Kiki's Delivery Service Original Author Eiko Kadono Looks Forward to the Musical Flying to Taiwan
The musical 'Kiki's Delivery Service' will premiere in Taiwan this July. The original author, 91-year-old Eiko Kadono, expressed her anticipation for the Taiwan performances and spoke on the importance of creativity.
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(Central News Agency, Taipei, Reporter Chao Ching-yu, 14th) The 'Kiki's Delivery Service' musical is set to premiere in Taiwan this July. The original author, 91-year-old Eiko Kadono, stated that she has visited Taiwan once and loves pan-fried buns, and she is looking forward to the 'first flight' of this musical in Taiwan, from the actors and music to the stage.
According to a press release from MNA, Eiko Kadono recently attended various press conferences and interviews in Tokyo, Japan, for the upcoming Taiwan tour of the 'Kiki's Delivery Service' musical. Kadono said she feels the charm of the protagonist, the witch Kiki, lies in being 'down-to-earth.' 'Although Kiki has the magic of flight, her real growth comes from the encounters and interactions with people after she lands, because it's hard for people to survive alone.'
Kadono believes that everyone has magic, each with different powers. 'As long as you persevere, it's enough for us to make our way in the world.'
Kadono mentioned that a few years ago, director Koki Kishimoto and composer Ryota Kojima visited her, hoping to get the rights to adapt 'Kiki's Delivery Service' into a musical. 'Their persistent passion reminded me of Kiki's brave adventurous spirit.' Kadono also said that the musical did not disappoint her. 'Writing is a lonely battle, but in the world of musicals, everyone works together, and it has sparked tremendous creativity.'
Eiko Kadono is a national treasure-level author in Japan and a winner of the Hans Christian Andersen Award, highly recognizable for her colorful attire and signature smile. At the age of 24, she moved to Brazil with her husband, where she met a 12-year-old boy named Luiz. This cross-national friendship led to her debut work 'Luizinho, Menino do Brasil'. After returning to Japan, inspired by her daughter's drawing of a 'girl riding a broom with a black cat,' she created the classic 'Kiki's Delivery Service.'
In her nearly 60 years of writing, Kadono learned to find freedom in 'other worlds' through her imagination, having experienced war and the loneliness of losing loved ones. Today, in her hometown of Edogawa, there is a 'strawberry-colored' Museum of Magical Literature designed by architect Kengo Kuma. A documentary released in 2024 witnessed her reunion with Luiz across the sea after 62 years, a passion that proves curiosity never fades with age.
Kadono stated that in the face of the global changes brought by AI, the solution is 'creativity.' 'Although we cannot return to a past without AI, we cannot easily lose to AI.'
Kadono believes that in the convenient digital age, it is crucial to acquire 'one's own language.' She hopes everyone will return to reading physical books to cultivate creativity that cannot be replaced. 'One day we will find that those original methods that took effort and labor are actually better.'
The 'Kiki's Delivery Service' musical will be performed from July 10 to 19 at the National Theater in Taipei, and from July 24 to August 2 at the National Taichung Theater. (Editor: Lee Hsi-chang) 1150514
According to a press release from MNA, Eiko Kadono recently attended various press conferences and interviews in Tokyo, Japan, for the upcoming Taiwan tour of the 'Kiki's Delivery Service' musical. Kadono said she feels the charm of the protagonist, the witch Kiki, lies in being 'down-to-earth.' 'Although Kiki has the magic of flight, her real growth comes from the encounters and interactions with people after she lands, because it's hard for people to survive alone.'
Kadono believes that everyone has magic, each with different powers. 'As long as you persevere, it's enough for us to make our way in the world.'
Kadono mentioned that a few years ago, director Koki Kishimoto and composer Ryota Kojima visited her, hoping to get the rights to adapt 'Kiki's Delivery Service' into a musical. 'Their persistent passion reminded me of Kiki's brave adventurous spirit.' Kadono also said that the musical did not disappoint her. 'Writing is a lonely battle, but in the world of musicals, everyone works together, and it has sparked tremendous creativity.'
Eiko Kadono is a national treasure-level author in Japan and a winner of the Hans Christian Andersen Award, highly recognizable for her colorful attire and signature smile. At the age of 24, she moved to Brazil with her husband, where she met a 12-year-old boy named Luiz. This cross-national friendship led to her debut work 'Luizinho, Menino do Brasil'. After returning to Japan, inspired by her daughter's drawing of a 'girl riding a broom with a black cat,' she created the classic 'Kiki's Delivery Service.'
In her nearly 60 years of writing, Kadono learned to find freedom in 'other worlds' through her imagination, having experienced war and the loneliness of losing loved ones. Today, in her hometown of Edogawa, there is a 'strawberry-colored' Museum of Magical Literature designed by architect Kengo Kuma. A documentary released in 2024 witnessed her reunion with Luiz across the sea after 62 years, a passion that proves curiosity never fades with age.
Kadono stated that in the face of the global changes brought by AI, the solution is 'creativity.' 'Although we cannot return to a past without AI, we cannot easily lose to AI.'
Kadono believes that in the convenient digital age, it is crucial to acquire 'one's own language.' She hopes everyone will return to reading physical books to cultivate creativity that cannot be replaced. 'One day we will find that those original methods that took effort and labor are actually better.'
The 'Kiki's Delivery Service' musical will be performed from July 10 to 19 at the National Theater in Taipei, and from July 24 to August 2 at the National Taichung Theater. (Editor: Lee Hsi-chang) 1150514