Japanese Bestseller Manga Author Visits Vietnam for The First Time

Japanese author Ono Eriko, famed for best-selling comic book Miiko Desu! / Kocchi Muite! Miiko held an exchange with Vietnamese book lovers in Ho Chi Minh City on April 20, VOV reported.

The event took place as part of activities in celebration of the third Vietnam Book and Reading Culture Day in 2024.

Japanese author Ono Eriko at the exchange session introducing the comic series Miiko Desu! / Kocchi Muite! Miiko. Photo: Youth Publishing House

Sharing his feelings about coming to Vietnam, Ono said that this is the first time she has come to Vietnam and I am quite impressed with Vietnam. She's even more surprised by the series "Miiko Desu! / Kocchi Muite! Miiko” has great appeal to Vietnamese readers and she sent her thank to readers for loving this book series.

Japanese author Ono Eriko has an exchange on the Ho Chi Minh City book street with Vietnamese fans. Source: Ho Chi Minh City Book Street's fanpage

According to Trẻ (Youth) Publishing House, the author’s Vietnam visit is expected to encourage the reading culture among locals. It also affirms the role of Vietnamese publishing houses to push for greater cooperation with foreign partners.

The Japanese writer on April 21 has an exchange on the Ho Chi Minh City book street and signed books for fans.

Also as part of the occasion, the famous author drew a painting "Miko mặc áo dài" (Miko wearing Ao Dai) featuring an image of Ben Thanh Market. This painting will be used as the cover of the five-volume Miko selection box set and gifts for readers.

Japanese author Ono Eriko wears Ao dai at an exchange on the Ho Chi Minh City book street with Vietnamese fans. Source: Ho Chi Minh City Book Street's fanpage

Eriko was born on May 5, 1962, in Tokyo. In 1988, one of Eriko's stories with Miko as the main character was published in Pyon Pyon magazine, and in 1990 it was developed into the Miko Kid series.

After moving to Ciao magazine, she changed to Kid Miko - a cheerful girl. Since February 2008, Kid Miko has sold millions of copies and since been adapted into an anime.

According to SGGP, Miiko Desu! / Kocchi Muite! Miiko has a large number of fans. Although the book has only episode 37 (Vietnamese version), it has been printed with more than 50,000 copies. While there are hundreds of other attractive comic titles in the Vietnamese market, 50,000 copies are an impressive number.

Author Ono Eriko created this series for more than 30 years starting from when she had no children until she had a daughter. Perhaps that is why the series closely follows very current social issues, including stories that parents want to share with their children but are difficult to talk about such as teenage love, early puberty, LGBT (abbreviation for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and other identities), and children in divorced families, or children in single-parent families.

Therefore, the comic book Miiko Desu! / Kocchi Muite! Miiko is a kind of handbook of instructions for parents who want to teach their children how to behave civilly and openly regarding these above-mentioned issues in addition to the entertainment and relaxation factors.

Before author Ono Eriko came to Vietnam, Tre Publishing House organized the contest ‘Miko and I’ attracting 119 articles and 297 drawings from readers of many ages. Contestants shared the series' companionship with their lives' ups and downs.

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