Abstract

We are a group of four fourth-graders attending the same elementary school in Tenjin Village. Katchan has muscular dystrophy, but we've been together since we were little, so he's nothing special to us. He's one of our best friends. During the summer vacation of his fourth year, Katchan said he wanted to go river diving. For the children of Tenjin Village, river diving was a tradition, like taking a step towards adulthood. "It's okay, it'll just be a big splash. Next year, I might not be able to fly at all," Katchan said with a friendly smile. Hoping to grant his wish, we carefully planned our trip, but... In addition to the title story, this volume also includes "Chick and Pineapple Cider," which depicts his interactions with Kumakichi-san, a famously eccentric old man, and "The Ghost Horse Chestnut," in which we explore a giant horse chestnut tree that looks like a ghost. This is a refreshing work that vividly depicts young boys enjoying life to the fullest while sharing something as certain and ambiguous as death in a mountain village where the smell of summer hangs thick in the air.

Author’s Information

Born in Yamagata Prefecture in 1957. Children's literature author. Her reading works include "The Warm Mountain Fox" (Shin Nihon Shuppansha/winner of the Japan Children's Writers Association Award and the Niimi Nankichi Children's Literature Award), and "My Tree" (Iwasaki Shoten/winner of the Hirosuke Children's Story Award). Her picture books include "The Tanuki's Bride's Journey" (Iwasaki Shoten/winner of the Japan Picture Book Award), "Where Life Returns" (Doshinsha), "Grandma Suzu's Gift" (Shin Nihon Shuppansha), and many others. / Born in Shimane Prefecture in 1992. Painter and illustrator. She often draws the food she eats. Her picture books include "I'm Hungry" (WAVE Publishing) and "The Station Hall" (Akane Shobo). She is active in a wide range of fields, including exhibiting at exhibitions and illustrating books and magazines.