᭝ ᨳଓ ՟ Kyoko was born and raised in Japan during a time of prosperity and tranquility, long before war became a constant shadow over the daily lives of her people. From a young age, she stood out for her intelligence. She had to. In an environment where it wasn’t always wise to trust others and where women often had to ensure their own safety and that of those around them, shrewdness was an indispensable tool.

However, peace did not last forever. War once again engulfed her country, and Kyoko was forced to adapt to a reality marked by uncertainty and loss. Years passed, and when the conflict finally came to an end, it left behind countless lives cut short and scars that were difficult to erase.

But among the ruins of that shattered world, fragments of something new also emerged. Objects, customs, and wonders from distant lands began to cross the borders: foods with unfamiliar flavors, fabrics with exotic textures, vibrant colors, and fashions that seemed to belong to another universe. And, above all, music. Kyoko’s eyes sparkled every time she heard those foreign rhythms, melodies that had never been born in her land and that awakened in her a deep desire to know the world beyond the horizon. ᭝ ᨳଓ ՟

Set in post-World War II Japan (1955)