is a Japanese novel written by Sachiko Kashiwaba. It was initially serialized in the Iwate Nippo daily newspaper from May 10, 2014, to July 4, 2015. Kodansha later published the novel in print with cover art by Yukiko Saito on September 11, 2015. An anime film adaptation by David Production premiered in Japan on August 27, 2021. The anime is part of the "Zutto à Âen Project 2011 + 10...", marking the 10th anniversary of the 2011 Tà Âhoku earthquake and tsunami.
The English translation of the book was published by Restless Books in September 2023 and translated by award-winning translator Avery Fischer Udagawa. On the depiction of tragedy and hope within the story, Udagawa says, "I believe young people can all benefit from these portraits of hanging on when hope is in extremely short supply."
Yui and Hiyori meet the elderly and kind Kiwa in a shelter following the devastating Tà Âhoku tsunami on March 11, 2011. Together, the three form a new family and move into a large, old house located on a cape. Kiwa gets in touch with kindly kappa, zashiki warashi, komainu, and ojizà Âsama (among others) and together the characters confront and defeat demons that feed on people's grief after the disaster.
An anime film adaptation was announced on November 5, 2020. David Production produces the film, with direction by Shinya Kawatsura, screenplay written by Reiko Yoshida and music composed by Yuri Miyauchi. The film was released on August 27, 2021, receiving the Best Animation Film Award at the Mainichi Film Festival.
The closing theme is performed by Hitsujibungaku (ç¾ÂæÂÂå¦) with the song Mayoiga from the album our hope
Eleven Arts announced at their panel at the A-Kon event on June 4, 2022 that they have licensed the film and will bring both an original Japanese version and a new English dub for the North American theatrical release in partnership with AX Cinema Nights on September 7.
The novel won the 54th Noma Children's Literature Award in 2016. In 2024, the English translation won a Mildred L. Batchelder Award honor.