs to be shared broadly.

[Kitty · Rating 3 out of 5]

oleks ma seda raamatut aasta alguses lugenud, oleksin ilmselt nentinud, et jube imelik ikka. aga olles nüüd iga kuu vähemalt ühe jaapani raamatu läbi töötanud, võin öelda, et jaapanlaste kohta üle keskmise okei. ma ei tea, mis värk sellega on - kas nad kirjutavadki imelikult, kas neid ei osata tõlkida või ma lihtsalt ei suuda nendega samas sihis mõelda, aga... mulle ei istu.

selles kontekstis vaadates on tegu üle keskmise koherentse ja hubase lasteraamatuga. jah, tegevus toimub II MS aegses Jaapanis ja mis hubasust sealt oodata, eks raske on kõigil. aga lõpuks ikkagi selline klassikaline lastetoalugu, salaja elavad kuskil koduse raamatukogu nurgas väikesed inimesed, keda pere noorim laps peab iga päev klaasitäie piimaga toitma, sest... lihtsalt peab (nii palju kui ma aru saan, mingit otsest tulu sellest kellelegi ei tõuse, v.a. see et Kohustus on Täidetud. väga jaapan). sõda ja evakueerimised ja selline värk muidugi teevad asja keerulisemaks.

lasteloole lisaks saab siit püüda lugeda seda kihti, et kuidas jaapanlased ise paarkümmend aastat hiljem end selle sõja suhtes tundsid. mis on üsna huvitav, sest ega seda kaotaja perspektiivi nii väga palju jagatagi, eriti lasteraamatutes. kui see nüüd üldse ikka on lasteraamat. neid jaapanlasi ei või iial teada.

[Romi (likes books) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I adore this cover to pieces, and when I started I thought I'd adore the inside to pieces, too. I didn't, unfortunately. For a time I thought I'd be completely carried by it, the writing was gorgeous and the story was unusual and had a definite unique tone to it, but then it seemed to gradually lose the elements of gorgeousness and really just grew to be boring. It is fairly distinct to The Borrowers, but the idea is really familiar and for me wasn't unique enough to carry the story and sustain my lasting interest. I got through it, but I almost didn't.

Thanks to A&U for this review copy.

[Μιχάλης Παπαχατζάκης · Rating 2 out of 5]

Στην Ιαπωνία του 1943, όταν πια ο πόλεμος άρχισε να δημιουργεί καταστροφή και στο έδαφός της, μια οικογένεια Μικρών Ανθρώπων, η οικογένεια των μικροσκοπικών Μίλκυ (πατέρας Μπάρμπο, μητέρα Φαν και παιδιά Ρόμπιν και Ίρις) φιλοξενείται από μια γιαπωνέζικη οικογένεια, αυτή των Μοριγιάμα. Οι Μίλκυ ήταν κάποτε η παρέα μια Αγγλίδας φιλολόγου που προπολεμικά δίδασκε αγγλικά για είκοσι χρόνια στην Ιαπωνία και αναγκάστηκε άρον άρον να γυρίσει στην πατρίδα της, μη μπορώντας αυτό το κλίμα μιλιταρισμού κι εθνικισμού που άρχιζε να ποτίζει την γιαπωνέζικη κοινωνία. Μη μπορώντας να πάρει και τα ανθρωπάκια μαζί της, τα άφησε σε έναν πρώην μαθητή της, τον κ.Μοριγιάμα με την υπόμνηση να τους έχει κάθε μέρα γεμισμένο ένα γαλάζιο κύπελλο με γάλα.

Ο κ.Μοριγιάμα συνελήφθη όμως από την γιαπωνέζικη αστυνομία και κλείστηκε σε φυλακή, διότι ήταν εναντίον του πολέμου. Η φροντίδα πέρασε στα δύο από τα τρία παιδιά του, τη Γιούρι και τον Τέτσου, όχι όμως και στο τρίτο, τον Σιν, που είχε διαποτιστεί στα ιδεώδη των Γιαπωνέζων στρατοκρατών. Τα πράγματα για τους Μίλκυ πήγαιναν καλά μέχρι που η απειλή βομβαρδισμού του Τόκυου ανάγκασε πολλούς αμάχους -μεταξύ των οποίων και τη Γιουρι Μοριγιάμα- να φύγουν στην επαρχία. Η μητέρα Τόκο έμεινε στο Τόκυο, να επισκέπτεται τον πατέρα, ��αζί με τους δύο αδερφούς.

