Part 5 Picture Books of Today: From the Post-War to 1999

5-1Ienakiko [Nobody's boy]
Originally written by Hector Henri Malot/Written by Fumiko Hayashi/Illustrated by Hisashi Suda
Shinchosha 1949
(Sekai no ehon chugataban [World picture books, middle-size edition] 1)
Call No. 児94-H-1
A picture book series that was published almost immediately after World War II, containing many stories were retellings of overseas classics by well known scholars of literature.

5-2Nihon'ichizukushi [The best of Japan]
Written by Isoji Sekiya/Illustrated by Shozo Oonuki and others
Shinchosha 1949
(Sekai no ehon ogataban [World picture books, large-size edition] 1)
Call No. Y17-1614
An educational picture book produced in the style of the Kodansha no ehon [Kondansha's picture book] from before World War II.

5-3Hana no sukina ushi [The story of Ferdinand]
Written by Munro Leaf/Illustrated by Robert Lawson/Edited and translated by Iwanami Shoten
Iwanami Shoten 1954
(Iwanami no kodomono hon, yo/ichi/ni nenmuke [Iwanami children's books for Kindergarten, first and second grade students] 11)
Call No. 児726.7-cL43hI
A pioneering series launched by Momoko Ishii and others, introducing fine picture books from Europe and the Americas.

5-4Bippu to chocho [Bip and the butterfly]
Written by Jun’ichi Yoda/Illustrated by Fumiko Hori
Kodomo no tomo [Children's companion] no.1
Fukuinkan Shoten 1956
Call No. Z32-210
Kodomo no tomo [Children's companion] was the first monthly illustrated children's book series and contributed to the popularization of picture books by publishing the words of many talended picture-book authors. Edited by Tadashi Matsui.

5-5Serohiki no Goshu [Gauche the cellist]
Originally written by Kenji Miyazawa/Planned by Yoshimi Sato/Illustrated by Takeshi Motai
Kodomo no tomo [Children's companion] no.2
Fukuinkan Shoten 1956
Call No. Z32-210
This book is based on an original story by Kenji Miyazawa as retold by Yoshimi Sato. This publication was also the last work produced by Takeshi Motai, one of the best known illustrators of children's picture books after World War II.

5-6Guri to Gura [Guri and Gura]
Written and illustrated by Rieko Nakagawa and Yuriko Oomura
Kodomo no tomo [Children's companion] no.93
Fukuinkan Shoten 1963
Call No. Z32-210
This work fascinates children with rhythmic words and a sponge cake made from a huge egg. A masterwork from the golden age of monthly picture books.

5-7Gurunpa no yochien [Grumpa's kindergarten]
Written by Minami Nishiuchi/Illustrated by Seiichi Horiuchi
Fukuinkan Shoten 1966
(Kodomo no tomo Kessakushu [Masterpieces of Children's companion] 32)
Call No. Y17-M98-800
Kodomo no tomo [Children's companion] contributed to the popularization of high quality picture books by actively adopting illustrations by new artists as a feature of their publicatons.

5-8Inai inai ba [Peek-a-boo]
Written by Miyoko Matsutani/Illustrated by Yasuo Segawa
DOSHINSHA PUBLISHING 1967
(Matsutani Miyoko akachan no hon [Baby’s books by Miyoko Matsutani])
Call No. Y17-267
A pioneering work in picture books for infants what is called 'Akachan ehon (Baby's picture book)' and Babies’ first book. Yasuo Segawa was awarded the Grand Prix at the first Biennial of Illustration Bratislava in 1967.

5-9Daiku to Oniroku [Oniroku and the carpenter]
Retold by Tadashi Matsui/Illustrated by Suekichi Akaba
Fukuinkan Shoten 1967
(Kodomo no tomo Kessakushu [Masterpieces of Children's companion] 36)
Call No. Y17-M98-801
A picture book of folk tales. Suekichi Akaba was recognized for excellence in illustrating the climate and culture of Japan with the Hans Christian Andersen Award for Illustration in 1980.

5-10Watashi no wanpisu [My miracle dress]
Written by Kayako Nishimaki
KOGUMA Publishing 1969
Call No. Y17-609
The story of a dress that was made by a rabbit to change its appearance to fit the scenery. The debut work of an author who is eaually capable as a writer and an illustrator.

5-11Fushigina e [Topsy-Turvies: Pictures to stretch the imagination ]
Written by Mitsumasa Anno
Fukuinkan Shoten 1971
(Kodomo no tomo Kessakushu [Masterpieces of Children's companion])
Call No. Y17-3472
A picture book featuring detailed expressions achieved through optical illusions. Mitsumasa Anno received the Hans Christian Andersen Award for Illustration in 1984.

5-12Fukimanbuku [The girl and the butterbur sprout]
Written and illustrated by Seizo Tashima
Kaiseisha 1973
(Sosaku ogata ehon [Original large-sized picture books])
Call No. Y17-3993
Seizo Tashima is known as a farmer who is also an author of picture books that he illustrates with powerful drawings of nature and children.

