The first book of Matsuda Keiko, who presented a new style of girls' novels. Matsuda, nee Nomura, began writing short stories such as "Oningyô no Uta" ["Doll's Song"] when she was fifteen years old. Nomura Kodô, her father and a popular novelist, read her story titled "Tsubomi Tsubomi" ["Buds, Buds"] favored by her sister and cousins. Surprised at her ability, he managed to publish it. The book was titled Nanatsu no Tsubomi.
The first edition bears her former name Nomura Keiko as the author. Her
name was changed to Matsuda Keiko in later editions after her marriage.
Illustrations by Matsuda's younger sister were outstanding for her age,
showing an excellent understanding of the story. Matsuda had been in poor
health since her childhood and died young at the age of 23 in 1939. The
book reached its twentieth printing in 1940.
The story is about the life of two girls, Kozue and Reiko. It belongs to the tradition of Western girls' stories. Matsuda was fond of reading works by Johanna Spyri, Louisa May Alcott, and Frances Hodgson Burnett. The influence of Heidi and Little Women can be traced in Nanatsu no Tsubomi. The twenty-page appendix takes the form of a magazine published by the three characters in the story, which is very modern.
A revised edition of Nanatsu no Tsubomi bound by Nakahara Jun'ichi was published by Himawarisha in 1949, which became popular together with Nakahara's lyrical illustrations. This edition was reprinted by Kokushokankokai in 1985. |
