Tomo: Friendship Through Fiction: An Anthology of Japan Teen Stories

This aptly named fiction anthology—tomo means “friend” in Japanese—is a true labor of friendship to benefit teens in Japan whose lives were upended by the violent earthquake and tsunami of March 11, 2011. Authors from Japan and around the world have contributed works of fiction set in or related to Japan. Young adult English-language readers will be able to connect with their Japanese counterparts through stories of contemporary Japanese teens, ninja and yokai teens, folklore teens, mixed-heritage teens, and non-Japanese teens who call Japan home. Tales of friendship, mystery, love, ghosts, magic, science fiction, and history will propel readers to Japan past and present and to Japanese universes abroad. Portions of the proceeds of Tomo will be donated to the Japanese non-profit, HOPE FOR TOMORROW, to support ongoing relief efforts for teens in Japan. Contents: Shocks and tremors: Lost by Andrew Fukuda Shuya's commute by Liza Dalby Half life by Deni Y Béchard Kazoku by Tak Toyoshima Aftershocks by Ann Tashi Slater Friends and enemies: Bad day for baseball by Graham Salisbury Half a heart by Mariko Nagai The bridge to Lillooet by Trevor Kew Blue shells by Naoko Awa, translated by Toshiya Kamei Borne by the wind by Charles De Wolf Ghosts and spirits: The ghost who came to breakfast by Alan Gratz House of trust by Sachiko Kashiwaba, translated by Avery Fischer Udagawa Staring at the Haiku by John Paul Catton Kodama by Debbie Ridpath Ohi Where the silver droplets fall by transcribed and translated from Ainu into Japanese by Yukie Chiri, translated and illustrated by Deborah Davidson Powers and feats: Yamada-san's toaster by Kelly Luce Jet black and the ninja wind by Leza Lowitz and Shogo Oketani Hachiro by Ryusuke Saito, translated by Sako Ikegami The lost property office by Marji Napper Anton and Kiyoshime by Fumio Takano, translated by Hart Larrabee Talents and curses: Love right on the yesterday by Wendy Nelson Tokunaga The dragon and the poet by Kenji Miyazawa, translated by Misa Dikengil Lindberg Just wan-derful by Louise George Kittaka Ichinichi on the Yamanote by Claire Dawn A song for Benzaiten by Catherine Rose torres Insiders and outsiders: Fleecy clouds by Arie Nashiya, translated by Juliet Winters Carpenter The zodiac tree by Thersa Matsuura One by Sarah Ogawa Love letter by Megumi Fujino, translated by Lynne E. Riggs Signs by Kaitlin Stainbrook Wings on the wind by Yuichi Kimura, translated by Alexander O. Smith Families and connections: The law of gravity by Yuko Katakawa, translated by Deborah Iwabuchi The mountain drum by Chloë Dalby Paper lanterns by Jennifer Fumiko Cahill I hate Harajuku girls by Katrina Toshiko Grigg-Saito Peace on earth by Suzanne Kamata