Bombu Review: the Joyful Works of Sunny Seki
The art of storytelling has been a powerful force for learning and motivation as long as man has been able to communicate. Through stories, we are enlightened by our past, given hope for the future, inspired to take care of ourselves and others, and moved to laugh and cry. It would be a stretch to say that any other human creation has had greater influence (for the good and bad) on the development of our race. Author Sunny Seki knows how to tell a wonderful tale. His characters not only come to life, but connect us to times long past that have had an indelible impact on our culture today. These are not just children’s books. They are educational treasures that are sure to delight people of all ages.
I recently had the opportunity to meet Sunny and his wife Judith at a recent Oshogatsu celebration in Los Angeles. He is every bit as animated and warm as the characters he creates. We talked about his books and his travels and my own hope to soon visit Japan. As an information professional, what impressed me most about Sunny’s writing method was the amount of research he put into each of these short stories. You heard me correctly, I said research. Mr. Seki is not just a writer and entertainer, he is a true educator and lover of history. Each of his children’s books is designed not only to delight young minds, but to also teach them about the origins of popular aspects of Japanese culture. Things that we see and often take for granted today are presented in actual cultural and historical context. Kokeshi dolls, waving cats (maneki neko), magical water creatures (kappa) and more are featured and colorfully illustrated. The stories are rich, riddled with lessons on life, and unforgettable - just the way history should be.
The time I shared with Sunny and Judith at their booth was well spent. The Sekis have been on a mission to educate people - especially those of Japanese descent - about Japanese culture through a series of creative and artistic endeavors. Books, puppet shows, poetry, art, and school visits are just a few of their passionate initiatives. Sunny has been featured on Disney, BBC, and more. In talking to him, you can tell that all of his works are labors of love. In raising their own 9 children, Sunny and Judith wanted them to learn about their Japanese heritage in ways that were fun, educational, and authentic. Hence everything they do results from travel and research aimed at uncovering the actual origins and historical progression of each topic. Best of all, Sunny’s books are bilingual. One need neither be nor speak Japanese to enjoy these joyful stories.
Having read all of Mr. Seki’s books -and treasured my time with each - I can gleefully say that my favorites were The Tale of the Lucky Cat (2007, East West Discovery Press) and Yuko-chan and the Daruma Doll (2012, Tuttle). Each deals with items that have become important to me personally in my own life. But every story was truly fantastic and I highly recommend reading them all. The masterful, full-color illustrations really bring the books and their casts of characters to life. Each is exquisitely painted by the author himself. Sunny’s talent is as genuine as it is whimsical.
I recommend them for both the young and the young-at-heart and plan to be gifting quite a few of them this year. Please be sure to check out Sunny’s site for more information. He is resident here in the Los Angeles area and was named “Artist of the Year” for 2022 by Rafu Shimpo, an honor deservingly bestowed upon him many times before. His works won numerous awards as well the hearts and minds of his readers over the years.
Thank you, Sunny and Judith, for your time, hospitality, and another chance encounter for which I am so grateful. And Sunny, thank you for giving us all this incredible artistic legacy. May we all learn and delight from it for generations to come! I cannot wait to see what you do next.
