It has been 20 years since the animated series “Ojamajo Doremi” first aired.
It’s hard to believe it’s been that long… I’m filled with deep emotion reflecting on this.
With the help of many staff members, if we compare the program we created to the growth of a child, it has now reached adulthood and its coming-of-age ceremony.
Although it was only broadcast for 4 years, and there are only 2 short films and 13 special episodes of OVA, thankfully, we are receiving voices celebrating the 20th anniversary from various countries and people.
That is also thanks to the publishers who released the “Doremi Light Novel 16-19” series, and the readers who have continued to support it for over 5 years.
I believe it’s because the four of us - the author Kuriyama Midori, the illustrator Umakoshi Yoshihiko, the editor-in-charge Nabae Hirotaka, and myself - have steadily continued creating this light novel series that started in 2011, that Doremi and her witch apprentice friends as high school students have continued to live on not just for me, but in the hearts of the readers as well.
And this year, 2019, the program, which has finally reached its 20th anniversary, announced the production of a new animated film.
The program, which was once created for children aged 3 to 8, will appear as a new title to the viewers who have grown up after 20 years.
Preceding that film is this work, “20’s”.
This novel is not directly related to the film’s storyline.
Rather, it’s meant for former fans to watch over and empathize with the characters, including Doremi, who were depicted in “16-19” as high school students, as they face their dreams in new environments, climbing the stairs of adulthood step by step. I hope you’ll laugh, be surprised, worried, and ponder together with them.
Has your life diverged greatly from theirs?
Could you empathize with their experiences?
Thinking about your dreams, setbacks, friendships and fallouts, romances and heartbreaks, Kageyama Yumi wrote while imagining the subsequent lives of the viewers at that time.
Did you get into the school you wanted?
Were you able to find the job you wanted?
Are you still agonizingly undecided?
Even if there are parts that resonate with your life and parts that don’t, that’s simply proof that your own life has had its share of variety. So feel free to interpret it however you wish.
What’s most important is that Doremi and the others, who agonized, hit dead ends, fell in love, laughed and cried just like you, are undoubtedly “real” characters in this novel, even though they are not witch apprentices.
I’d like to express my deep gratitude to the publishers who kindly allowed the setting of “Ojamajo Doremi” that does not use magic.
To Kuriyama Midori, who not only entrusted the “romance” parts to Kageyama (since it’s not his forte), but also made a Kotake timeline for Kageyama and me, who lack expertise in soccer.
To Inokuma Yasunori, the new editor-in-charge who assisted with the soccer depictions.
To Umakoshi Yoshihiko, who drew illustrations in the midst of his extremely busy work on the film.
To Yuki Shinzo and Yuki Yukie, who drew beautiful new MAHO-do settings and boards just for the light novel.
Thanks to the cooperation of many people, a new story of Doremi and the others climbing the stairs of adulthood was born. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude and conclude this afterword.