Finding the Magic Within: A Journey with Eiko KadonoFinding the Magic Within: A Journey with Eiko Kadono In the vibrant world of Japanese children’s literature, Eiko Kadono stands as a beacon of creativity and inspiration. “Kadono Eiko’s Colorful Life: Finding the Magic Within” is a captivating documentary that delves into the life and work of this beloved author, unveiling the secrets behind her enduring legacy. Discovering Her Calling Despite a challenging childhood marked by loss and war, Kadono found solace in the written word. At the age of 35, she embarked on her writing journey, creating a body of work that continues to enchant young readers worldwide. The Joy of Writing Kadono believes that magic lies in the joy of creation. Her daily routine is filled with the laughter of friends and the vibrant colors of nature, which form the foundation of her whimsical stories. Kiki’s Delivery Service and More Outside Japan, Kadono is best known for the “Kiki’s Delivery Service” series, which inspired the beloved Studio Ghibli film. However, her prolific career has encompassed a wide range of works, including ghost stories and autobiographical accounts, all infused with her infectious enthusiasm. A Childlike Spirit At 88 years of age, Kadono exudes the spirit of a child. She finds joy in the simplest things, from observing a crab on the street to collecting colorful trinkets. This childlike perspective imbues her writing with a sense of wonder and innocence. Passing on the Gift of Reading Kadono is not only an accomplished writer but also a passionate advocate for children’s literacy. Through her museum, Kiki’s Literature Museum, she shares her love of books with young readers, fostering a new generation of storytellers. Learning from Eiko This documentary invites viewers to immerse themselves in the life and philosophy of Eiko Kadono. Her unwavering belief in the power of joy and her ability to connect with children on a profound level serve as a reminder that magic can be found even in the most ordinary of places.
What is magic? The joy of a person,… I fell in love with writing and decided to keep writing forever… That was my magic.
In ‘Kadono Eiko’s Colorful Life: Finding the Magic Within’ director Marina Miyagawa opens a window into the world of Japanese children’s book writer Eiko Kadono. We witness her daily (writing) routines, listen to her story about her inspirations and her outlook on life and meet some of her friends. In short, during the film we get to know this colorful and interesting person.
Kadono Eiko’s Colorful Life: Finding the Magic Within to Screen at Japan Cuts 2024
Miyagawa was born in 1970 in Tokushima. Since 1993, she has worked for the program production department of NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation), most recently as a producer. For her first documentary, she combined new footage with existing material filmed for a 2020 NHK educational TV series of the same name, which she also worked on. As a result, film crews followed Eiko Kadono for about 4 years.
The style used in this documentary is observational; the viewer is like a fly on the wall, an outside observer. Most of the explanation is done by Kadono herself, who talks about her past and comments on events. However, there is also limited use of a voice-over to explain what is being shown. This is done by Aoi Miyazaki.
It is literally a very brightly colored film, not least because Eiko herself is a colorful person. Her bright dresses and accessories are immediately noticeable, as are her funky glasses. She buys a new one every time she finishes a book and likes them as a distraction from her wrinkles.
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The music is light and playful, adding a touch of magic to the film. It was composed by Dai Fujikura, a Japanese-born composer of contemporary classical music who studied and lives in London.
What makes Eiko Kadono such a special person and why this documentary? First of all, there is her career. Although she only started writing at the age of 35, she has been active as an author of (children’s) books for more than 50 years. Her body of work and popularity all over the world led to her receiving the Hans Christian Andersen Award in 2018, the equivalent of the Nobel Prize for children’s books.
Outside of Japan, she is probably best known for ‘Kiki’s Delivery Service’ thanks to Hayao Miyazaki’s film of the same name which was based on the first of the 8 episodes. But she also created a long-running series about 3 little ghosts and has recently begun writing more autobiographical books. Her circle comes full circle with ‘Brazil and My Friend Luizinho’, her debut about Luis, a little boy she knew when she lived in Brazil.
Besides being a successful writer, Kadono is also an intriguing and colorful personality who leads an interesting life. At 88, she is still full of energy, but her life has not always been easy. She lost her mother when she was very young and is also a child of the Second World War. At that time, girls lived a very sheltered life in the countryside, but after that that changed. As Eiko herself says, they had nothing but their freedom. She studied English literature and in 1960, at the age of 25, she and her husband emigrated to Brazil, where they spent two years. All this led to a unique view of the world.
By combining the spiritual world her father showed her as a child and Luis’ insight into following the rhythm of her heart while singing, dancing and living, Kadono has found her personal writing voice where the most important aspects are joy and happiness. If you enjoy what you do, it will shine through in the results. But this idea goes beyond just liking her work, her whole life is centered around the concept: joy in simple things, like seeing a small crab on the street or buying brightly colored plastic jewelry. She experiences joy in doodling in her notebooks, these ideas and impressions serve as inspiration for her stories. The joy of visiting friends, or, after more than half a century and thanks to modern social media, meeting Luis again.
But there is also the joy she brings to others, namely the joy of reading. She wants to pass this on to children not only through her own books, but also in Kiki’s Literature Museum, a museum based on her work. There she has brought together more than 10,000 children’s books from all over the world for visitors to read.
When you watch ‘Kadono Eiko’s Colorful Life: Finding the Magic Within’, you realize that we can learn a lot from this eternally young 88-year-old woman who manages to contribute to the world in a meaningful way, while at the same time maintaining her childlike and endearing way of dealing with the world.
