Watashi to Kotori to Suzu to

Watashi to Kotori to Suzu to is one of the most beloved poems by the Japanese author Misuzu Kaneko, first published in the early 1920s during the Taisho period. Kaneko wrote the piece as part of her larger body of work that focused on the perspectives of children and the natural world. Its creation occurred during an era of significant social change in Japan, where literature for children was gaining new appreciation for its simplicity and emotional resonance.

The poem is celebrated for its recurring refrain, 'minna chigatte, minna ii' (everyone is different, everyone is good), which emphasizes the beauty of individuality and coexistence. Kaneko’s simple, rhythmic style was designed to reach young readers while conveying profound empathy for all living things. Although her work was largely forgotten following her early death, it was rediscovered in the 1980s and has since become a staple of the Japanese primary school curriculum, widely praised for its humanist message.