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  • Ages 10 and up
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Otōsan ga ippai

[Too Many Dads]

Written by Mitamura Nobuyuki
Illustrated by Sasaki Maki

Rironsha, 2003. 208 pp. ISBN 978-4-652-00514-9.

Originally published in 1975.

Also published in: Korean

This book contains five mysterious, slightly scary short stories in which everyday space and time seem to twist out of joint. In the first story, “Yume de aimashō” [Let’s Meet in Our Dreams], a dreaming boy meets another boy inside his dream, but the two then lose track of which is which. In “Doko ni mo yukenai michi” [The Road to Nowhere], a boy who tries to take a different route home from school than usual finds the way much longer than he expected. He finally arrives at what he believes his home, but he catches only a glimpse of his parents, their faces contorted with fear at his transformation into a boneless, jellyfish-like thing. In “Boku wa gokai de” [I’m on the Fifth Floor], a boy finds that he is unable to leave his home in a public housing complex. His terror at being lost in a maze feels very real.

    The title story, “Otōsan ga ippai” [Too Many Dads], begins with a telephone call from the protagonist’s father . . . even though his father is at home with him already. A third father then appears, and each insists that he is the boy’s real father. In the end, the government forces the child to choose one, gives the chosen father a document to certify his status, and takes the other two away into state custody—an oddly terrifying denouement. Meanwhile, in “Kabe wa shitte ita” [The Wall Knew], the protagonist’s father disappears into a wall.

    Each of the stories takes some truth that everyone unquestioningly takes for granted and warps it bizarrely. The mysterious atmosphere that results subtly urges the reader to ponder deeper questions—What is family? What is the parent-child relationship? And what does it mean to be alive in this world? (NA)
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Mitamura Nobuyuki

Born in Tokyo in 1939. Started writing stories for children while he was still a university student. Came to public attention with the absurd short stories of Otōsan ga ippai. Has won awards including the Iwaya Sazanami Literature Award and the Japan Association of Children’s Literature Scholars Prize. His works include Suttobi-gitsune [A Light-Footed Fox], Kaze o uru otoko [A Man Who Sells the Wind], the Kaze no onmyōji [The Yin-Yang Master in the Wind] series, the Yōkai dōchū hizakurige [A Journey to Search for a Monster] series, Monomane-dori o utsu na [Don’t Shoot the Bird Impersonator], and Ōkami no jikan: Ima soko ni aru fushigi-shū [Wolf Time: Current Mysteries]. Has also published critical biographies including Sōseki to Kumagusu [Sōseki and Kumagusu].

Sasaki Maki

Born in Hyōgo Prefecture in 1946. Manga artist, illustrator, and picture book author. Made his debut in the manga magazine Garo in 1966 and published his first picture book Yappari ōkami [Ultimately, I’m a Wolf] in 1973. Since then, created numerous picture books including Boku ga tobu [I Fly], Hen na ochakai [A Strange Tea Party], Buta no tane [Pig Seed], the Musshu Munieru [Monsieur Meunière] series, the Nemui nemui nezumi [Sleepy Mouse] series, and Herohero ojisan [Unlucky Man]. Won the Kōdansha Publication Culture Awards Picture Book Award. His other works include stories for children, essays, and manga work collections.

Translation rights inquiries

Rironsha Co., Ltd.
(attn. Foreign Rights)
Email: rights@rironsha.co.jp
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