1.
Chickpea and Pineapple Flavored Cider… 8
2.
Summer of Jugemu… 55
3.
Monster Seven-Leaf Tree… 83

“How about we make our fourth-year summer vacation the best vacation ever?”
The special adventure of four boys as bright and dazzling as the midsummer sun

The season called 'summer' has its own unique feeling.
The dazzling sun, the rippling river, the deep green trees.
As the title suggests, “Summer of Jugemu” is set in midsummer.
Katsu, Yama, Shu, and Akin, who live in Tenshin Village, decide to go on a special adventure that can only be done 'now' during the summer vacation of their fourth year.
Katz, who suffers from muscular dystrophy, a disease that causes muscles to gradually weaken, was looking forward to this summer more than anyone else.
Because he noticed that it was getting harder and harder for him to walk, he wanted to make precious memories with his friends.
The four boys enjoy the summer of their eleventh year, a summer that will never return, while exploring the nature of a mountain village where summer comes earlier than anywhere else.

The children grow up like the trees of summer, vigorously stretching out their branches, as they go to meet a mysterious old man nicknamed "Bear Catcher" after defeating a fearsome bear ("Chick and Pineapple-Flavored Cider"), plan to dive into the river from the village bridge ("Juugemu's Summer"), and go see a thousand-year-old horse chestnut tree ("Monster Horse Chestnut Tree").
The three adventures are even more special because they are firmly rooted in reality, not relying on fantasy, and proceed solely by the children's will.
Because it shows that children have the power to make reality magical and exciting.
"Jugemu's Summer" takes readers into the heart of summer through the children's adventures.
Just like lying on a sun-warmed rock after playing in the water, this work, which permeates your whole body with a cool yet warm summer feeling, will become a 'summer fairy tale' that you will want to read every summer starting this year.

“Long, long, long, long, like the dust of the universe.”
Stories of children living in this moment

Katsu, whose dream is to become a comedian, always enjoys singing a line from the "Juugemu" comedian.
This is the part where a long name that starts with 'Jugemu Jugemu' appears.
The direct translation of "Jugemu" in Korean is "life has no end," and it is a very long name because it is made up of several words related to longevity.
This name, which is the favorite of Katsu, who suffers from an incurable disease, contains Katsu's wish to live a long and healthy life.
Another thing to note here is that Katsu is reciting none other than 'manzai'.
Through the manzai that tells funny and witty stories, we can see Katsu's positive attitude of not being pessimistic about his situation but rather accepting it cheerfully.
His friends also know that Katsu's condition is getting worse, but they try to find a way to enjoy the present by singing manzai together.
Thanks to this, "Summer of Jugemu" becomes a bright and cheerful adventure story rather than a gloomy and sad story of separation.

With this mindset, Katsu and his three friends begin to value their lives more.
Instead of regretting a past when you didn't get sick or worrying about a future where your symptoms will get worse, do your best with what you can do now.
That's why, throughout their summer adventure, the four children's strength to live as hard as they can is conveyed on every page.
Summer vacation in the fourth grade only comes once in a lifetime, but the vitality that the children show will last a long time.


★ IBBY Barrier-Free Children's Books Japan Recommended Book, Selected for the Children's Welfare Culture Award Publishing Category
“What was normal for Garth was normal for the three of us.”

Rather than focusing on Katsu's illness, "Juugemu no Natsu" places more emphasis on showing Katsu's various characteristics, such as Katsu's dream of becoming a comedian and Katsu's odd suggestions.
This tells us that disability is only a part of a person, not the whole of them.
Katsu, who is well aware of this fact, instead of confining himself within the fence of his disability, freely displays his wit and sparkling thoughts.
The three friends also treat Katsu honestly as a 'friend' without taking sides between excessive consideration and indifference.
Rather than supporting Katsu, who is slow to walk, the children wait until Katsu catches up on his own.
This attitude may seem indifferent, but it actually comes from a heart that cares for and supports Katsu more than anyone else.

Another special thing about this work is that it doesn't hide Katsu's illness or hastily predict that he will get better.
Rather, we look at the given reality as it is, saying, 'I might not be able to do it next year.'
By choosing neither ignorance nor excessive kindness, the work discovers a way to truly not marginalize disability.
This thoughtfulness is naturally incorporated throughout, making "Summer of Jugemu" a truly remarkable work.