The Circus Comes to the Village by Yutaka Kobayashi

Yamo and Mirado are good friends.  They work in the fields harvesting yams and wheat.  Yamo's older brother is gone to war as Mirado's father has, too.  They worry about them but they keep working.  

Museyon and Net Galley allowed me to read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published October 1st.

The circus is great fun.  They ride the rides and then watch the performances.  When a beautiful singer comes out and music begins to play, Mirado plays his flute along with them.  They invite him up on the stage and he joins them.

The next day, as they get ready to move on, they invite Mirado with them.  His grandmother says he can go, so he says goodbye to Yamo and heads out for a new life.

When it starts to snow everyone smiles.  This means better crops the next year.  Next year, everything will change for them as the last two pages show...