“Wouldn’t you be able to recognize it when you grow a little more?”
: A heart that unconditionally cares for small and weak beings who do not know what they will become when they grow up.

One day, I discovered a flower pot with a small sprout in a corner of the greenhouse.
He searches through a plant guide with his friend Haru to find out what kind of plant it is, but they can't find a similar plant because the stem is small and there are no leaves.
The child names the small sprout 'Raisin' after its wrinkled, dry appearance and takes good care of it.
He generously gives the raisins what he likes.
He reads poems he wrote himself and takes him to the beach to get some fresh air.
The child has only one wish for Raisin.
I just hope you grow up well.
It's okay if you don't know what your real name is or what you'll be when you grow up.
As the child carefully looks after and watches over the raisin, hoping that it will survive and grow strong, he suddenly remembers when he was very young.


“It reminded me of when I was very young.”
: A child who feels the eyes that have been watching and waiting for his growth while taking care of a small plant

While waiting for the slow-growing plants to grow, the child realizes that the size of a being cannot be judged by sight alone.
This tiny plant may be “full grown in its tiny form,” and although it may not grow noticeably, it can become something bigger and stronger than anything else.
It is a belief in the possibilities that the small plant, raisin, holds, and at the same time, it is a child's pledge to himself.
As he tends his small plant, the child finally realizes how many eyes have been watching, cheering, and waiting for him as he grows.
I remember the hands that nurtured me with unwavering devotion, like sunlight, moonlight, water, and wind.
While caring for a being smaller and weaker than oneself, the child, although “still small,” grows up to be bigger and stronger than any other being.


“That’s why people who make this plant bloom are called magicians.”
: A story about the preciousness of the 'time waiting' for a flower to bloom and the 'people waiting' beside it.

On the day when the raisin, which seemed like it would never grow, finally blooms, the children find out the raisin's true name in their plant guide.
It's the 'magic flower'.
The plant guide describes the magic flower as follows:

“Magic flowers never grow very large.
Very rarely, small, yellow flowers bloom.
So, the person who makes this plant bloom is called a magician.”

This book tells us that the magical and amazing process of a single plant sprouting, growing, and blooming is truly amazing.
So while we all rejoice and celebrate that the raisins have finally blossomed, it also shows the truth that not everyone has to bloom.
In "You Are Waiting to Blossom," Finnish picture book author Marika Maijala talks about the importance of watching over and waiting for each child to grow in their own way.
I cheer on all the 'magic flowers' in the world who are growing at their own pace, and I am grateful for the 'magician' hands that quietly watch over and care for them.