Set out in search of your lost dreams!
Two friends' long journey to freedom

Everyone dreams of all kinds of things when they are young, but as they grow older, they become frustrated by the high wall of reality or even forget about their dreams altogether.
The same goes for Duke and Oregon, who appear in this story.
This picture book beautifully and movingly depicts the journey of two friends across the American continent from East to West, seeking lost freedom and finding their true selves.

Duke is a dwarf clown in a circus.
He wears a red decoration on his nose, and he has had it on for so long that it doesn't come off anymore.
But one day, Oregon the talented bear speaks to Duke.
He asked me to take him into the big forest.
A bear talking, that's really strange.
Perhaps he longs to return to the forests of his home state of Oregon.
Duke hesitates, but after thinking it over, he realizes that Oregon is more suited to the spruce forests of Oregon than the circus in Pittsburgh.
And I think maybe even the dwarf Duke will have the good fortune to meet Snow White in the forest.
The two empty their pockets and leave gray-sky Pittsburgh.
We walk, catch a ride, or take a train to Oregon.
From the cramped circus arena to the vast nature, from the gray city to the golden fields, the two friends move forward together toward a bright hope.
As the seasons change, the long journey that seemed to have no end slowly draws to a close.
Finally arrived at the vast forests of Oregon.
Oregon, a former circus bear, quickly forgets his days in captivity and runs freely into the forest.
And Duke, who kept his promise to Oregon, takes off his red nose, the clown's symbol, and sets out again with a light heart.
Towards a dream that could not be achieved.

Like the poem by Rimbaud that adorns the beginning, the protagonist's final scene, where he regains his forgotten true self and sets out for a new life, lingers in the readers' minds for a long time.
"Oregon's Journey" will leave a deep impression not only on young readers who love picture books, but perhaps even more so on adults who have lost their dreams.

We met at 'Star Circus'.

Oregon showed off his skills just before I went on stage.

Hiding behind the red curtain, I forgot my fear
I used to go back to my childhood.

When my turn was over, I dragged Oregon back to us.

One evening, Oregon said:

It's something that would only happen in a fairy tale.

“Duke, take me to the big forest.”
At that moment, I couldn't answer.

--- p.5~8

With red hair blowing in the wind,
I made my way through fields like Van Gogh's paintings… .
It was really beautiful.

?-- p.19~20