The Healing Hippo of Hinode Park by Michiko Aoyama

Kabahiko, an old concrete hippo in Hinode children’s park, sits motionless in the children’s play park, while his paint peels and his mouth grins. Legend has it that if you touch the part of his body that ails you, a miraculous healing will take place. In this delightful collection of tales, five residents of the local block of apartments each seek help from Kabahiko but find healing of a very unexpected nature, enabling them to see the world in a refreshingly new light. Part of our ever-growing collection of Japanese fiction, this book is gentle but thought-provoking treatise on the things that matter in life and the importance of community. Available now at Teasel and Skylark. David