is a children's fantasy novel written by Eiko Kadono

Eiko Kadono

is a Japanese author of children's literature, picture books, non-fiction and essays in Shōwa and Heisei period Japan.-Biography:Kadono was born in Tokyo, and attended the Nihon Fukushi University in Aichi prefecture, followed by a degree in English literature from Waseda University.After...

 and illustrated by Akiko Hayashi. It was first published by Fukuinkan Shoten on January 25, 1985. It is the basis of the Studio Ghibli

Studio Ghibli

is a Japanese animation and film studio founded in June 1985. The company's logo features the character Totoro from Hayao Miyazaki's film My Neighbor Totoro...

 anime

Anime

is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....

 film

Film

A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...

 of the same title

Kiki's Delivery Service

is a 1989 Japanese animated fantasy film produced, written, and directed by Hayao Miyazaki. It was the fourth theatrically released Studio Ghibli film.The film won the Animage Anime Grand Prix prize in 1989...

.

The book won numerous awards in Japan. Encouraged by this and by the success of the film, Kadono has written four more novels, over a period of several years, and created a book series

Book series

A book series is a sequence of books having certain characteristics in common that are formally identified together as a group. Book series can be organized in different ways, such as written by the same author, or marketed as a group by their publisher....

. The most recent was published in October, 2009.

Plot introduction

The book follows Kiki, a young witch. Her mother is also a witch, but her father is not. Kiki is now thirteen and must spend a year on her own in a town without other witches. She must use her magic abilities to earn her living. She is accompanied by her cat Jiji.

Explanation of the title

The word takkyūbin (宅急便, literally home-fast-mail) in the Japanese title is a trademark of Yamato Transport

Yamato Transport

is one of Japan's largest door-to-door delivery service companies with market share of 41%, competing closely with Sagawa Express and Nippon Express...

, though it is used today as a synonym for takuhaibin (宅配便, literally home-delivery-mail). The company not only approved the use of the trademark — though its permission was not required under Japanese trademark laws — but also enthusiastically sponsored the anime film version of the book, as the company uses a stylized depiction of a black mother cat carrying her kitten as its corporate logo

Logo

A logo is a graphic mark or emblem commonly used by commercial enterprises, organizations and even individuals to aid and promote instant public recognition...

.

Translations

Non-Japanese versions of Majo no Takkyūbin were not published until 2003 when the book became available in English, Italian, Korean and Chinese. The Swedish edition was published in 2006.

Differences in title

Not all translations of the book follow the original title. Some include the name of the central character.

• Kiki's Delivery Service, (English edition) Annick Press
• Kiki, consegne a domicilio, (Italian edition), Publisher's website
• 魔女宅急便, (Chinese edition), Publisher's website
• Kiki's Expressbud, (Swedish edition), translates as Kiki's Overnight Courier Publisher's website

English edition

This edition is translated by Lynne E. Riggs and illustrated by Akiko Hayashi. The cover is by Irvin Cheung. The book is only 176 pages but has eleven chapters, the same as the original Japanese edition.

In other media

• The book was adapted in 1989 as an animated film
  Kiki's Delivery Service
  is a 1989 Japanese animated fantasy film produced, written, and directed by Hayao Miyazaki. It was the fourth theatrically released Studio Ghibli film.The film won the Animage Anime Grand Prix prize in 1989...
  
   by Hayao Miyazaki
  Hayao Miyazaki
  is a Japanese manga artist and prominent film director and animator of many popular anime feature films. Through a career that has spanned nearly fifty years, Miyazaki has attained international acclaim as a maker of animated feature films and, along with Isao Takahata, co-founded Studio Ghibli,...
  
   and Studio Ghibli
  Studio Ghibli
  is a Japanese animation and film studio founded in June 1985. The company's logo features the character Totoro from Hayao Miyazaki's film My Neighbor Totoro...
  
  .

• A live action film based on the books has been set for a 2011 release.

Awards and nominations

• 23rd Noma Award for Juvenile Literature
• 34th Shogakukan Award for Children's Literature
• Holds a place on the IBBY Honour List for 1986

Sequel novels

• Majo no Takkyūbin 2: Kiki to Atarashii Mahō (魔女の宅急便その2 キキと新しい魔法) "Witch's Express Home Delivery 2: Kiki and Her New Magic", is the second book in the series. It was published June 30, 1993 and contains 16 chapters. The illustrator is Takako Hirono.

• Majo no Takkyūbin 3: Kiki to mō Hitori no Majo (魔女の宅急便その3 キキともうひとりの魔女) "Witch's Express Home Delivery 3: Kiki and the Other Witch", is the third book in the series. It was published October 20, 2000 and contains 12 chapters.

• Majo no Takkyūbin 4: Kiki no Koi (魔女の宅急便その4 キキの恋) "Witch's Express Home Delivery 4: Kiki's Love", is the fourth book in the series. It was published March 10, 2004 and contains 10 chapters.

• Majo no Takkyūbin 5: Mahō no Tomarigi (魔女の宅急便その5 魔法の止まり木) "Witch's Express Home Delivery 5: Perch of Magic", is the fifth book in the series. It was published May 9, 2007.

• Majo no Takkyūbin 6: Sorezore no Tabidachi (魔女の宅急便その6 それぞれの旅立ち) "Witch's Express Home Delivery 6: Each and Every Departure", is the sixth book in the series. It was published October, 2009.

External links

• Eiko Kadono's Official website in Japanese with some information in English