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Kotekino Kanata
(Beyond the Werefox’s Flute)
Text by Nahoko Uehashi
Tokyo:Riron-sha Co., 2003
342 pp: 182 x 128 mm
ISBN : 4-652-07734-3
Ages : 12+
Fantasy, Pure love, Another World
Noma Prize for Juvenile Literature 2004 |
This is a fantasy novel, embedded with rich Japanese nature and culture, about a young girl and a werefox, fighting for their freedom and ultimately for their lives. The story relates the friendship and love between Nobi, a spirit in a form of a fox under the spell of a sorcerer, and Sayo, a young girl with supersensory powers. Nobi starts to develop feelings for Sayo but when summoned, he must obey his Summoner. He eventually is ordered to kill Sayo, but he cannot do it because Sayo saved his life when he was a cub. They try to protect each other desperately in a time of chaos, when their neighboring countries are intensifying their feud over land, but the cunning Summoner closes in, slowly but surely, using his Ninja and other Summons. Nobi and Sayo struggle with their destinies and the curses under which they live.
Nahoko Uehashi was born in Tokyo in 1962. While working as an associate professor of anthropology at Kawamura Gakuen Women’s University with an interest in Aboriginal studies, she is one of Japan’s most popular children’s fiction authors today. Her background in cultural anthropology has imparted a particularly alluring touch on her world of fantasy, including the bestselling fantasy Moribito (Guardian, 1996-) series and Tabibito (Traveler, 2001-) series. Her writing style has a wide following, from children to adults. She has won many literary awards. |
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