| year |
History of Japanese children's literature |
Social and cultural history |
| 18-- |
-
- Momotaro [Peach boy] (T. Hasegawa's Tryckeri, crepe-paper book; written in Swedish)
|
|
| 1880 |
- March
- Eikyu Takeuchi, Akahon. Hanasaka jijii [Reddish cover book, The old man who made the dead trees blossom]
|
- December
- Education Order revised
|
| 1881 |
- March
- Compiled by the Institute for Musical Inspection (later Tokyo Music School), Ministry of Education, Shogaku shokashu, shohen [Collected songs for elementary schools, the first part]
|
- October
- Imperial Rescript on Establishment of the National Diet issued
|
| 1882 |
|
- October
- The Bank of Japan established
|
| 1883 |
|
- April
- Newspaper Ordinance revised
|
| 1884 |
|
- June
- The line between Ueno and Takasaki stations was opened
|
| 1885 |
|
|
| 1886 |
- December
-
Momotarô, ou, le Premier-né de la Pêche (Kobunsha, crepe-paper book; written in French)
|
- March to April
- School Orders (Imperial University Order, Normal School Order, Elementary School Order and Middle School Order) issued
- May
- Regulations for the Authorization of Textbooks issued
|
| 1887 |
|
|
| 1888 |
- November
- Shonen'en [Children's garden] (Shonen'en) first published
- December
- Andersen/Koji Zaiitsu, Fusei kidan: Osama no shin'isho [Satirical anecdote: The emperor's new clothes]
|
|
| 1889 |
- July
- Shokokumin [Young nationals] (Gakureikan) first published
- October
- Wilhelm Grimm/Kazutoshi Ueda, Ookami [The wolf and the seven young kids] (Katei sowa [Family collection] 1)
|
- February
- The Constitution of the Empire of Japan promulgated
|
| 1890 |
- January
- Shonen bunbu [Boys' pen and sword] (Choshikan) first published
- November
- Hirotada Miwa, Shonen no tama [Boys' gem] vol. 1-4
|
- July
- The First General Election of the Members of the House of Representatives
- October
- Imperial Rescript on Education promulgated
- November
- The First Imperial Diet held
|
| 1891 |
- January
- Sazanami Sanjin, Koganemaru [A dog named Koganemaru] (Shonen bungaku [Children's literature] 1)
- March
- Koyosanjin, Ninin Mukusuke [Little Claus and big Claus] (Shonen bungaku [Children's literature] 2)
- October
- Koyo Ozaki, Oni Momotaro [Ogre peach boy] (Yonen bungaku [Young children's literature] 1)
Shizuko Wakamatsu, Shokoshi [Little lord Fauntleroy] vol. 1
|
|
| 1892 |
- March
- Edited by Shuji Izawa, Shogaku shoka [Collected songs for elementary schools] 1, edited by Shuji Isawa
- September
- Sazanami Ooe, Shochu kyuka [Summer holiday] (Shonen bungaku [Children's literature] 13)
|
|
| 1893 |
|
|
| 1894 |
- March
- Yuho Takahashi, Robinson Kuruso zetto hyoryuki [Robinson Crusoe] vol. 1-3 (Sekai bunko [World library] 11-13)
- July
- Sazanami Iwaya, Momotaro [Peach boy] (Nihon Mukashibanashi [Japanese folktales] 1)
|
- August
- First Sino-Japanese War begins
|
| 1895 |
- January
- Shonen sekai [Children's world] (Hakubunkan) first published
|
- April
- Sino-Japanese Peace Treaty signed
|
| 1896 |
- October
- Sazanami Ooe, Yatagarasu [The three-legged crow] (Nihon otogibanashi [Japanese fairy tales] 1)
- December
- Jules Verne/Shiken Koji, Jugo shonen [Two years' vacation]
|
- April
- Civil Code promulgated
|
| 1897 |
|
- March
- Coinage Act promulgated
|
| 1898 |
|
|
| 1899 |
- January
- Sazanami Ooe, Sekai no hajime [Begining of the world] (Sekai otogibanashi [Fairy tales of the world] 1)
- June