Όσο ο πόλεμος συνεχιζόταν η κατάσταση γινόταν πολύ δύσκολη. Πλέον άρχισε να λείπει το γάλα. Η Γιούρι που πλέον έμενε σε δύο θείες της, τη Σούμι και την τυφλή γριά Ότο, πάσχιζε όχι μόνο να βρει το γάλα που είχαν ανάγκη οι Μίλκυ, αλλά και να γίνει δεκτή στο νέο σχολικό περιβάλλον: η «προσφυγοπούλα» που ο μπαμπάς της είναι φυλακή για «αντεθνικές πεποιθήσεις». Όλα πήγαιναν στραβά και κάποια μέρα οι Μίλκυ, με τη βοήθεια του περιστεριού Γιογιό, το έσκασαν.
Η Γιούρι έπρεπε να ξαναβρεί γάλα και να γεμίσει 77 ημέρες συνεχόμενες το γαλάζιο κύπελλο για να επιστρέψουν...

Η Τονικό Ινούι έγραψε ένα «δυτικό» παραμύθι σε ιστορικό φόντο, επηρεασμένη -λένε- από ένα αντίστοιχο αγγλικό της ίδιας εποχής. Μιλάει όχι μόνο για τα δεινά του πολέμου καιρό πως διαφορετικά αυτός προσλαμβάνεται από άνθρωπο σε άνθρωπο ή για το πώς πάνω-κάτω ήταν η αγροτική ζωή στην Ιαπωνία, αλλά και για την ανάγκη του παιδιού να φροντίσει κάτι. Την αθωότητα μέσα στο μακελειό. Είναι μια ιστορία συμπαθητική, αλλά σε ένα μυθιστόρημα στο οποίο υπάρχουν κενά (γιατί χρειάζονται 77 γεμίσματα, για παράδειγμα), χαρακτήρες όχι καλά δουλεμένοι για να κατανοηθούν από ένα παιδί (γιατί, πως προσχώρησε ο αδερφός στον μιλιταρισμό; γιατί έφυγαν οι Μίλκυ στα καλά καθούμενα επειδή μια φορά δεν είδαν γάλα στο κύπελλο τους; κ.α.) και με κουραστικές μικρές προτάσεις να αποτελούν όλο το κείμενο.

[Dana Berglund · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story begins in the early 20th century, when an English schoolteacher leaving Japan gives a gift to a trustworthy student: a basket that contains two very small people. They need a safe place to live, and some milk everyday, and for their secret to be kept. We meet the Moriyama family members who pass on the responsibility of the little people's secrets, until we land on Yuri. Yuri is a grade 3 student in 1943, when the story really settles into itself. What we see for the next two years is through the eyes of Yuri and also the family of little people, who all have limited access to news and a limited understanding of how the bigger world operates. This works very well to give us readers a World War II story in Japan that is meaningful and personal while being somewhat limited in scope.
It was curious to me that this book was published in the 1960s and remains, as far as I can tell, the only book by Inui that has been translated into English.

[Loren · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lovely little book with plenty of magic and whimsy, but it's definitely one that I wish I had discovered at a younger age. The ending felt quite rushed which was a shame, but overall an easy read that explores the familial pain and hardships endured during the second world war. A great addition to any children's library.

[Louise Goddard · Rating 4 out of 5]

An extremely puzzling but enjoyable story about Little People and their Big People friends. Although it was quite ambiguous and some of my questions were left unanswered, I really liked this book and loved the vivid imagery.

[Kelly B · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is something special

[Neophrem · Rating 2 out of 5]

L'autrice ammette senza mezzi termini di essersi ispirata alla narrativa folkloristica occidentale e di aver preso spunto da essa per scrivere questo suo racconto - il quale, al giorno d'oggi, sarebbe definito plagio.
Leggendolo infatti pare di avere sottomano una copia rivisitata degli Sgraffignoli di Mary Norton (e delle loro sgradevolissime personalità, mi tocca ricordare), seppure qui c'è un'elaborazione maggiore, che però non è servita affatto a farmi apprezzare la storia.

