Books from 30 years ago are being revived.

Kia Orana（Hello）
I’m Mari Yamashita from Kyospa5 for CookIslnds shop in Kyoto Japan since 2016.

On August 4, 2025, the Cook Islands will celebrate the 60th anniversary of its Constitution.
Happy 60th Constitution Anniversary
In Rarotonga,”Te Maeva Nui” is currently taking place.

Since 2016, I have been importing Tamanu oil skincare products from the Cook Islands and engaging with the country’s culture.

Last year 2024, in August, I happened to come across a very special book.

It was a Japanese translation, published in 1996, of myths and folktales passed down in Manihiki Island, located in the Northern Cook Islands.

Sadly, the publishing company no longer exists, and both authors
Mr. Kauraka Kauraka and Mr. Makoto Tanushi have since passed away.

I was deeply impressed by the story in the book despite the limited information, and I desperate to find the original book based on the information in the book.

As a result, I was able to connect with many people related to the book one after another.

I was surprised to realize that it was all thanks to a black pearl from Manihiki.

That black pearl from Manihiki was a gift from a dear friend in the Cook Islands four years ago.

I will introduce it below.

[October 4 2024]
The first person I was able to meet was Ms. Hiroko Ishikawa (Editorial Studio “is”), who had inherited the literary work from Mr. Tanushi.

[December 10 2024]
I was also fortunate to meet Ms.Setsuko Ikuta and Ms.Miyoko Naito, the Japanese translators of this book, which was published in 1996.
They kindly shared their experiences at that time with me and gladly agreed to participate in the book recorded reading I was planning.

[From September 2024 onward]
I had the honor of interviewing Professor Emeritus Jun Takeda of Saga University. Professor Takeda visited Manihiki Island in 1993, one year before Mr. Tanushi’s trip. *Tanushi was reportedly very surprised when he heard this story from Professor Takeda.
Furthermore, Mr. Takeda’s visit was encouraged by the author, Mr. Kauraka, and he traveled 1,100 kilometers north from Rarotonga to Manihiki to conduct research and investigation.

Professor Emeritus Takeda also shared with me stories from that time.
This video is Mr.Takeda kindly read loud piece he had written 30 years ago.

And to my amazement,
I was even able to connect with the family and relatives of the original author, Mr. Kauraka.It truly felt like a miracle.
（We talked with Author’s family on July 29,2025 via ZOOM）

The moral teachings that both authors wished to pass on to future generations—
along with the beauty of the Cook Islands Māori language and the unique dialects of each island—
have all come together to help bring this book back to life, nearly 30 years after its original publication.

The Japanese translation contains 15 stories in total.
To begin, I would like to share two of them, presented in three languages

I’m currently continuing to work on the video production,
so please stay tuned for more to come♪

Thanks to the support of many people—including those who provided photos,read the story in Cook Islands Māori and English, and contributed to the narration—this video has finally come to life.

◆other stories◆
Ms. Joy Tereora (author’s family）
Mr. Tom Harrison （Kuki Learning）
Ms. Ikuta Setsuko （Translator）
Ms. Hiroko Ishikawa （copyright）
Mr. Tomoyuki Hiraishi　（visited Cook Islands 30 years ago）
Ms. Yuko　Iida　　　　（Public Photographer）
Takako Shikano (Kyospa5）
Mari Yamashita　　 (Kyospa5）

◆Narrator◆
Mr. Junior Charlie（English）Kuki learinng
Mr. Tom Harrison 　（Cook Islands Maori）Kuki learning
Mari Yamashita （Japanese）

◆Photo by◆
Mr. Romani Katoa（Manihiki photos）
Mr.Tauraki Rongo （PMN COOKISLANDS）
Ms. Joy Tereora (Nenu/ Puraka photos）
Mr. Tomoyuki Hiraishi（visited southern Cook Islands）
Ms. Yuko　Iida　（Photographer）
Mari Yamashita (other photos）

Meitaki korereka
＊Manihiki dialect : Thank you very much!!

　Meitaki ma’ata
＊Rarotonga dialect：Thank you very much!!

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