Eiko Kadono's playful tales about a young witch and her furry companion have entertained generations of Japanese readers, and have now earned her one of the highest honours in children's literature.
Last month the 83-year-old was awarded the 2018 Hans Christian Andersen Award, sometimes called the Little Nobel Prize for Literature.
The jury described the "ineffable charm" of Ms Kadono's picture books and novels, deeply rooted in Japan.
She was inspired to write her most famous series - Kiki's Delivery Service or Majo no Takkyubin in Japanese - after her young daughter drew a picture of a witch with musical notes flying around it.
"I made Kiki around the same age as my daughter was at that time, just between childhood and adulthood," Ms Kadono said, according to the Asahi Shimbun.
"It's all about this kid getting to fly with her own magic."
Image copyrightSHINICHI SHIMAZAKI
Image caption
Ms Kadono is pictured here with a brooch showing a witch on a broom, a nod to Kiki
Late bloomer
Born in Tokyo, Ms Kadono was evacuated from her home at age ten and sent to northern Japan during World War Two.
After the war was over, she attended university in Japan before emigrating to Brazil for a few years.
Some of her works, including Forest of Tunnel and Brazil and My Friend Luizinho, were inspired by her wartime experiences and years in Brazil.
The author describes herself as a "late bloomer", owing to the fact that she was 35 when her first book came out.
"I was more a reader than a writer. [But] after trial and error, I realised I loved writing," she told Japanese media at a recent press conference.
"I decided to write throughout my life, even if my works would not be published."
She has published close to 200 original works, including picture books, stories for young adults and essay anthologies. But her most famous work is undoubtedly Kiki's Delivery Service.
Image caption
Kiki's has been translated to nine languages, pictured here are the Korean, Mandarin and Thai versions of the book
Silver screen
Originally published in 1985, the story revolves around Kiki, a young witch who travels around on her broomstick with her black cat Jiji.
The series starts with 13-year-old Kiki as she sets out on a year-long apprenticeship for witches in training, and follows her as she tries to find her place in the world despite various setbacks and struggles.
The rest of the series chronicles Kiki as she grows into a young adult and eventually, a mother of two.
Nearly 1.7 million copies of the books have been sold in Japan alone, and the series has been translated into nine languages.
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source:www.bbc.com
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