On Candy

Bonus Messages
Candy Candy manga 1988 edition

In 1988, a two-volume Favorite Edition of the Candy Candy manga was published in Japan. The back of Vol. 1 included a letter to Candy from author Kyoko Mizuki (now known as Keiko Nagita), and a message from the manga artist Yumiko Igarashi. Here, we share with you the original copy of the letter by Nagita and the message from Igarashi, plus a translation from a Japanese CC fan, “N”. Thank you, “N”!! from the bottom of our heart for the translation!!!!

"My Dearest Candy", by Kyoko Mizuki

My Dearest Candy,

I know you are well. It has been a while since I wrote you a letter. I did not forget about you, you know?

Far from forgetting, I realized how important you were to me year after year, and my heart was thrilled. You surely understood my feelings, didn’t you?

From time to time, I get letters from people who were close to you. In the letters, they are asking what you are doing now or saying that they are truly missing the time they had spent with you. Those who were little at that time are now high school or college students. The big guys say they have a new set of your story as a part of their wedding stuff. The bigger ones are now telling their children about you.

Candy, I’m very proud of you now again. Although I can’t see you, I feel like I am much much closer to you. Candy? That feeling is not just for you, you know? But also, for Archie, Stair, Terry, and nostalgic Anthony, even for Eliza and Neal . . .

Candy? If you do not mind, please let me know what you are up to. And if you “really do not mind”, come and have a cup of tea when the wind is blowing sweetly in the afternoon.

I am always waiting for you with your favourite rose tea.

Me and Candy - Yumiko Igarashi

The encounter between me and Candy also began with the encounter with the original author, Mizuki sensei.

A fluffy perm hair swaying over the shoulders and a pale pink dress deflated with knees. It is Rato-chan like a Sugar Lady. (She asked me to call her so.) Without this encounter, Candy Candy wouldn’t have been born, and it wouldn’t have been seen by readers now.

Even now, I am disowning the mystery of meeting people. And it’s very mysterious and wonderful that our work is now meeting with you who got this book for the first time or you who got it again. I would like to cherish this encounter.

In the Candy Candy world, Rato-chan and I desperately thought about living, loving people, accepting destiny, and confronting them. Also Candy and we were weeping, laughing, and having fun together. And we have become mothers of cute children and are still walking through our lives.

When Candy is about 16 years old, the story is over, but I’m sure that Candy’s life continued until she became a wonderful grandmother and was seen by her cute grandchildren. As a reader of this story, I can’t stop hoping that your childhood, your first love, your feelings, and your thoughts will lead you to your hopes for the future and this new encounter will fulfil excitement in your hearts.

Thank you so much to everyone who loves Candy Candy.