A Message to Readers of “Story for You"

Children study at schools, and adults work at their assigned places; the last few months have seen this presupposition crumble. Adults continue to deal with disastrous event after disastrous event; many of them are experiencing this level of turmoil for the first time in their lives. As someone who has a daughter in elementary school and a son in middle school, I have found my outlook on life completely changed. In the midst of these trying times, what must our children be feeling?
It will soon be summer break. But there is a chance that children will not be able to head out and play freely this year. With this in mind, Kodansha’s “Story for You” started on July 1st. Around 60 of Japan’s authors will tell all kinds of stories to children who are enjoying, or perhaps unable to enjoy, summer break. In order to deliver these stories to children across the world, translators from Australia, the U.K., U.S., and many other countries have helped to provide English translations of all the stories. We hope that these stories will bring some comfort to parents and children living through the uncertain times of the COVID-19 pandemic.
I hope that this will not be taken the wrong way, but I feel that it’s possible to turn our present difficulties into an opportunity. There are no longer adults who loudly lecture their children. This is because the values of a world that took these lectures for granted have fallen apart. I think that now is the time when children and adults should explore their hearts, and seize the opportunity to find a new world.

Koji Chikatani

Translation Manager of TranNet K.K.