Difatti qui, al contrario dei loro originali inglesi, la famiglia Ash è apertamente, fondamentalmente parassitica.
Non sono creature del Piccolo Popolo, non sono famigli, non escono e s'impadroniscono autonomamente di cose che gli uomini perdono o dimenticano, sono soltanto persone minuscole che vivono della generosità degli umani che se li sono accollati e non danno loro niente in cambio.
E con niente non mi riferisco a cose materiali come oro, scarpe di pelle, amuleti di buona fortuna o altro: nemmeno emozioni. Essi infatti non provano alcun legame affettivo con la famiglia che li nutre - non per niente quando hanno capito che la povera Yuri - malata, scioccata, in preda al dolore per la distruzione della propria casa - non avrebbe più portato loro del latte, ecco che loro prendono e se ne vanno, alla volta di un luogo in cui trovare cibo. E qual è la loro preoccupazione?
"Se Yuri non ci mette il latte nel bicchiere per 77 giorni consecutivi, noi mica torniamo."



In pratica queste creature, nell'arco delle due generazioni che abbiamo modo di conoscere, non si prendono quasi mai la briga di darsi da fare da soli, mentre sono gli umani a provvedere a ogni cosa: il frigorifero, il cibo, l'alloggio, gli accessori - e mai una volta che essi almeno ricevano un ringraziamento o un dono simbolico per il loro amore (a questo punto ingiustificato, direi io).

Non mi sembra un grande insegnamento per un libro per bambini.

Senz'altro molto più apprezzabile la parte dedicata alla famiglia Moriyama con lo sfondo del secondo conflitto mondiale, molto ben raccontata e credibile, ed è stata la prima volta che, leggendo uno scritto di un autore giapponese, abbia trovato aperte critiche alla guerra, in barba al nazionalismo, alla "lealtà verso la patria" e all'onore conferito a una famiglia... conquistato morendo in maniera insensata, cieca e superflua.
Purtroppo ciò non è bastato per rendere sufficiente questa lettura, che rimane piuttosto irritante a causa di un utilizzo maldestro di personaggi rubacchiati a un'altra autrice - che comunque non era riuscita a far tanto meglio.

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't often read children's fiction but picked this up because of the adult themes and thoroughly enjoyed it. Both a family of 'little people' and the human family that care for them are disrupted in 1940s Japan by WWII. Despite being aimed - I would imagine - at readers from around 8-12, the themes here are dark and unflinching in their honest depiction of certain, troubling events. Told straightforwardly, in many respects this has the same impact for younger readers as "Hiroshima" (which I read earlier in the year) has for an older generation. Well worth picking up. Technically 3.5 stars, but not quite 4.

[Jennybeast · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am a fan of The Borrowers, so I looked forward to this story of tiny people in Japan.

Unfortunately, while it is an interesting portrait of war-time Japan, it has a slow and meandering plot, with relatively flat characters and somewhat inexplicable parameters. We hear, for instance, that the small people must be given milk and only milk, but that does not appear to be true later on. Also, there is a timeframe that must be met before they can return to their large people and that is oddly arbitrary. There is never an explanation for so many things about the small people, and the adult tinies seem, passive, relatively helpless, and not particularly helpful or kind to their large caretakers.

I think if Miyazaki turned it into a film, I might enjoy it, but short of that, it has little to recommend it, and has failed to capture the joy and intrigue of the lives of tiny people.

Advanced reader's copy provided by Edelweiss.

[Viki Holmes · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an odd but endearing book: a sort of Japanese version of The Borrowers set in wartime Japan, and reflecting all the changes to daily life that wartime brought, in a family looking after a quietly magical family of inch high people fed daily on milk from a special blue glass cup. A gentle curiosity, providing as many insights into life during that time as it does fantastical escapades.

[Melainebooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

MA-GNI-FIQUE !!!!!! Je manque d'adjectifs pour dire à quel point ce livre est grandiose, génial, merveilleux, formidable, magique,…
Une histoire unique mêlant magie, amitié, guerre entre une famille d'Hommes et de Petits-Hommes.
Classique japonais pour enfants.

[Swati · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Every day you should fill this glass with milk and put it on the windowsill for them. You mustn’t forget now. The Little People cannot live unless humans do this for them.”

