Madogiwa no Totto-chan

A collection of childhood memories, the story is set at a unique school in Tokyo during World War II, where education was infused with joy, freedom, and affection. The school, which used repurposed train cars as classrooms, was founded and led by Sosaku Kobayashi, a man who strongly supported self-expression and active learning. The child at the center of the story, later known as Tetsuko Kuroyanagi, became a well-known television personality in Japan and credited her achievements to the positive influence of the school and its headmaster. The book has resonated with a wide audience, becoming a major success in Japan, with over 4.5 million copies sold in its first year.