Kayoko's Diary

Kayoko is a timid first-grader in 1940, known for being quick to cry. She spends her days singing playful rhymes with friends and roughhousing with her three older brothers. With her mother expecting another child, Kayoko eagerly anticipates becoming a big sister, though she doesn’t fully grasp what that will mean. Around her, the war intensifies, and like everyone else, she feels it’s only right to show loyalty to her country. In a small act of patriotism, she even donates her beloved doll, knowing its materials could be used for the war. As the years pass, Kayoko witnesses the deepening impact of the conflict on her family and community. But nothing can shield her from the hardships of 1945, when the war’s darkest days arrive. This story draws from the real childhood experiences of Kayoko Ebina during World War II in Japan’s Showa era.