Makoto, The Smallest Boy: A Story of Japan by Yoshiko Uchida
This is a story written in 1970 that today is still a timeless story. Boys and girls around the world can relate to the struggles and desires of Makoto. In the story the main character of Makoto is tired of being the smallest boy in class. He does not play sports well and is usually on the losing team. With the help of his neighbor, Mr. Imai, he decides that drawing is something that he likes to do. Mr. Imai cautions Makoto that he must draw every day and one day he will sit down to draw and will forget about everything and thus create the finest picture he has ever done.
Makoto begins to sketch, day after day, all sorts of different things until he has ten sketch pads full. He shows Mr. Imai his sketches and the neighbor gives Makoto his old box of oil paints and brushes. Makota uses these paints to create several pictures of the temple, one of which he shows in the school Hobby Show. Makoto is surprised to find his painting receives the "Best in Class" award and he finally feels he is able to be good at something.
In this story Uchida introduces the reader to Japan. There are no stereotypes in the book, mainly aspects of the culture as presented as part of Makoto's life, although one must keep in mind the age of the book. Women do not run around in kimonos and tea is not always taken. Instead, an image is presented of modern day Kyoto (during 1970s) and the lives of its craftsmen and their families. The main focus of the story is Makoto's persistence and subsequent reward.
I have never read any books by Uchida before but I have found her to be quite the prolific author. It was hard to find her more recent work in my local library. I do know that she has written titles such as: A Jar of Dreams, Journey to Topaz: A Story of the Japanese-American Evacuation, Desert Exile: The Uprooting of a Japanese-American Family, The Bracelet, The Magic Purse, Samurai of Gold Hill, Sea of Gold, Takao and Grandfather's Sword, Lone Wolf and Cub-Sword of Vengeance, The Magic Listening Cap: More Folk Tales from Japan, Journey Home
1 comment:
It's so nice for me to have found this blog of yours, it's so interesting. I sure hope and wish that you take courage enough to pay me a visit in my PALAVROSSAVRVS REX!, and plus get some surprise. My blog is also so cool!
Feel free off course to comment as you wish and remember: don't take it wrong, don't think that this visitation I make is a matter of more audiences for my own blogg. No. It's a matter of making universal, realy universal, all this question of bloggs, all the essential causes that bring us all together.
I think it's to UNITE MANKIND that we became bloggers! Don't see language as an obstacle but as a challenge and think for a minute if I and the rest of the world are not expecting something like a broad cumplicity. Remenber that pictures talk also. Open your heart and come along!!!!!
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