- Mayne Reid/Oson Sakurai, Hatsukokai: Yushonen bokentan [The first voyage: Adventurous story of a boy]
|
|
| 1900 |
- November
- Shunro Oshikawa, Kaitei gunkan: Kaito boken kitan [A submarine battleship: A mysterious tale of island adventures]
|
|
| 1901 |
|
|
| 1902 |
- December
- Daisui Sugitani, Kyoiku shosetsu gakudou nisshi [Cuore (Heart), an Italian school boy’s journal] vol. 1-2
|
- January
- Anglo-Japanese Alliance signed
|
| 1903 |
- July
- Hector Malot/Sosen Gorai, Katei shosetsu mada minu oya [Nobody's boy]
|
- April
- Elementary School Order revised Government-designated textbook system adopted
|
| 1904 |
- April
- Otogi etoki kodomo [Picture fairy tales for children] (Jido Biikukai) first published
|
- February
- The Russo-Japanese War begins
|
| 1905 |
- September
- Shojo chishiki gaho [Girls’ picture magazine of knowledge] (Kinji Gahosha) first published
Shonen chishiki gaho [Boys’ picture magazine of knowledge ] (Kinji Gahosha) first published
|
- September
- Russo-Japanese Peace Treaty signed
|
| 1906 |
- January
- Yonen gaho [Illustrated magazine for young children] (Hakubunkan) first published
Nihon shonen [Japanese children] (Jitsugyo no Nihon Sha) first published
- December
- Louisa May Alcott/Shuho Kitada, Shofujin [Little women]
|
- March
- Imperial Library opened
|
| 1907 |
|
|
| 1908 |
- February
- Shojo no tomo [Girls' companion] (Jitsugyo no Nihon Sha) first published
- November
- Sazanami Iwaya, Otogigacho, ukare kokyu [Fairytale picture book, the joyful fiddle]
|
|
| 1909 |
- January
- Yonen no tomo [Young children's companion] (Jitsugyo no Nihon Sha) first published
- May
- Kuni Sasaki, Itazura kozo nikki [A bad boy's diary]
|
|
| 1910 |
- May
- Hosui Arimoto, Boken shosetsu: Hinaso to kaizoku [Adventure novel: Young priest and pirate] (Nihon shonen [Japanese children] vol. 5, no.6)
- December
- Mimei Ogawa, Akai fune [Red boat]
|
- August
- The Japan–Korea Treaty signed
|
| 1911 |
- March
- Sekka Sanjin, Ooishi kuranosuke azumakudari [Kuranosuke Oishi’s journey to the east] (Tatsukawa bunko [Tatsukawa library] 26)
Kazutoshi Ueda, Andorusen katei monogatari [Andersen family tales]
- September
- Written by Sazanami Iwaya, illustrated by Sakae Okano/Shokichi Kobayashi/Hisui Sugiura, Nihon’ichi no ebanashi [Japan's best illustrated children's stories] 35-volume set (Nakanishiya Shoten) started publishing
|
|
| 1912 |
- January
- Shojo gaho [Girls’ picture magazine] (Tokyosha) first published
|
-
- Constitution protection movement erupted
|
| 1913 |
- April
- Sekka Sanjin, Mito Komon Kyushu man'yuki [Mito Komon's journey to Kyushu] (Tatsukawa bunko [Tatsukawa library] 43)
- November
- Yumeji Takehisa, Dontaku [Holiday]
|
|
| 1914 |
- January
- Kodomo [Children] (Kodomosha) first published
- March
- Hosui Arimoto, Hosui shishu [Collected verses by Hosui]
- April
- Kodomo no tomo [Children's companion] (Fujin-no-tomo-sha) first published
- May
- Momotaro [Peach boy] (T.Hasegawa, crepe-paper book; written in Spanish)
- June
- Akiko Yosano, Yatsu no yoru [Eight nights] (Aishi sosho [Books for beloved children] 4)
- August
- Yaeko Nogami, Ningyo no nozomi [The hope of dolls] (Aishi sosho [Books for beloved children] 5)
- November
- Shonen kurabu [Boys’ club] (Dainihon yubenkai) first published
|
- July
- World War I begins
|
| 1915 |
|
|
| 1916 |
- January
- Ryoyu [Good friends] (Kodomosha) first published
- July (to 1923)
- Nobuko Yoshiya, Hana monogatari [Tales of Flowers] (Shojo gaho [Girls’ illustrated magazine])
