Kenji Miyazawa’s a Night on the Galactic Railway: The Manga Edition

＂A breathtakingly beautiful world...reminding us that we are part of the universe.＂ --Kaori Nagai

＂A modern classic.＂ --NPR

Lonely and awkward, Giovanni struggles with his sick mother, absent father, and an afterschool job that isolates him from his peers. But on the night of the Star Festival, he is magically transported onto a celestial train with his best friend, Campanella. Together, they embark on an extraordinary journey through the galaxy, encountering mysterious characters and grappling with life’s deepest questions. When Giovanni returns to earth, he faces the heartbreaking truth about their voyage.

Kenji Miyazawa, one of Japan’s most revered authors, is celebrated for his poetic vision and ability to weave profound reflections on human nature into fantastical settings. A Night on the Galactic Railway is a powerful exploration of friendship, loss, and the mysteries of existence, cementing its place as a timeless masterpiece. This edition, filled with stunning imagery and evocative themes, offers readers a glimpse into Miyazawa’s genius. Reads right-to-left in the Japanese style.

Kenji Miyazawa was born into a wealthy family in rural Japan in 1896 and grew up questioning the class disparities of his society. He became a devout Buddhist and teacher of poor farmers, writing poems and stories whose fairytale-like style often conceals a great depth of purpose. He published only a few books before his death at the age of 37 but achieved wide acclaim posthumously, especially for the novella A Night on the Galactic Railway. His poem ＂Strong in the Rain＂ became an anthem of survival following the 2011 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster in northern Japan. He now features as a character in the popular Bungo Stray Dogs manga and anime TV series.

Ayano Kitahara has been creating manga for major Japanese publishers for over four decades.

Moss Quanci is a translator and writer based in Seattle. She translated the manga edition of Kenji Miyazawa’s The Restaurant of Many Orders and Other Stories and is working on a complete translation of Miyazawa’s poetry collection, Spring and Asura. More of her work may be found at fieldomoss.com.