is a children's fantasy novel written by Eiko Kadono and illustrated by Akiko Hayashi. It was first published by Fukuinkan Shoten on January 25, 1985. It is the basis of the 1989 Studio Ghibli anime film of the same title and of the 2014 live action film also of the same name. The book won numerous awards in Japan. Encouraged by this and by the success of the Ghibli film, Kadono has written eight more novels over a period of more than thirty-five years. The most recent was published in January 2022. Synopsis The book follows Kiki, a young witch from a long line of witches on her mother's side. Kiki is now thirteen and must spend a year on her own in a town without other witches, proving that she can make a living. Accompanied by her talking black cat Jiji, Kiki starts a delivery service by flying on her broom. Over the year notable misadventures include: Losing a stuffed toy cat and using Jiji as a substitute until she can recover the lost toy. Saving a child from the ocean during a day at the beach. Recovering her broom that has been stolen by a flying enthusiast. Posing for a portrait and then delivering it to a town art showing. Getting a giant knitted , or "belly warmer," to a ship out at sea from an eccentric knitting old woman. Figuring out what to do when the clock tower breaks down on New Year's Eve. Delivering musical instruments to a concert after they were left on a train by a haughty group of musicians. After a year of self-doubt and some setbacks, Kiki returns home in triumph, but then soon decides to return to the city and her delivery business. Development Title interpretation The word takkyūbin (宅急便, literally home-fast-mail) in the Japanese title is a trademark of Yamato Transport, though it is used today as a synonym for takuhaibin (宅配便, literally home-delivery-mail). The company not only approved the use of the trademark — though its permission was not required under Japanese trademark laws — but also enthusiastically sponsored the anime film version of the book, as the company uses a stylized depiction of a black cat carrying her kitten as its corporate logo. Translations Non-Japanese versions of Majo no Takkyūbin were not published until 2003 when the book became available in English, Italian, Korean and Chinese. The Swedish