Synopses & Reviews
When staffing changes at Masato's company get him transferred to a dead-end job in the middle of nowhere, more suffering and despair seem imminent for the Azuma family. However, Masato approaches the situation with aplomb and comes up with new ways to pave the way for Hikaru and those like him to become "cheerful working adults"...with surprising results. Hikaru himself seems to be getting closer, bit by bit, to achieving this goal as the Azumas decide to foster their son's independence in a variety of ways, including getting to and from school on his own. But when Hikaru encounters an old acquaintance on the way home and leads Sachiko to a horrific discovery, will the Azumas be able to return a favor and help out a friend in need?
Synopsis
When staffing changes at Masato's company get him transferred to a dead-end job in the middle of nowhere, more suffering and despair seem imminent for the Azuma family. However, Masato approaches the situation with aplomb and comes up with new ways to pave the way for Hikaru to become a cheerful working adult with surprising results. And with Hikaru now a 5th grader, Sachiko decides to foster independence in her son by allowing him to go to school on his own. Though the transition goes relatively smoothly, Sachiko and Masato are devastated when Hikaru encounters Oki-kun on his way home from school, only to learn that the boy is being abused in foster care.
Synopsis
First published in Japan by Akita Publishing Co. Ltd., Tokyo.
About the Author
Keiko Tobe was an acclaimed Japanese manga artist whose masterwork With the Light strove to bring the everyday struggles of raising a child with autism to a wider audience. With the Light earned her the Japan Media Arts Festival's Manga Division Excellence Prize in 2004, and the series was also adapted into a critically-acclaimed drama series in Japan.