Written by Asako Yuzuki and translated by Ecre Karadag
Illustrated by Yuuki Jia and Yukako Sakaguchi
Fresh, rebellious, and thoughtful. Well-written magical contemporary allegory in which intersectional feminism permeates.
When witches are supposed to be wonderful and helpful, Mari uses her powerful magic only for herself; her magic is for huge yummy doughnuts that she adores, or an enormous slimy slug in an awful song written by Mari, for example. Her magic is so powerful because she can vividly visualise what she really wants like no one else does. She doesn’t save anyone, she doesn’t need approval, she is not interested in being wonderful for anyone else.
She is just herself, and that is the most powerful magic; other witches around her also discover or recover their magic in their own way.
I am glad that this book, which was originally published by etc.books, the independent feminist publishing-house based in Tokyo, is now translated in English to spread its charms. You may find Yuzuki’s robust storytelling, as shown in other works like Butter, but in a totally different form in this book as a children’s fiction. This is the book I wanted to read when I was nine, or nineteen; but having read it as twenty-nine, it does not feel too late at all. Cleverly and sincerely addressing the theme of gender affirmation, issues of meritocracy, and even generational conflicts within feminism, the book is packed with insights on what our magic is and how we can solidarise as different individual ‘witches’. At the same time, let yourself be amazed by Yuzuki’s bold playfulness with a little bit of absurdity, which you might have not discovered yet!
Energising and empowering, this book will enchant you before you give a copy to every girl, or witchy kid you know!
Reviewed by Yuka