The sequel to “Totto-chan at the Window” has just been released and has sold more than 3,000 copies.

The book “Totto-chan at the Window: What Followed”.

Part 2 of the book titled “Totto-chan at the Window: What Happened Next” by author Kuroyanagi Tetsuko has become a publishing phenomenon when it was reprinted just 3 days after its official release in Vietnam.

“Totto-chan “By the Window” is a famous and beloved children’s book all over the world. The autobiography tells the story of the author Kuroyanagi Tetsuko’s childhood, with wonderful memories of Tomoe Gakuen, a small school in Tokyo known for its unconventional and inspiring educational methods. It was this school and these educational methods that contributed to shaping the character and personality of the little girl Tottochan at that time.

The book has overcome all language barriers, becoming a global publishing phenomenon with more than 25 million copies reaching readers.

In 2011, the book was first published. introduce to Vietnamese readers through the first official translation from Japanese, negotiated by Nha Nam with the Japanese copyright holder, Kodansha Publishing House. The cover and illustrations of the story are printed from all original drawings by artist Iwasaki Chihiro.

In 2024, the book was adapted into cartoon.

42 years later, author Kuroyanagi Tetsuko – now 90 years old – introduces to readers the sequel “Totto-chan at the Window: What Followed”. The book is both a complete addition, continuing the story left open in the previous part, and touching on heavier topics, bringing the story of the girl's journey to adulthood that once touched millions of hearts.

The book is divided into four parts and told chronologically. The opening part, titled “Cold, Sleepy, and Hungry,” recounts the events before the Tokyo air raid, where the war became increasingly evident and affected the daily life of Totto-chan’s family.

The sequel “Evacuation Totto” takes place after the bombing of Tokyo, and tells the story of Totto-chan and her family being evacuated to the Aomori region, where she first faces a completely unfamiliar life.

The third part “The Flower of Destiny Fulfills” and the final part “Totto Becomes an Actress” begin in the final stages of the war, when Japan is moving into a period of reconstruction, families are reunited, until Totto-chan gradually grows up, finding her career path amidst the struggles of any adult.

The book is still illustrated by artist Iwasaki Chihiro with lovely, vivid pictures and also includes precious photos of Totto-chan from childhood to adulthood, helping readers easily follow each story.

If part one is a song about freedom and faith in children, then the sequel is a testament to the enduring vitality of love and humanistic education.

The last years of childhood spent in war are recounted by author Kuroyanagi as a mix of happy and sad memories - not dramatizing, but also not hiding the harshness.

In addition, “Totto-chan at the Window: What Followed” is also a vivid picture of Japanese society in its transitional period, from the fierce war years to the hopeful reconstruction period. Through Totto-chan’s perspective, readers will feel the changes of the country, its people, as well as the intertwined traditional and modern values, creating a rich, multi-dimensional historical-social context.

As soon as news of its release in Vietnam broke, Totto-chan at the Window: What Happened next created a rare publishing phenomenon. The number of orders increased dramatically before the book was officially released, and within just the first 3 days of its release, the first 3,000 copies were sold out nationwide.

The book was reprinted immediately to meet the needs of readers. This proves that the strong appeal of the work comes not only from the love for Totto-chan and the author Kuroyanagi Tetsuko, but also from the strong inspiration and positive values that the book brings to readers of all ages.

Kuroyanagi Tetsuko was born in 1933 in Tokyo. She is a famous writer, actress, presenter and influential figure in Japan in the fields of culture, arts and society.

In 1984, she was appointed as a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the first Asian to hold this position. She has visited 39 countries, carrying out charitable activities, supporting children struggling with hunger, war, disease and raising international attention to children in poor countries.

“Totto-chan at the Window” is her first work, written based on her childhood memories at Tomoe School – the place that shaped Kuroyanagi Tetsuko's personality, thinking and desire to live.

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