Tomiko Inui’s ‘The Secret of the Blue Glass’ has intense vibes of Mary Norton’s ‘The Borrowers’ (which was adapted by Ghibli into the film ‘The Secret World of Arrietty’) with its little people. In this book, the tiny folks (Balbo and Fern and the children Robin and Iris) are living in a corner of the bookshelf in the home of the Moriyama family. Their peaceful co-existence is disrupted as Japan is thrown into war with the beginning of WWII. The family is separated with the father being taken away by the police and the boys forced to join the fight at the front. That leaves Yuri, the little girl, who her mother sends away to stay with some relatives in the relatively calmer mountainside. She takes the little people with them, and we see how their lives change along with the setting.

Inui shows the different ways in which war leaves its impact. There are the obvious negative effects. Yuri’s father is imprisoned for not being a supporter of the war efforts. One of her brothers, Shin, on the other hand, undergoes a drastic change as he eagerly awaits his drafting to the front.

Then there are some things that change for the better. At first the little people are dependent on their host family for food and safety. But with uncertainties increasing every day, they find other ways to sustain themselves. Robin befriends a kind pigeon named Yahei who helps them immensely in different ways, which enables the little people to gain some independence.

The story moves slowly but beautifully giving small insights into Japanese life. Some parts and transitions felt a bit choppy or abrupt for me. I would have liked to have a smoother ending and there were some aspects, which left me with questions.

However, overall, I enjoyed reading this semi-magical-yet-very-real tale. Ginny Tapley Takemori’s translation, as always, is flawless making this a charming, pleasurable read.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75/5
'The Secret of the Blue Glass' by Tomiko Inui, translated by Tapley Takemori follows the story of a small family that lives up on a shelf in a library in Tokyo and the family that takes care of them.
Originally from England, the Ashes are a family of small people that were carried to Tokyo in a handbasket. Entrusted to the Moriyama family and their children, they live out their life in the Moriyama's library. But as World War II draws closer and threatens Tokyo, the Moriyama's young daughter may be sent away to the countryside and the Ashe's may need to flee with her.
'The Secret of the Blue Glass' is an interesting middle grade novel that mixes the story of a Borroweresque family in Japan with the daily experience of a Japanese family during World War II. It balances the horrors of war with the whimsy of a fantastical family. Because we spend time with both, there is less of a focus on the Ashe family than I expected. Unlike the Borrowers where there is a lot about the family's life and different situations that they get into, this story focuses more on the relationship between them and the Moriyama family. I wish that there had been more plot as it felt more like characters reacting to events than being active participants.
This story is short and relatively to the point. Though it isn't particularly exciting, I do think that it does a good job of balancing the aspects about the war with a family story.

[Edd Simmons · Rating 4 out of 5]

The secret of the Blue Glass is a little fun book to read. Historical, entertaining, fantasizing, and for young adults.
Sometimes you wonder why we need milk? To grow big and tall and strong . . . This is about the story of a little people housing in a families library. The book takes place during wartime Japan, and the two families have to leave their safe haven or “escape”. The book has a lot of rituals in it like the bringing of milk in which the little people love, or the love of chocolate.
“The little girl comes out of her quaint western— style house. I hide my face under the big leaves, but she makes a beeline for the tree and politely calls out ‘The fearless robbers mostly transformed into an angle described from heaven to pick a fig.”
“Could it be that he’s preparing for a day when we won’t be able to sat in our little hideaway anymore.”
“How much more cheerful it was to set out in the morning that it has been for mass evacuation that left at night! When at last they arrived at the station they found it thronged with people and luggage and flags and banners. Here and there they heard groups cheering Banzai! as they saw off soldiers on their way to the front.”

[slauderdale]

I recently suggested this book for a Goodreads list: "Books that inspired or are similar to Miyazaki films." It's a Borrowers (and other classic Western children's fantasy - really, it's quite deliberate!) pastiche set in WWII Japan. Not my favorite book ever, but enjoyable and interesting, and yes, I think it could have appeal for Miyazaki enthusiasts.

I wish more of Tomiko Inui's work had been translated into English. It sounds like she published more than just the one book for children: "She published many books over her long career" according to her Goodreads bio, but there are currently only three items listed for her, all three of which appear to be editions of this same book. It would be nice to find an English-language bibliography of her work. I tried running the Japanese Wikipedia entry for her through Google Translate, but the result was kind of a hash.

