Collection
Description
One night, alone on a hilltop, a young boy is swept aboard a magical train bound for the Milky Way. A classic in Japan, this tender fable is a book of great wisdom, offering insight into the afterlife. One of Japan's greatest storytellers, Kenji Miyazawa (1896-1933) was a teacher, author, poet, and scientist.
Publication
Stone Bridge Press (2008), 128 pages
User reviews
LibraryThing member jjmcgaffey
Um, what? I was going to be unhappy - well, no, I am unhappy I read the foreword first and it had a major spoiler in it. It actually changed how I understood the story - spoilers seldom do, for me, but this one did. But the story is so full of SYMBOLISM, most of which made no sense to me, that my
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annoyance about the spoiler was rather diluted. I have little or no idea what was going on for most of the story - the bird catcher? The teacher and the children's origin was clear - but why did Kenji get so whiny about the girl? Walnut trees and electric squirrels, bombs(?) in the heavenly river, so what _was_ the story of the twins? Where did the professor come in? And a happy(?) ending - except Kenji's lost his one friend. I have no idea. Possibly if I were immersed in Japanese folklore I'd understand it better, but I didn't even see any of what I do know about Japanese folklore, except a brief mention of cranes, then a long discussion of herons (and why cake?). Not a winner, for me. Show Less
Awards
Language
Original language
Japanese
Original publication date
1934
Physical description
128 p.; 5.3 inches
ISBN
1933330406 / 9781933330402