MORIBITO (Guardian)
Guardian of the Spirit
by Nahoko Uehashi
illus. by Makiko Futaki
Once every hundred years an egg containing a sacred spirit is implanted into the breast of an inhabitant of Sagu. If the egg is safely hatched, the land will be free of famines and natural disasters for the next century. This fantasy novel relates how a prince receives the egg, attempts to protect it from those who seek to destroy it.
Award
1996 NOMA NEWCOMER PRIZE FOR JUVENILE LITERATURE
1997 THE SANKEI AWARD FOR CHILDREN'S BOOKS & PUBLICATIONS
2001 ROBO-NO-ISHI AWARD
Broadcast of Guardian of the Spirit animated series
The Japanese public broadcaster NHK has begun transmission of an animated version of Guardian of the Sacred Spirit. The fantasy world of Nahoko Uehashi's story has been brought to the screen by Production I.G., who are active around the world, producing programmes such as 'Innocence', and the animation director Kenji Kamiyama, who has directed key Japanese works such as 'Ghost in the Shell'.
22 x 16 cm, 284-358 pages, Black-and-white illustrations
First published July 1996
Rights sold: France, Spain, China, Taiwan, US, Italy, Brazil & Indonesia