- December
- Miekichi Suzuki, Kosui no onna [A woman of the lake]
|
|
| 1917 |
- April
- Toson Shimazaki, Osanaki mono ni [To the young]
- August
- Mikihiko Nagata, Anderusen otogibanashi [Andersen’s fairy tales] (Mohan katei bunko [Model family’s library])
|
- November
- Soviet government established (October Revolution)
|
| 1918 |
- January
- Sazanami Iwaya/Yumeji Takehisa, Otogi zoshi, dobutsu no maki [Fairy tales, volume of animals]
Sazanami Iwaya/Ryushi Kawabata, Otogi zoshi ponchi no maki [Fairy tales, volume of caricature]
- July
- Akai tori [Red bird] (Akaitorisha) first published
Ryunosuke Akutagawa, Kumo no ito [The spider's thread] (Akai tori [Red bird] vol. 1, no. 1)
- October
- Hakushu Kitahara, Akai tori, kotori [Red bird, little bird] (Akai tori [Red bird] vol. 1, no. 4)
|
- August
- Rice riot occurs
- November
- World War I ends
|
| 1919 |
- March
-
Otogi no sekai [The world of fairy tales] (Bunkodo) first published
- May
- Mimei Ogawa, Ushionna [The cow woman] (Otogi no sekai [The world of fairy tales] vol. 1, no. 2)
- October
- Hakushu Kitahara, Tonbo no medama [Eyes of a dragonfly]
- November
- Kin no fune [The golden ship] (Kin No Tsuno Sha) first published
- December
- Mimei Ogawa, Kin no wa [The golden circle]
|
|
| 1920 |
- February
- Nobuko Yoshiya, Hana monogatari [Tales of flowers] 1
- April
- Dowa [Children's stories] (Kodomosha) first published
- November
- Akai tori no hon [Books of Red Bird] (Akaitorisha) started publishing
Miekichi Suzuki, Kojiki monogatari [Records of ancient matters] vol. 1 (Akai tori no hon [Books of Red bird] 1)
|
- January
- League of Nations founded
|
| 1921 |
- January
- Yaso Saijo, Omu to tokei [Parrots and clocks] (Akai tori no hon [Books of Red bird] 3)
- May
- Mimei Ogawa, Akai rosoku to ningyo [The red candle and the mermaid]
Hakushu Kitahara, Usagi no denpo [Rabbit telegrams]
- June
- Sazanami Iwaya, Koganemaru: 30nenme kakinaoshi [A dog named Koganemaru: Revised in the 30th year]
Ujo Noguchi, Jugoya otsukisan [Full moon]
- August
- Hirosuke Hamada, Mukudori no yume [A dream of a gray starling]
- December
-
Kenji Miyazawa, Yukiwatari [Snow treading] (Aikoku fujin [Patriotic women] December issue) →picture book
- Hakushu Kitahara, Maza gusu [Mother Goose]
Rofu Miki, Shinjushima [Pearl island]
|
|
| 1922 |
- January
-
Kodomo no kuni [Children's land] first published
- June
- Takeo Arishima, Hitofusa no budo [A bunch of grape]
Lewis Carroll/Yaso Saijo, Kagamikoku meguri [Through the looking-glass, and what Alice found there]
- July
- Mimei Ogawa, Tsukiyo to megane [The moonlight and glasses] (Akai tori [Red bird] vol. 9, no. 1)
|
|
| 1923 |
- January
- Bocho Yamamura, Tetsu no kutsu [Iron shoes]
Shojo kurabu [Girls' club] (Dainihon Yubenkai) first published
- April
- Kenji Miyazawa, Yamanashi [Wild pear] (Iwate Mainichi Shimbun [Iwate daily newspaper]) →picture book
- July
- Hakushu Kitahara, Hanasaka jiisan [The old man who made the dead trees blossom] (Hakushu doyo [Children's songs by Hakushu] 5)
- November
- Kodomo Asahi [Children's Asahi] (Osaka Asahi Shimbunsha) first published
- December
- Yumeji Takehisa, Dontaku ehon [Holiday picture book] 1, 2
|
- September
- The Great Kanto earthquake occurs
|
| 1924 |
- March
- Yumeji Takehisa, Dontaku ehon [Holiday picture book] 3
- June
- Ujo Noguchi, Aoi me no ningyo [Blue-eyed doll]
- July
