Kyoko Mizuki - The Future of Candy Candy

Igarashi might interfere in the new Candy story. Most of all publishing companies who don't want to have any trouble with it might refuse to publish my novel. It is no problem for me to write the new story of Candy under the law, I thought. However, I think everything depends on whether the new Candy story that I'm going to write comes out great or not. I wish I can work with a company and an editor who has grit.

This case has given great grief to many Candy fans. Writing new story of Candy makes amends for the past...? I don't figure out it yet.

But the seed of the story keeps swelling day by day.

A couple of decade later, at the new . Who build that house? Who live there? And what kind of story comes out from it...

I'm just wondering.... Someday, I will tell you..."

• Kyoko Mizuki's Message to Overseas Fans on April 28, 2002 (translated by Cotton Candy)

(quoted from her overseas guestbook)

"To all of you, overseas fans,

First of all, I have to make my deeply apologies from bottom of my heart for all Candy Candy fans, because this entire of Candy Candy trials have disappointed and depressed you to know it. I would you like to know, I wish you would enjoy only the Candy world as a work and how deeply I feel painfully to think about this for you.

Today, I will describe my feelings to show you plainly and frankly.

I have been afraid to tell you this what I'm going to say, because it might be too much sorrowful for you. However, I think over what I've been through and now I found it caused things make so ambiguous.

People who have common sense, it is quite natural for you to think previously legal Candy Candy items like animations and manga could be come back on the market right after the Supreme Court judgment. What on earth, think about it with your common sense, it is completely nonsense to dispute to the highest court whether the person who had written the story 25 years ago hold the copyright or not, in spite of the publisher company have treated me as the author during the past 25 years.

It is hard to understand for most of you that it could be possible to dispute at the point whether Mizuki is the author or not, which goes without saying.

This thing will show you the affair's root has been corrupt already.

As you've already known, Igarashi had broken contract to Mizuki.

If the contract breach is the only problem, it would be possible for me to make a re-contract including penal regulations with her when she admits her guilt.

Worse still, Igarashi denied me, not the author, in front of my eyes, she testified and insisted "I draw Candy Candy based on the story I wrote all by myself, and Mizuki's story is not the original" when the court examined Igarashi as a witness.

Still I have a nightmare of its scene many times, over and over.

I'm afraid the work of Candy Candy is no longer alive after Igarashi's testimony.

I've believed that Candy Candy is the work which its words(story) and drawings are inseparably related, as the court judgment says. If she cares about the work, Candy Candy like always do, we had to respect each other like I always tried to do. But she completely destroyed our relationship all by herself. And even after the Supreme Court judgment, she's never changed her insistence. That means the work, Candy Candy is also destroyed. This is the root of this affair.

The reasons why TOEI, KODANSHA and other companies cannot help refusing Candy Candy, instead of it is still nice work, are spread illegal merchandises all over the world, which I've already told again and again, and its own root.

The work, which the relationship between the author and the illustrator has already lost, cannot exist on the market anywhere. It might cause to another new trouble, if it would be there.

The main purpose of a company is making a profit, you know. But a good company where human is working there has a high moral sense.

Nothing could be changed in new without her settlement of an affair which has been tyrannized over by Igarashi herself.

I regard my story of Candy Candy as almost stolen and fail in the attempt by her, and illegal merchandises which have Candy's soul are all pilferage from me.

It is up to you whether you will buy them or not, depends on your way of thinking and life.

It will turn 6 year-old for this affair on May 26. During this dispute, I've changed my feelings so much. First a couple of years, I was tried to the work be alive very hard. However, now I refuse to see Candy's face which I used to love, I cannot look her straight because too much stress to see her.

People around me, my families and friends always urge me to forget about Candy. And they also say to me Candy will shorten my life. They worry and care about me very much. It would be true.

I've been thinking Candy Candy is the work which story and drawings are inseparable related for a long time, but the story was just given me back. That makes me feel little bit better and easier.

I'm sorry for Candy Candy fans. I really apologize to you for all this happened. When I know how much you, overseas fans love this work, I feel so much painful. I cannot tell you enough.

I hope Candy will be still there your side and you will keep loving her in your heart.

I hate to use the word, DESPAIR. I will prefer to say SEE YOU SOMETIME, or MAYBE IN THE FUTURE... to all of you.

I was going to keep overseas guestbook little bit longer than others, but now I decided to close here at the end of May as same as other 2 BBSs for Japanese fans will be closed.

I'm really sorry for that."

• Kyoko Mizuki's Message on June 5, 2002 regarding the Future of the Candy Candy Sequel (translated by ITOMARU)

"I have a vague plan for the future.

The foundation of the story was nearly completed, some editors showed deep interest in the plan.

The only anxiety was the course of this case, but now I made up my mind to do without restraint.

Though I say it myself, the story has great attraction for me, an editor gave me encouragement to write the story even if without anecdotes about Candy.

But the story will be enjoyed by Classic Candy Candy fans, then I won't omit it.

If "the harvest time" comes, no one can stop me from writing the story. I think, someday, my characters will be anxious that they go out into the world.

I can't say when it is published, but I will never impair Candy's image which was formed by me with Ms. Igarashi because I never want to hurt Candy and Candy lovers."