Kenji Miyazawa's A Night on the Galactic Railway: The Manga Edition

(Paperback)

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Lonely, awkward Giovanni has a sick mother, an absent father and an afterschool job that keeps him from playing with his classmates. One evening, on the night of the Star Festival, he is magically transported by train through the galaxy with his best friend, Campanella. The boys share a fantastical journey to the stars, meeting mysterious characters who prompt them to think about the meaning of life. Only when Giovanni returns to earth does he learn the heartbreaking truth about their adventure.

Kenji Miyazawa is one of Japan's most beloved authors and is increasingly appreciated abroad for his masterful storytelling, poetic imagery and powerful evocation of the shadow and light of human nature. Filled with stunning images and deeply moving themes of friendship and sacrifice, A Night on the Galactic Railway is one of Miyazawa's greatest works, written at the peak of his talent. Reads right-to-left in the Japanese style.

'A breathtakingly beautiful world...reminding us that we are part of the universe.' Kaori Nagai

A modern classic.' NPR

Author Bio

Kenji Miyazawa was born into a wealthy family in rural Japan in 1896 and grew up questioning the class disparities of his society. He became a devout Buddhist and teacher of poor farmers, writing poems and stories whose fairytale-like style often conceals a great depth of purpose. He published only a few books before his death at the age of 37 but achieved wide acclaim posthumously, especially for the novella A Night on the Galactic Railway. His poem "Strong in the Rain" became an anthem of survival following the 2011 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster in northern Japan. He now features as a character in the popular Bungo Stray Dogs manga and anime TV series.

Ayano Kitahara has been creating manga for major Japanese publishers for over four decades.

Moss Quanci is a translator and writer based in Seattle. She translated the manga edition of Kenji Miyazawa's The Restaurant of Many Orders and Other Stories and is working on a complete translation of Miyazawa's poetry collection, Spring and Asura. More of her work may be found at fieldomoss.com.