- Written by Shosei Oda/illustrated by Tofujin, Shochan no boken [Adventures of Sho-chan] 1
- November
- Hirosuke Hamada, Hirosuke dowa dokuhon: daiisshu [Children's story book of Hirosuke, vol. 1]
- December
- Kenji Miyazawa, Chumon no ooi ryoriten [The restaurant of many orders]
|
|
| 1925 |
- January
- Haruo Sato, Pinochio [Pinocchio]
- May (to December 1928)
- Eiji Yoshikawa, Shinshu tenmakyo [Shinshu chivalry] (Shonen kurabu [Boys’ club]) →published in book form
- September (to October)
- Shozo Chiba, Torachan no nikki [Tora-chan's diary] (Dowa [Children's stories])
- November
- Hans Christian Andersen/Masao Kusuyama, Oyayubihime [Thumbelina] (E to ohanashi no hon [Book of pictures and stories] 4)
- December
- Masao Kusuyama, Ootoko to Issunboshi [Big man and the Little one inch] (E to ohanashi no hon [Book of pictures and stories] 3)
|
- April
- Peace Preservation Law promulgated
- May
- General Election Law promulgated
|
| 1926 |
- January
- Kenji Miyazawa, Otsuberu to zo [Ozbel and the elephant] (Getsuyo [Monday]) →picture book
- May
- Mimei Ogawa, Kongo wo dowa sakka ni [Mimei’s intention to dedicate himself to writing children’s stories] (Tokyo Nichi-Nichi shimbun [Tokyo daily newspaper])
- September
- Haruo Sato, Inago no dairyoko [A great journey of a locust]
- October
- Rofu Miki, Ohisama: Doyoshu [The sun: Collection of children's songs]
- December
- Eiji Yoshikawa, Shinshu tenmakyo [Heavenly horse in the divine land]
|
- August
- Nippon Hoso Kyokai (NHK, Japan Broadcasting Corporation) founded
|
| 1927 |
- January (to December)
- Kinji Ome, Jaga no me [A jaguar's eyes] (Shonen kurabu [Boys’ club])
- March
- Yoshio Toshima, Yume no tamago [The dream egg] (Akai tori sosho [Red bird series] 4)
Jiro Osaragi, Kakubee jishi [The lion dancer] (Shonen kurabu [Boys’ club])
- May
- Koroku Sato, Aa gyokuhai ni hana ukete [Ah! Flowers in a jade cup] (Shonen kurabu [Boys’ club])
Nihon jido bunko [Japanese children's library] 76-volume set, (ARS) started publishing
Shogakusei zenshu [The complete works for elementary school children] 88-volume set, (Bungeishunju Ltd./Kobunsha Co., Ltd.) started publishing
- October (to December 1929)
- Kuni Sasaki, Kushin no gakuyu [Hard days of a fellow student] (Shonen kurabu [Boys’ club]) →published in book format
- November
- Kinda bukku [Kinderbook] (Froebel-kan) first published
|
|
| 1928 |
- February
- Shozo Ino, Don don yaki [Japanese savoury pancake] (Puroretaria geijutsu [Proletarian arts])
- June
- Ryunosuke Akutagawa, Mittsu no takara [Three pieces of treasure]
- September
- Kodomo ehon bunko [Children's picture book library] (Seibundo)
|
- February
- First general election held
|
| 1929 |
- March
- Yasunari Kawabata, Kyucho no tantei [Class president as a detective] (Shonen kurabu [Boys’ club]) vol. 16, no. 3) →published in book format
- June
- Shozo Chiba, Tote basha [The horn of a village omnibus]
- December
- Shozo Chiba, Wanwan monogatari [The story of doggie] (Kinran Ebanashi Sosho [Golden picture story series] 2)
|
- October
- Great Depression begins
|
| 1930 |
- March
- Kuni Sasaki, Kushin no gakuyu [Hard days of a fellow student]
- April (to September)
- Minetaro Yamanaka, Tekichu odan sanbyakuri [750 miles through enemies] (Shonen kurabu [Boys’ club]) →published in book format
- November
- Edited by Hakushu Kitahara, Akai tori doyoshu [Children’s song collection of Red bird]
|
|
| 1931 |
- January (to December)
