One night, alone on a hilltop, a young boy is swept aboard a magical train bound for the Milky Way. A classic in Japan, this tender fable is a book of great wisdom, offering insight into the afterlife.

One of Japan's greatest storytellers, Kenji Miyazawa (18961933) was a teacher, author, poet, and scientist.

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Kenji Miyazawa (1896-1933) is now widely viewed as Japan's greatest poet of the 20th century. Little known in his lifetime, he died at 37 from tuberculosis, but has since become a much loved children's author whose magical tales have been translated into many languages, adapted for the stage and turned into films and animations. Recognition for his poetry came much later. Strong in the Rain - the title poem of this selection - is now arguably the most memorized and quoted modern poem in Japan....