Book 1ofTales From A Japanese Dreamland is an introduction to Kenji's writing through his well-known poem Ame-ni-mo makezu and the story of Kenju, which can be thought of as an extension of that poem.

Kenju's Forest Playground
Kenju is different from other kids his age, and he gets teased a lot. But Kenju can see things all around that others can't. One day, completely out-of-the-blue, he decides to plant seven hundred cedar trees, and those trees become something that no one ever imagined.

Ame-ni-mo Makezu
Perhaps the most famous Japanese poem of the modern age, it was written by Kenji while lying on his death bed and was never seen by anyone else until after his death. This significance of this poem has increased greatly for the Japanese people following the Great East Japan Earthquake, with many people using it to reflect on what truly is important in their lives.

Book 2ofTales From A Japanese Dreamland contains four stories by Kenji Miyazawa and one story by Nankichi Niimi. In addition to the title story, this book also includes Kenji's much loved The Restaurant of Many Orders and Niimi's Buying Mittens.
Gauche the Cellist
Gauche is a hopeless musician and he's always being yelled at by the conductor. It's not because he doesn't try, it's just that there is something lacking in his music. With a big concert approaching, Gauche receives some special music lessons from his closest neighbors. Contains some beautiful illustrations by Tamie Oda.

The Restaurant of Many Orders
This is perhaps the most famous of Kenji's short stories and one of his personal favorites, as it was the title story of his one and only self-published collection of short stories. Two hunters go on a hunting trip in the country and end up completely lost. Luckily they come across what appears to be an extremely popular restaurant…but everything is not as it seems.

Plus The Nighthawk Star, Wild Pear (Yamanashi) and Buying Mittens.

Book 3ofTales from a Japanese Dreamland is an introduction to Niimi's writing through one of his most famous children's stories.

Buying Mittens
Mama fox only wants the best for her little one, so when the cold winter arrives and her precious boy needs some mittens, then she knows what she must do. The only problem is that she is afraid and her legs won't take her any further. So her son must go on his own. The highlight of this delightful children's story is the beautiful description of the foxes' journey through the snow covered woods during the middle of the night.

Book 4ofTales From A Japanese Dreamland contains four wonderful stories by Niimi and one story by Kenji. In addition to the title story, this book also includes Grandpa's Lamp as well as Kenji's much loved Ame-ni-mo makezu.

Gon the Fox
Gon is a cheeky fox that loves to play pranks on people, but one day he plays a prank that has unexpected consequences, so he decides to make amends.
Niimi wrote this story when he was only seventeen years of age, and now more than seventy years after his death it remains one of the best known and loved Japanese stories of all time.

When the Thieves Came to Hananoki Village
What could be a better hunting ground for a thief than a village where people don't even bother with proper locks? The only trouble is that these thieves have no idea what they are doing, and it is up to the boss to train them. But just when the boss appears to have made a wonderful score, the story takes an unexpected turn.
Plus The Story of the Giant, Grandpa's Lamp, Kenju's Forest Playground and Ame-ni-mo makezu

Book 5ofTales From a Japanese Dreamland contains all stories from Books 1 - 4, five stories by Kenji, including Gauche the Cellist and The Restaurant of Many Orders (along with his famous poem Ame-ni-mo makezu) and five stories from Niimi, including Gon the Fox and Buying Mittens.
Gauche the Cellist
Gauche is a hopeless musician and he's always being yelled at by the conductor. It's not because he doesn't try, it's just that there is something lacking in his music. With a big concert approaching, Gauche receives some special music lessons from his closest neighbors.
Gon the Fox
Gon is a cheeky fox that loves to play pranks on people, but one day he plays a prank that has unexpected consequences, so he decides to make amends.
Niimi wrote this story when he was only seventeen years of age, and now more than seventy years after his death it remains one of the best known and loved Japanese stories of all time.
Plus Wild Pear (Yamanashi), The Nighthawk Star, The Restaurant of Many Orders, Kenju's Forest Playground, Ame-ni-mo makezu
The Story of the Giant, Grandpa's Lamp, When the Thieves Came to Hananoki and Buying Mittens