08/07/2026
On 1 July 2026, Japanese children's book illustrator Akiko Hayashi passed away at the age of 81.
Her name had long faded from my memory. Yet when I saw the news of her passing on social media today, it wasn't her name that came back to me—it was the familiar feeling this book had once given me.
I sat quietly and looked through its illustrations again. The gentle colours, the delicate artwork... I knew this book had been part of my childhood, even if only for a little while.
Slowly, my memories carried me back to when I was six years old.
I could almost see the cupboard door opening, revealing a handful of picture books, my younger brother's toy car, and a little wind-up doll.
Back then, life was much simpler. There weren't endless screens or constant entertainment. Picture books were like films made especially for children. As each page turned, the story came alive.
Akiko Hayashi had such a beautiful way of capturing everyday life. Every page was filled with familiar moments that reflected the world I grew up in.
This book also reminded me of the first time I ever went to the local corner shop on my own.
I was seven years old. My father had stayed up late the night before and didn't wake up in time to make breakfast for my younger brother and me. He took a NT$100 note from his wallet and asked me to walk to the little shop at the end of our lane to buy something for breakfast.
It was the very first time I had ever gone shopping on my own.
The only instruction I remember him giving me was,
"Keep to the right."
At seven years old, I honestly couldn't tell my right from my left. So my dad simply told me to hold the money in my right hand and walk on the side where I was holding it.
Walking there by myself was frightening—I won't pretend it wasn't.
Fortunately, our village was the sort of place where everyone knew everyone else. The adults all knew which family each child belonged to, and there was a reassuring sense of safety.
When I finally reached the shop, another problem appeared.
What should I buy?
There were so many things I'd never seen before.
After staring at all the shelves for what felt like ages, I finally chose one item and took it to the till.
It cost NT$99.
Perfect—I had enough money!
Feeling incredibly proud, I carried it home to share with my younger brother.
That morning, our breakfast was something we'd never had before...
A tube of Pringles. 🤣
When my father eventually woke up, the first thing he asked was,
"Have you both had breakfast?"
"Yes!"
Then he asked,
"Did you get any change?"
"I did!"
I proudly handed him... NT$1.
He looked rather puzzled.
"What did you buy?"
"A tube of crisps."
Back then, NT$10 was enough to buy a proper breakfast.
I'd spent NT$99... and still hadn't managed to fill either of our stomachs. 😆
Today, that memory has resurfaced, bringing both laughter and warmth.
It makes me wonder… will there ever be a time again when children can safely explore the world on their own, while parents can truly feel at ease letting them go?