- Suiho Tagawa, Norakuro nitosotsu [Norakuro second-class soldier] (Shonen kurabu [Boys’ club])
- March
- Minetaro Yamanaka, Tekichu odan sanbyakuri [750 miles through enemies]
- July
- Edited by Kusuro Makimoto/Daiji Kawasaki, Chiisai doshi [Small comrades]
- October
- übers. von K. Florenz, Momotaro, oder, der Pfirschling, (T. Hasegawa)
- November
- Written by Atsuo Ooki/illustrated by Kyoji Yoshimi, Miebo no hiyokko [Medio pollito/half chicken], (Sekai yonen sosho [The world children’s picture story books])
- December
- Seika Tatsumi, Yuki to roba: Doyoshu [Snow and a donkey: The collection of children's songs]
|
- September
- Manchurian Incident occurs
|
| 1932 |
- January
- Nankichi Niimi, Gongitsune [Gon, the little fox] (Akai tori [Red bird] revised vol. 3, no. 1)
Mimei Ogawa, Nandemo hairimasu [Anything can fit inside] (Kodomo no kuni [Children's land] vol. 11, no. 1)
- March
- Kenji Miyazawa, Gusuko Budori no denki [The life of Gusuko Budori] (Jido bungaku [Children's literature] 2)
- April
- Yoichiro Minami, Hoeru mitsurin [Roar in the jungle] (Shonen kurabu [Boys’ club]) →published in book format
- May
- Written by Atsuo Ooki/illustrated by Tomoyoshi Murayama, Neko no shippo [Tale of a cat's tail], (Sekai yonen sosho [The world children’s picture story books])
- October
- Yaso Saijo, Shojo junjo shishu [The collection of pure poems for girls]
|
- May
- May 15 Incident occurs
|
| 1933 |
- March
- Yoichiro Minami, Hoeru mitsurin [Roar in the jungle] (Dainihon Yubenkai Kodansha) →Another edition
- June
- Jun’ichi Yoda, Hata hachi kumo [A flag, a bee, and cloud]
|
- March
- Japan withdraws from the League of Nations
|
| 1934 |
- June
- Erich Kästner/Juzaburo Kikuchi, Shonen tantei Emiru [Emil and the detectives]
- November
- Takeo Takei, Akanoppo Aonoppo [The red ogre and the blue ogre]
|
|
| 1935 |
- July
- Joji Tsubota, Maho [Magic]
- November
- Yuzo Yamamoto, Kokoro ni taiyo wo mote [Have the sun in your heart] (Nihon shokokumin bunko [Series for Japanese young nationals] 12)
- December
- Doen [Children’s garden] (Waseda Daigaku Dowakai kikanshi [Bulletin of children's story group, Waseda University]) first published
|
|
| 1936 |
- January (to December)
- Rampo Edogawa, Kaijin nijumenso [A mysterious man with twenty faces] (Shonen kurabu [Boys’ club])
- March
- Mimei Ogawa, Mimei hirakana dowa dokuhon [Mimei's hiragana reader of children's stories]
- December
- Kodansha no ehon [Kodansha's picture books] started publishing
Nobumasa Ikeda, Nogi taisho [General Nogi]
|
- February
- The 2.26 Incident occurs
|
| 1937 |
- January
- Kodomo no hikari [Children's light] (Kodomo Kenkyusha) first published
- March
- Kusuro Makimoto, Harappa no kodomo kai [Children's meeting in the field] (Shin dowa senshu [New selection of children's stories] 2)
- August
- Yuzo Yamamoto/Genzaburo Yoshino, Kimitachi wa do ikiruka [How should you live?] (Nihon shokokumin bunko [Japanese young citizens’ library] 5) →another edition
- December
- Shigeru Hatsuyama, Taberu Tonchan [Ton-chan is eating]
Yasunari Kawabata, Kyucho no tantei [Class president as a detective]
|
- July
- Second Sino-Japanese War begins
|
| 1938 |
- January
- Joji Tsubota, Zenta to Sanpei no hanashi [The story of Zenta and Sanpei]
- April
- Yuzo Yamamoto, Senso to futari no fujin [Two women and war]
|
- April
- National Mobilization Law promulgated
|
| 1939 |
|
- September
- World War II begins
|
| 1940 |
- December