[Belinda Mellor · Rating 3 out of 5]

I sort of enjoyed this. I did learn a lot from it, which was the main reason I read to the end. What I suspect is that it is better in Japanese. There were places where the wording was clunky, but that’s more likely to be the translation than the original’s fault. I couldn’t quite get my head around the little people and their passivity. They were utterly at the mercy of their human ‘friends’ – who weren’t really friends at all – and, for the most part, had no agency. Not important, but the very random mention that the ancestor of one of the little people was called ‘Something Belladonna Took’ pulled me right out of the story. Without the fantasy element, the story would be very bleak and generally unappealing, but, as fantasy, it was rather lacking. It is more like a fairy tale where the real emphasis is on the message, and looking at the fantastical elements too deeply is not advised.

[Katerina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ακολουθούμε μια οικογένεια μικρών ανθρώπων που τους φροντίζουν , μια ιαπωνική οικογένεια δύο γενεών , οι οποίοι το έκαναν επειδή η πρώτη γυναίκα διδάσκαλος την έδιωξαν απ την Ιαπωνία.. παράλληλα γίνεται δεύτερος παγκόσμιος οπότε είναι δύσκολο να φροντίσουν την μικρή οικογένεια , η οποία εξαφανίζεται για λίγο γιατί το έφηβο κοριτσάκι της οικογένειας δεν τα κατάφερε να τους δίνει γάλα , αλλά στο τέλος για 77 μέρες κατάφερε να τους δίνει το γάλα τους και η πρώτη γυναίκα που τους φρόντιζε κατάφερε να γυρίσει στην Ιαπωνία κ να τους πάρει ξανά , αλλά δεν μας το προσδιορίζεσαι όντως απλά το άφησε να νοηθεί ..
Το μόνο που απόλαυσα ειλικρινά πολύ πολύ ήταν η μετάφραση και στο πόσο δυνάμωσε η Γιουρι .

[Yuri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magical. Full of sensibility, sensitivity, realistic when it comes to dealing with issues such as hardship and hunger, and with that love of nature and deep appreciation of it Japanese are masters of.
The author expertly manages to explain the dangers of radical nationalism, prejudices, and social isolation in a children's fantasy book. Not an easy task by any stretch of the imagination, but Inui nails it.
The kind of book that makes even a childfree by choice female like myself wish I would have children to recommend this gem to.

[V. ✺☽ | thematchareader · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a delightful read, with each chapter boasting its own unique title—a touch I thoroughly enjoyed. The narrative weaves a captivating tale that reaffirms one's belief in fairytales, reminding readers to hold onto kindness and purity amidst adversity. Through the hardships of war, the characters show beautiful values and face challenges with resilience. However, the ending felt somewhat rushed, leaving me wanting a more satisfying conclusion. It’s still so cute and gives ghibli studio vibes 🤍✨

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

amazing!! the writing in this is quiet and beautiful, I was moved by the poetic descriptions of nature: the variety of trees, fruits and flowers, the sounds of grass rustling in the cool evening breeze, yahei and amanejakki playing outside with iris and robin. it felt like the stuff of daydreams while providing a harsh contrast to the realities of Japanese life at the time. powerful and moving.

*make sure to check the glass illustrations at the beginning of every chapter.

[Nadine · Rating 4 out of 5]

#translation #Japanese #WW2
Lovely story about "little people" who live with a family pre war and then are evacuated during WW2 to the country side. The deprivations of war and divided loyalties form the backstory to the tale of these foreign little people, a pigeon and a sickly teen.
Engrossing read from a perspective seldom found in western literature for children

[Evangeline · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a wonderful book. I didn’t expect it to be so emotionally moving but it was. This is a story where you read it once and it never leaves you. Not only is this a wonderful book for children but it’s still captivating for an adult. I found myself engrossed within this story and fighting back tears.

[NatalieK · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really loved this story.
It was whimsical and told from a POV during a time period that I haven't read much from before. If you enjoy the story of the borrowers then I really believe you will enjoy this.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had such high expectations for this. Maybe it was the translation, but the characters developed very unevenly or not at all, the wasn't a clear plot - I don't know, I expected it to be charming and it just missed all the connections.

[Merridy Pugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enchanting – a beautiful translation from the Japanese. Even the book design is beautiful with illustrative details inside, making it a pleasure to hold in the hands and turn the pages.