As May has entered its last week, we will talk about love.

Following Nagita’s text in CCFS, she writes:

“May was the month in which love bloomed , and the hearts of all were filled with romantic expectations.

In Candy’s letter to Anthony, Candy says: “In any case, thanks to this guy I discovered that love has many forms…”

This guy of course refers to Terry.

Candy’s journey in life, is a journey of seeking her happiness. As an adult, she realises (as we all do) that:

“What does it mean to reach happiness? I didn’t know anymore…

I am not sure I understood it even now. What I’m looking for is something simple – to be able to live next to the person I love.”

In Nagita’s Postface in the 1990 edition of Candy’s novel, the author writes:

“Hello

I’m glad to see you again.

How was the second volume of “Candy Candy”?

I also have been following Candy’s lead for a long time,

“Hey, I really have a hard time in various ways.”

And she encouraged me by patting my shoulder.

“To be loved by a wonderful person like Terry, I adore it.” she says.

And, I was envious of it.

Terrius G. Grantchester.

Even a well-built man at a certain party some time ago said to me: “My ideal was Terry.”

I was surprised at what I said!

And then, I felt pleasant and delightful.

Anthony, Archie, Stair, Terrius, Albert-san…….

Who do you like best in the story of Candy?

As for me, Terry is an extraordinary…… character, so it is Stair “

Nagita many times supported her statement that Candy Candy (The Manga) was the story of growth of a girl to a young woman.

Growing up however – everyone can agree – is a journey of self discovery. In that self-discovery, we also learn what is Love, how we fall in love, and what is happiness.

Curiously, in the previous novel editions, Nagita’s characters according to the author’s words: “Candy and Other Characters Continue Living Young and Lovely Forever”

They were staying young forever!

In CCFS we see a departure from that state of things. Nagita’s characters have aged. We see Candy in her late thirties just before WWII. And consequently everyone else has aged with her. The companions in her life (husband, family, friends) all have aged. And so have her fans aged. From young girls we all were, we are now grown up women with families and lives as rich as Candy’s.

On the Preface of the Italian CCFS novel, Nagita writes:

“On that occasion, I was asked the following question many times: “Why did you wish to tell the story of a foreign girl despite your being Japanese?”

My answer is still the same: “Falling in love, love and the feeling which binds us to another person are the same the world over.”

So, Candy’s story is a universal quest of happiness and a learning of what it is to love.

But here, in this final statement of Nagita, we hear an echo of the famous statement she made a long, long time ago, about the three loves. The first love with Anthony which is short-lived and innocent. Next was the intense love with Terry at the bloom of their youth; the kind of love that end even though there are still feelings involved. And finally, the amicable and gentle love towards Mr. Albert. (Source taken by Candy Candy Final Story website).

In the Preface written by Nagita, the author makes the differentiation between three states:

Falling in love (Candy learns about falling in love for the first time with Anthony)

Love (Thanks to Terry I discovered that love has many forms)

The feeling which binds us to another person (Nagita carefully does differentiate this particular feeling from Love).

The feeling which binds us to another person refers to Candy’s and Albert’s relationship. The invisible thread which brings people together by fate. This is not exclusive to romantic love partners but it is how life brings two people together to bind them for life as deep friends and/or family. In a way, this is a deeper, sometimes and purer feeling than romantic love.

It is very interesting how Nagita differentiates between three states in that little statement.

Falling in love

Love

The feeling which binds us to another person

Three different states of mind, three different lesson in Candy’s life.

Anthony – Terry – Albert.

*See also what Nagita herself said about the “three loves” in this Myth Buster.