Totto-chan: The Little Girl at the Window.

Totto-chan: The Little Girl at the Window, is written by Tetsuko Kuroyanagi. This book
is considered as her childhood memoir.
Memoir is a collection of memories that an individual writes about moments or events, that took
place in his life. A memoir is differed from biography. A biography or autobiography tells the
story “of a life”, while a memoir often tells a story “from a life”, such as touchstone events and
turning points from the author’s life.

Tetsuko Kuroyanagi is a famous Japanese actress, a talk show host and writer.
She is well known for her charitable works and is considered as one of the first Japanese
celebrities who achieved international recognition. 1981 marked a turning point in her career, as
she published her book ‘Totto-chan: The Little Girl at the Window’. This book was a
recollection of author’s formative experiences at Tomoe Gakuen school. In this book she
recounts the story of her own life and the lives of many other children and how the master
Sosaku Kobayashi kept these children protected from the war outside.
Totto-chan was originally published in Japan as a series of articles in Young Woman magazine.
Later, these articles were collected into a book, which made Japanese publishing history by
selling more than 5 million copies, before the end of 1982.

“Having eyes but not seeing beauty; having ears but not hearing music; having minds but not
perceiving the truth; having hearts that are never moved and therefore never set on fire. These
are the things to fear.” These words belong to Totto’s dear master Sosaku Kobayashi.
Totto chan was expelled from her previous school within a week of school starting, for being
disruptive and not listening, for standing at the window and not sitting down and repeatedly
being punished. Her mother realizes that Totto needs a school where more freedom of expression
is permitted. Thus she joined in the Tomoe School.

Just like all the children ,Totto is innocent, mischievous, hyper active and
curious. But master Kobayashi is a special character. He is an extraordinary master. Kobayashi
believed in freedom of expression and activity. All his methods were unusual. Everyday for
lunch he asked the children to bring something from the hills and something from the ocean- not
only to have a balance in what they ate; it is to make them know of their land. He allowed young
children to swim naked in the pool, so that they get over the curiosity of their bodies.
One day, the school is bombed, and is never rebuilt,even though the headmaster claims that he
looked forward to building an even better school the next time round. This ends Totto’s years as
a pupil at Tomoe Gauken.

Tomoe School was situated in an abandoned railroad car, where bogeys were converted to class
rooms. Each student had his/her own tree. They worked all morning on subjects of their choice
and they went on long walks, by the stream in the afternoon. Everyday master told them that
they are good and special. He didn’t scold at them; instead he approached them with love and
patience. Thus Master Kobayashi goes beyond all conventional methods of education.

‘Totto-chan’ gives us a realization that we cannot understand children

wholly,for they belong to a different world. That is why Totto was expelled from her previous
school. The deeds, words and dreams of children are beyond what we think of them. They cannot
understand our philosophies and theories. Let them grow with their innocence.
Now I know one thing, that is we should never force children to become what we wanted them to
become; instead let them reach where they wanted to reach.
This book is like a seed which grow within you and spread its roots into your childhood
memories. I am sure that ‘Totto-chan’is a trap; if you once enter in it you cannot come outside.