5-13Ame no hi no orusuban [Staying home alone on a rainy day]
Written and illustrated by Chihiro Iwasaki/Planned by Yasoo Takeichi
Shiko-Sha 1974
Call No. Y17-8334
This work was the first in which Chihiro Iwasaki, who is known for her pale-toned watercolors of children, also wrote the text. First edition was published in 1968.

5-14Nezumikun no chokki [Little mouse's red vest]
Written by Yoshio Nakae/Illustrated by Noriko Ueno
POPLAR Publishing 1974
(Ehon no hiroba [Picture book square] 5)
Call No. Y17-4254
In this story, one animal after the other borrows a vest from a mouse. The difference in size of the animals is conveyed effectively using the margin of the pages.

5-15Oshiire no boken [Adventure in the closet]
Written by Taruhi Furuta/Illustrated by Seiichi Tabata
DOSHINSHA PUBLISHING 1974
(Ehon/Bokutachi kodomo da [Picture book/We are children] 1)
Call No. Y17-4289
After visiting a number of nurseries, the author effectively depicted children's behavior in both monochrome and color scenes.

5-16Kasa [Umbrella]
Written and illustrated by Daihachi Ota
Bunken Shuppan 1975
(Joifuru ehon kessakushu [Best of Joyful picture books] 10)
Call No. Y17-4545
A picture book with no words. The only color the main character's umbrella is colored in red, making the story line easy to follow.

5-17Hajimete no otsukai [Mii-chan's first errand]
Written by Yoriko Tsutsui/Illustrated by Akiko Hayashi
Fukuinkan Shoten 1977
(Kodomo no tomo Kessakushu [Masterpieces of Children's companion])
Call No. Y17-5153
First published in 1976, this is the story of the first time five-year-old Mii-chan went on an errand all by herself when her mother was too busy to go buy milk for the baby. The illustrations by Akiko Hayashi reveal a wealth of detail about the story.

5-18Watashi [Me]
Written by Shuntaro Tanikawa/Illustrated by Shinta Cho
Kagaku no tomo [Children’s science companion] no.91
Fukuinkan Shoten 1976
Call No. Z32-26
Kagaku no tomo [Children’s Science Companion] is a science picture book published in 1969 and a sister publication to Kodomo no tomo [Children’s Companion], giving an objective view of the self through pictures.

5-19Saru, rururu [Monkey, rururu]
Written and illustrated by Taro Gomi
Ehonkan Publishers 1980
Call No. Y17-7383
A picture book of word play featuring combinations of the word saru (monkey) with two-syllable verbs that end in the sound ru, such as saru or kuru, and illustrated using simple lines and colors. First edition published in 1979.

5-20Hiroshima no Pika [The Hiroshima story]
Written and illustrated by Toshi Maruki
Komine Shoten 1980
(Kiroku no ehon [Picture book of memory])
Call No. Y17-7130
Picture books on the subject of war started to appear in the 70’s. The theme of this picture book is the atomic bomb, through which the tragedy of war is expressed.

5-21Kyabetsukun [Cabbage boy]
Written and illustrated by Shinta Cho
Bunken Shuppan 1980
(Miru miru ehon [Look look picture book])
Call No. Y17-7209
Shinta Cho is known for his nonsense picture books. This one humorously depicts what happens to animals after they eat the Cabbage boy.

5-22Hana no ana no hanashi [The holes in your nose]
Written and illustrated by Gen’ichiro Yagyu
Fukuinkan Shoten 1982
(Kagaku no tomo kessakushu [Masterpieces of Children’s science companion])
Call No. Y17-8999
A science picture book featuring the nostrils and describing their function.

5-23Hasegawakun kiraiya [Can’t stand Hasegawa]
Written and illustrated by Shuhei Hasegawa
Subaru Shobo 1984
Call No. Y18-1297
The author depicts social issues from a child’s perspective, based on his own experiences during the Morinaga Milk Arsenic Poisoning incident. First edition was published in 1976.

5-24Oyasuminasai Kokkosan [Good night, Kokko]
Written and illustrated by Ken Katayama
Fukuinkan Shoten 1988
(Yoji ehon sirizu [Infant’s picture book series])
Call No. Y18-3025
This book of bedtime stories is intended to make young children relax and fall asleep. The rhythmical text describes how one thing after the other falls asleep in order, from farthest to nearest.

5-25Magareba magarimichi [Around the Corner]
Written and illustrated by Yosuke Inoue
Kodomo no tomo [Children's companion] no.417
Fukuinkan Shoten 1990
Call No. Z32-210
On a winding road in the twilight, unbelievable creatures appear every time you go around a bend.

5-26Gorira nikki [Gorilla diary]
Written and illustrated by Hiroshi Abe
Shogakukan 1998
Call No. Y17-M99-131
The facial expressions of a gorilla are depicted sympathetically by an author who was once a zookeeper.

5-27Mori no ehon [A picture book about the forest]
Written by Hiroshi Osada/Illustrated by Ryoji Arai
Kodansha 1999
Call No. Y17-M99-1105
Ryoji Arai has been recognized overseas, receiving the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award. His colorful art style has even been compared to music.