Eiko Kadono’s beloved young witch returns for a new English-language adventure filled with magic, friendship, growing up and self-discovery.
Tokyo: Japan’s most beloved little witch is flying back into the spotlight with Kiki and the New Magic, the English-language sequel to Eiko Kadono’s much-loved novel Kiki’s Delivery Service—the book that inspired Hayao Miyazaki’s iconic Studio Ghibli animated film.
Published in English in late August 2026 by Delacorte Press, the new edition once again brings together translator Emily Balistrieri and illustrator Yuta Onoda, the creative team behind the 2020 English edition of the original Kiki’s Delivery Service.
A New Chapter in Kiki’s Journey
In Kiki and the New Magic, Kiki is no longer just beginning her life as a witch. A year has passed since she settled into her new life in a seaside community, where she has established herself as a young courier who travels by broomstick.
Her growing popularity, however, brings new challenges.
As Kiki takes on increasingly difficult tasks, her relationships with her friends—including her loyal black cat Jiji and Tombo—are put under pressure. Her newfound fame also leads her to question her abilities, her purpose and what it truly means to be a witch.
The story follows Kiki as she confronts those doubts and searches for the courage to move forward, potentially discovering a different kind of magic along the way.
From Beloved Novel to Global Animation Classic
Kiki’s Delivery Service was originally published in Japan in 1985. The story later became internationally famous after Studio Ghibli adapted it into the 1989 animated film directed by Hayao Miyazaki.
The original novel has since reached readers around the world. The English-language edition published in 2020 introduced Kadono’s literary Kiki to a new generation of English-speaking readers.
Kadono’s original Japanese series eventually expanded well beyond the first novel, with multiple sequels and spin-off stories.
Kadono’s Enduring Magic
Eiko Kadono, now 91, remains closely associated with Kiki, one of Japan’s most recognizable literary characters. The award-winning author has written around 200 books during her career and received the prestigious Hans Christian Andersen Award in 2018.
The inspiration for Kiki came from a drawing made by Kadono’s daughter when she was 12. It depicted a cute witch flying toward the moon on a broomstick.
Kadono transformed that simple image into a coming-of-age story about independence, friendship, courage and discovering one’s place in the world.
Emily Balistrieri and Yuta Onoda Return
The new English edition maintains the creative partnership established with the first translated volume.
Emily Balistrieri returns as translator, while Yuta Onoda provides the illustrations. Their work helps preserve the gentle, imaginative atmosphere of Kadono’s world while making the story accessible to a contemporary English-speaking audience.
More Kiki Adventures Are Coming
Kiki’s English-language journey is not stopping with Kiki and the New Magic. A third book, Kiki and the Other Witch, is also scheduled to receive an English-language publication from Delacorte Press in 2027, again translated by Balistrieri and illustrated by Onoda.
The continuation of the series gives longtime fans—and readers discovering Kiki for the first time—more opportunities to explore the world beyond the famous Studio Ghibli adaptation.
Book Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Title | Kiki and the New Magic |
| Author | Eiko Kadono |
| Translator | Emily Balistrieri |
| Illustrator | Yuta Onoda |
| Series | Kiki’s Delivery Service |
| Publisher | Delacorte Press / Random House Children’s Books |
| Pages | 288 |
| Genre | Fiction / Fantasy / Children’s Literature |
| English Release | August 2026 |
Why Kiki Still Resonates
What makes Kiki’s story endure is that its magic is about more than witches and broomsticks. At its heart, the series explores familiar experiences of growing up—finding confidence, dealing with uncertainty, maintaining friendships and learning to understand one’s own abilities.
For fans of the Studio Ghibli film, Kiki and the New Magic offers a chance to return to a familiar world while discovering more of Kadono’s original literary vision.
For new readers, it is an invitation to meet Kiki not simply as an animated icon, but as a young character learning, changing and finding her own way.
Book: Kiki and the New Magic
Author: Eiko Kadono
Translated by: Emily Balistrieri
Illustrated by: Yuta Onoda
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Length: 288 pages
