As part of Kiki’s Delivery Service Novel Week, come learn a bit more about the origin of Kiki’s Delivery Service from the creator herself, Eiko Kadono! Born in 1935, Kadono’s published nearly 200 original works, and is still writing today. She talks about her experiences, the creation of Kiki, and her daughter’s influence on Kiki in the interview below.
TheOASG: What moment or event made you decide you wanted to become a novelist?
Eiko Kadono: I lived in Brazil for two years, and a professor from my time at university asked if I would write something about Brazilian kids.
That was when I realized I loved writing. In the 60 years since then, I’ve never once hated writing stories.
How would you say your experiences — living through WWII, going to Brazil after graduating university, how technology has advanced for you growing up — inform how you create works for readers of all-ages?
My experiences of the war became Tonneru no mori (The Tunnel Through the Woods, 1945). I wrote not from an adult’s perspective, but entirely through the eyes of a ten-year-old girl.
During my two years in Brazil, I learned what it means to live free. And there are many different kinds of people living in that country, so I made a lot of fascinating friends and put them into my stories.
Can you share your typical process when it comes to writing?
First I draw a few pictures of the world I imagine. That’s where the main character comes from.
You explain something your daughter did that inspired Kiki’s Delivery Service in the Letter to the Reader section. How did she react to reading the novel for the first time?
I do believe my daughter has read the book, but I’ve never heard her impressions. Probably our relationship is so close that it’s embarrassing to talk about.
When you started creating Kiki, what type of personality did you want to make sure came through for her as she began her journey to become a witch?
I wanted her to be very creative, and someone who is always asking herself questions — which means she is also humble.
What were some of the challenges of working on Kiki’s Delivery Service?
There were none at all. It was a delight to write from beginning to end.
Did any of the characters change significantly from the initial draft process to the completed novel?
Not really.
What led to the name of the novel? Were there any other names you considered?
Right from the start I thought I would call it Majo no Takkyūbin.
What was your reaction when you learned Kiki was going to be a Ghibli film? How involved were you in the process of Kiki becoming an animated film?
I was born in the age of print, so I didn’t have much interest in anime. But my daughter was adamant that I make the deal.
Can you explain your experience watching the film for the first time?
I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was a bit different from my novel in places, but anime isn’t the same as paper and the printed word. I was properly aware of that, so I considered it Mr. Miyazaki’s work and had a lot of fun watching it. And I was relieved that the world of the story hadn’t changed.
Kiki’s Delivery Service has been released in English before, but now that it’s seeing a new release in 2020, what do you hope readers that watched the film experience when they read your novel?
Firstly, the novel and the movie are different things. I hope you’ll enjoy the world of Kiki’s that I created. There are many people who read the original after seeing the movie; I’m sure you’ll notice new things. Please read it!
Finally, can you share what’s next for you, writing-wise?
I’m currently writing a Kiki spin-off. After that, I’d like to write a post-war story about a little girl.
