Hassun is a young kappa (water sprite) who lives in Asanuma Pond in Sanzaigaike Park. His family have disappeared, leaving him alone and lonely. One day, the Elder Kappa summons Hassun and orders him to spend the summer in the human world, disguised as a cat, as part of his kappa training.
Hassun takes the form of a cat and meets fifth-grader Asa and her dog Chesterton. Asa’s mother is dead, and while her father does the best he can for her given his busy job, she is often lonely.
One day, Hassun eats a kiwi fruit Asa drops on the ground. He becomes unwell and is carried into her house. After this, he has many adventures: he is almost put in the bath, and returns to his kappa form; he leaves the water running while Asa and her father are out; and he plays with toilet paper. Meanwhile, Asa faces the problem of bullying. When she sees through Hassun’s disguise and realizes that he switches back and forth between kappa and cat, she ponders the difference between outward appearance and inner self, and the essence of being, in her youthful way.
Hassun and Asa become increasingly reliant on each other, but their parting must come eventually. However, the book’s ending is a happy one that leaves the reader relieved, and Asa grows as a person, too. Kawatare skillfully revives the kappa, a traditional Japanese yōkai (supernatural entity), for modern times to explore themes like loneliness, friendship, and family. (SY)
Hassun takes the form of a cat and meets fifth-grader Asa and her dog Chesterton. Asa’s mother is dead, and while her father does the best he can for her given his busy job, she is often lonely.
One day, Hassun eats a kiwi fruit Asa drops on the ground. He becomes unwell and is carried into her house. After this, he has many adventures: he is almost put in the bath, and returns to his kappa form; he leaves the water running while Asa and her father are out; and he plays with toilet paper. Meanwhile, Asa faces the problem of bullying. When she sees through Hassun’s disguise and realizes that he switches back and forth between kappa and cat, she ponders the difference between outward appearance and inner self, and the essence of being, in her youthful way.
Hassun and Asa become increasingly reliant on each other, but their parting must come eventually. However, the book’s ending is a happy one that leaves the reader relieved, and Asa grows as a person, too. Kawatare skillfully revives the kappa, a traditional Japanese yōkai (supernatural entity), for modern times to explore themes like loneliness, friendship, and family. (SY)