25/06/2023
Come Tanzaku Dimenticati (currently available only in Italian, but if a publishing house is interested on buying the rights to translate and distribute the book, please contact me via DM)
Ayame, a simple and shy girl, has dreamt of becoming an illustrator since childhood. Hirai, a confident young man who grew up among the tea fields of Wazuka (fig. 3) and his grandmother's sweets, seeks personal redemption in the bustling metropolis of Tokyo (fig. 4). Their destinies intertwine as they search together for their place in the world. However, while Ayame struggles to find the opportunity to showcase her great talent, Hirai embarks on a significant career in a work environment vastly different from what he imagined as a child
It is during the Tanabata festival (fig. 5), the night when dreams and wishes are written on tanzaku slips in the hope of them coming true, that the two characters' destinies will encounter something unexpected. Hirai will embark on a journey to magical places where special encounters will help him understand the beauty of the little things, the value of time, and his own dreams
When he discovers the prophecy of the spirits in the forest of forgotten tanzaku slips, he cannot help but embark on a race against time to find what has been lost. This is an unforgettable story about second chances and the courage to pursue one's happiness. It is an adventure that takes you to marvelous places (fig. 6), typical sweets (fig. 7), traditions (fig. 8), folklore (fig. 9), and Japanese festivals (fig. 10)
Find out more on onigiro.com/it/come-tanzaku-dimenticati
Author: Valentina Sgambato
Editor: Sperling & Kupfer
Illustrator: eleo.s.art
Page number: 352
Publish date: 4 July 2023
In the author's feed posts, you will find references to all the photographers whom Valentina personally asked for permission to use their beautiful shots
Fig. 9 is a section of the magnificent public domain painting by Utagawa Hiroshige: New Year's Eve Foxfires at the Changing Tree, Ōji
