Lonely Castle in the Mirror by Mizuki Ysujimura - Fairy tale and Magic with a Flooring Emotional Punch
The Blog of a Bookseller
As previously mentioned, I have a deep adoration for Japanese Literature. I always recommend the genre to customers looking for book suggestions. There are the staple Japanese Literature for me to suggest, novels I have read and fallen deeply for in an indescribable way. It is her first translation into English, with her following translation coming in 2025 with her novel, Lost Souls Meet Under a Full Moon, a resonating story about life and death.
One is a more recent release, published in Japan in 2017 but released in the UK in 2022 - Lonely Castle in the Mirror by Mizuki Ysujimura; an award-winning, best-selling novel in Japan, described as a heart-warming story which is 'a beautifully wrought modern fairytale' and that description is the perfect way to capture what this novel is at its heart.
To say I love this book is an understatement.
We meet Kokoro, a thirteen-year-old girl who cannot return to school, finding herself physically ill at the thought of stepping through the school gates. She has been horrifically bullied to the point where she has become fearful of even leaving the house, so she spends her days at home, waiting for something to happen, and one day it does - her mirror starts to glow. She presses her hand to it, and the next instant, she's in a castle straight out of a fairytale, greeted by a young girl in a pink lace-trim dress wearing a wolf's mask. She calls herself The Wolf Queen, and she has organised this event.
The Wolf Queen has selected Kokoro and six other teenagers in her age range to have access to the castle, which will remain open to them for a year. The castle has rules, though. It is open only from 9-5; if you are there before or after those times, you will be eaten by a wolf - if you don't abide by this crucial rule, not only will you be eaten, but you all do. By accepting the invitation to visit the castle, you agree to her challenge - find the Wishing Room. You must find the key hidden in the castle to enter the wishing room. The one who finds it can enter the room and have one wish granted without consequences. Only one person can achieve this, and doing so means the castle will be closed. If you do this, you forget your experience at the castle; if no one finds the key before the castle closes, you will leave with your memories.
Surprisingly, Lonely Castle in the Mirror is a very character-driven story - there are few scenes of them searching for the key, and at times, I forgot that they had been set on a quest. The characters choose to come to the castle not to pursue their wish, but for the companionship the others provide. Kokoro is not the only one experiencing problems in her life, as each teenager has reasons for not wanting to go to school or be at home.
It is not the magical realism or the promise of a wish which makes it an incredible book, but the characters. Everyone has a vital role in the story, making you care for them. They were each puzzle pieces that fit together, making their behaviour, statements and opinions crucial to the story. In the castle, they create their own world. First, it is awkward, then they argue, but they eventually understand and appreciate each other. Their friendships were challenging to build; it was a challenge for them all, but over time, they created an unbreakable bond that lingers with them outside the castle. They were all such unique characters whose stories made me cry. I adored every single one of them.
When people ask me what I thought of the book, I tell them it has the tender touch of a Hayao Miyazaki film, and the significance of it will last generations. More importantly, I showed them the back of the book, where a note from a publisher existed:
"According to a recent UNICEF report, Japanese children were ranked second-to-last in an international survey assessing children's mental health across thirty-eight developed and emerging countries. While Japanese children were ranked first in physical health and often live in relatively prosperous economic circumstances, instances of bullying in schools, as well as difficult relationships with family members, lead to a lack of psychological well-being.
The popularity of Lonely Castle in the Mirror in Japan, where it scooped two prizes and became a bestseller, is a testament to its power to heal and to open debate."
My love for Lonely Castle in the Mirror has long lasted since I read it in 2023. When the local art gallery was to be showing an animated adaption of the book, I basically dragged my friend, M, to the cinema it had, and we watched it. I cried like I did with the book; I am not ashamed to admit I cried. It is a beautiful story that feels heartwarming and hopeful in a world full of anger and sorrow.