The book was extremely moving for us and we found the way Naoki sees the world, despite his difficulties, inspiring.

Kai and Sunny

About the Author

NAOKI HIGASHIDA was born in 1992 and was diagnosed with autism at the age of five. He graduated from high school in 2011 and lives in Kimitsu, Japan. He is an advocate, a motivational speaker, and the author of several books of fiction and nonfiction.

About the Translators

KA YOSHIDA was born in Yamaguchi, Japan, and majored in English poetry at Notre Dame Seishin University.

DAVID MITCHELL is the author of the international bestsellers The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet, Black Swan Green, Cloud Atlas, Number9Dream, and Ghostwritten.

KA Yoshida and David Mitchell live in Ireland with their two children.

About the Illustrators

KAI AND SUNNY are a multidisciplinary duo whose work appears in many arenas of art. Their intricate, natural and sometimes sinister style has led them to collaborate with Alexander McQueen and to design the jackets of several of David Mitchell’s books, and has won them numerous accolades, including a 2012 D&AD design award. The artists have exhibited internationally, including at Haunch of Venison London, and have recently been included in the Victoria and Albert Museum print archive collection. The duo are currently exploring natural forms in large-scale monotone prints.