The National Center for Books and Reading (QKLL) promoted today the children’s book Antoku, authored by Ralf Spiro.

The event, organized at QKLL, was conceived as a conversation between poet Mimoza Ahmeti and the author, who addressed questions and discussions regarding his work. The narrative of this story is rooted in Japanese history and mythology.

Japanese culture is deeply intertwined with mythology, which places the family at its core. The protagonist of the book, Antoku, serves as a bearer of knowledge, dispelling darkness not only in a symbolic sense. The work is presented in the form of a fairy tale, as it is intended for children, who require a simple and accessible language to acquire knowledge.

Ralf Spiro explained that he has additional projects, particularly for children, and that he often draws inspiration from his son. He further noted that he tested the language of the book with his child to ensure the material’s comprehensibility, as his works are consistently grounded in imagination. According to the author, Antoku was chosen as the main character because he is the only child-emperor to have historically existed in Japan.

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