1
Hotaru hoteru
Kazuko G. Stone
Fukuinkan Shoten, 1995


i
translation
Under a great willow tree lies a tiny village. Living there were a grasshopper, a snail, a spider and an ant family. One morning, a firefly called out… As every summer, together with the villagers they transformed the willow into an insect hotel that glows with firefly light at night. But what happens when bigger and bigger guests are tempted to come inside?Kazuko G. Stone (1946–2022) studied graphic design at Tama Art University. Among her best-known Japanese works is the Yanagimura no ohanashi trilogy (Tales from Willow Village), of which Firefly Hotel is a part.

Firefly Hotel

3
Hotaru hoteru
Kazuko G. Stone
Fukuinkan Shoten, 1995


i
translation
Under a great willow tree lies a tiny village. Living there were a grasshopper, a snail, a spider and an ant family. One morning, a firefly called out… As every summer, together with the villagers they transformed the willow into an insect hotel that glows with firefly light at night. But what happens when bigger and bigger guests are tempted to come inside?Kazuko G. Stone (1946–2022) studied graphic design at Tama Art University. Among her best-known Japanese works is the Yanagimura no ohanashi trilogy (Tales from Willow Village), of which Firefly Hotel is a part.

Under a great, great willow tree lay a tiny, tiny village. It was called Willow Village. Living there were the grasshopper Tobiha, the snail Kirara, the spider Seka-seka and an ant family – Father, Mother and their little son Sesse. The willow's branches swept freely down to the ground, and tiny Willow Village was tucked away inside the great willow. One morning, the firefly Hikari called from the firefly pond. "Hello, residents of Willow Village, good day. The time to open the Firefly Hotel will soon be here. I would like to start getting things ready – are you prepared?" "Yes, please," answered Kirara.

4
Hotaru hoteru
Kazuko G. Stone
Fukuinkan Shoten, 1995


i
translation
Under a great willow tree lies a tiny village. Living there were a grasshopper, a snail, a spider and an ant family. One morning, a firefly called out… As every summer, together with the villagers they transformed the willow into an insect hotel that glows with firefly light at night. But what happens when bigger and bigger guests are tempted to come inside?Kazuko G. Stone (1946–2022) studied graphic design at Tama Art University. Among her best-known Japanese works is the Yanagimura no ohanashi trilogy (Tales from Willow Village), of which Firefly Hotel is a part.

The Firefly Hotel, which the residents of Willow Village open together with the firefly Hikari every summer, is a wonderful hotel – pleasantly cool by day and luminous by night. All the insect guests look forward to their stay very much. The villagers set to work making beds straight away. 

Tobiha and Father Seka-seka are making a bunk bed from a bean plant. 
A bed of fern. 
Seka-seka is making a bed from dayflower blossoms. 
A bed of foxtail grass. 
Kirara is testing whether the bed made of sorrel is sturdy enough. 
Little Sesse is helping Mother make a bed from horsetail. 
A three-storey bed from a climbing plant.

6
Hotaru hoteru
Kazuko G. Stone
Fukuinkan Shoten, 1995


i
translation
Under a great willow tree lies a tiny village. Living there were a grasshopper, a snail, a spider and an ant family. One morning, a firefly called out… As every summer, together with the villagers they transformed the willow into an insect hotel that glows with firefly light at night. But what happens when bigger and bigger guests are tempted to come inside?Kazuko G. Stone (1946–2022) studied graphic design at Tama Art University. Among her best-known Japanese works is the Yanagimura no ohanashi trilogy (Tales from Willow Village), of which Firefly Hotel is a part.

The dragonfly Byú and the ladybird Tenten flew in. The crickets Ririn, Lirilin and Riririn came hopping along. The moth Patapata arrived puffing and panting. The monarch butterflies – Mr Monaku and Mrs Monaku – fluttered in. "We must hurry or it will be full. Quick, quick!" – and the rhinoceros beetle Cunnoiči and the beetle Bunbun came running.

7
Hotaru hoteru
Kazuko G. Stone
Fukuinkan Shoten, 1995


i
translation
Under a great willow tree lies a tiny village. Living there were a grasshopper, a snail, a spider and an ant family. One morning, a firefly called out… As every summer, together with the villagers they transformed the willow into an insect hotel that glows with firefly light at night. But what happens when bigger and bigger guests are tempted to come inside?Kazuko G. Stone (1946–2022) studied graphic design at Tama Art University. Among her best-known Japanese works is the Yanagimura no ohanashi trilogy (Tales from Willow Village), of which Firefly Hotel is a part.

As dusk began to fall, the great grandmother mantis arrived with a dignified expression, opened her eyes wide and said: "Let me stay the night." "We are very sorry. We are afraid we don't have a bed large enough for you…" replied Tobiha, flustered.

11
Hotaru hoteru
Kazuko G. Stone
Fukuinkan Shoten, 1995


i
translation
Under a great willow tree lies a tiny village. Living there were a grasshopper, a snail, a spider and an ant family. One morning, a firefly called out… As every summer, together with the villagers they transformed the willow into an insect hotel that glows with firefly light at night. But what happens when bigger and bigger guests are tempted to come inside?Kazuko G. Stone (1946–2022) studied graphic design at Tama Art University. Among her best-known Japanese works is the Yanagimura no ohanashi trilogy (Tales from Willow Village), of which Firefly Hotel is a part.

At that moment there was a loud crash and a great dark shadow appeared at the entrance to the Firefly Hotel. It was the frog Byonta. "Let me stay the night too!" croaked Byonta loudly. "We are very sorry, this is a hotel for insects, and we are afraid we have no bed prepared for a frog…" said Tobiha in a trembling voice. "If you won't let me in, I'll cause trouble!" And Byonta immediately leaped onto a willow branch and began shaking the hotel sign with all her might. "Oh no – this is a disaster!" Tobiha ran off in a panic to warn everyone.

13
Hotaru hoteru
Kazuko G. Stone
Fukuinkan Shoten, 1995


i
translation
Under a great willow tree lies a tiny village. Living there were a grasshopper, a snail, a spider and an ant family. One morning, a firefly called out… As every summer, together with the villagers they transformed the willow into an insect hotel that glows with firefly light at night. But what happens when bigger and bigger guests are tempted to come inside?Kazuko G. Stone (1946–2022) studied graphic design at Tama Art University. Among her best-known Japanese works is the Yanagimura no ohanashi trilogy (Tales from Willow Village), of which Firefly Hotel is a part.

Snip snap, snip snap – grandmother mantis cuts the leaf with her great claws. Tobiha, Kirara, Seka-seka and the whole ant family – everyone helps. When the leaf was cut, grandmother mantis said: "Fireflies, gather together – all of you!"

15
Hotaru hoteru
Kazuko G. Stone
Fukuinkan Shoten, 1995


i
translation
Under a great willow tree lies a tiny village. Living there were a grasshopper, a snail, a spider and an ant family. One morning, a firefly called out… As every summer, together with the villagers they transformed the willow into an insect hotel that glows with firefly light at night. But what happens when bigger and bigger guests are tempted to come inside?Kazuko G. Stone (1946–2022) studied graphic design at Tama Art University. Among her best-known Japanese works is the Yanagimura no ohanashi trilogy (Tales from Willow Village), of which Firefly Hotel is a part.

– they held the leaf up right before Byonta's eyes. "Eeeeek!" Byonta was utterly terrified –

Hotaru hoteru
Kazuko G. Stone
Fukuinkan Shoten
1995