- Jun’ichi Yoda, Yagi to osara [A goat and a dish]
A. A. Milne/Momoko Ishii, Kuma no Pusan [Winnie-the-Pooh] →another edition
|
- September
- Tripartite Pact signed
|
| 1941 |
- January
- Hugh Lofting/Masuji Ibuse, Doritoru sensei Afurika yuki [The story of Doctor Dolittle] →another edition
- April
- Kenji Miyazawa, Gusukobudori no denki [The life of Gusuko Budori]
- October
- Written by Kazuho Yoshida/illustrated by Shigeru Hatsuyama, Hibari wa sorani [A lark in the sky], (Shin nihon yonen bunko [The new Japanese young children’s library])
- November
- Muku Hatoju, Daizo jiisan to gan [Old Daizo and a wild goose] (Shonen kurabu [Boys’ club] vol. 28, no. 11) →picture book
|
- December
- Pacific War begins
|
| 1942 |
- January
- Written by Yoshimi Sato/illustrated by Kazu Wakita, Pukuma ukuma [Pooh bear and Ooh bear], (Shin nihon yonen bunko [The new Japanese young children’s library])
- September
- Taku Shimohata, Renga no entotsu [Chimneys of bricks]
- October
- Nankichi Niimi, Ojiisan no ranpu [Grandfather's lamp]
|
|
| 1943 |
- May
- Muku Hatoju, Dobutsudomo [Animals]
Shokokumin bungaku [Japanese young nationals’ literature] (Toen Shobo, Nihon Shokokumin Bunka Kyokai Bungakubu kikanshi) first published
- July
- Joji Tsubota, Tsuru no ongaeshi [The grateful crane]
|
- December
- First departure of students for the battlefront
|
| 1944 |
- February
- Written by Kenjiro Tsukahara/illustrated by Akira Nakao, Kawa no ie no tomodachi [A friend living near the river] (Shokokumin ebunko [Young nationals’ picture book library])
|
|
| 1945 |
|
- August
- Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Japan accepts the Potsdam Declaration (Surrenders unconditionally to the Allied Forces)
- October
- United Nations founded
|
| 1946 |
- April
- Akatonbo [Red dragonfly] (Jitsugyo no Nihon Sha) first published
Kodomo no hiroba [Children's plaza] (Shinsekaisha) first published
- October
- Ginga [The milky way] (Shinchosha) first published
|
- November
- Constitution of Japan promulgated
|
| 1947 |
- February
- Momoko Ishii, Nonchan kumo ni noru [Non-chan rides the clouds] →another edition
- March
- Michio Takeyama, Biruma no tategoto [Harp of Burma] (Akatonbo [Red dragonfly], to February 1948)
Written by Takeji Hiratsuka/illustrated by Ryu Osanai, Nippon no ama [Japanese woman diver] (Shokokumin ebunko [Young nationals’ picture book library])
|
- March
- Fundamental Law of Education and School Education Act promulgated
|
| 1948 |
- February
- Yoshio Okamoto, Rakudai yokocho [The flunk side street] (Ginga [The Milky way], vol. 3, no. 2)
Shonen shojo [Boys and girls] (Chuokoron-sha) first published
Takeji Hiratsuka, Tamamushi no zushi no monogatari [The tale of tamamushi shrine] (Shonen shojo [Boys and girls] vol. 1, no. 1)
|
- June
- National Diet Library opens
|
| 1949 |
- April
- Sakae Tsuboi, Kaki no ki no aru ie [The house with the persimmon tree]
- November
- Sekai no ehon [World picture books] (Shinchosha Publishing Co., Ltd.) started publishing
Original story by Hector Malot/written by Fumiko Hayashi/illustrated by Hisashi Suda, Ienakiko [Nobody's boy] (Sekai no ehon [World picture books] middle-size edition; 1)
- December
- Written by Isoji Sekiya/illustrated by Shozo Oonuki and others, Nihon'ichi zukukshi [The best of Japan], (Sekai no ehon [World picture books] large-size edition; 1)
|
|
| 1950 |
- March
- Mame no ki [Beanstalk] (Dojinshi [coterie magazine]) first published
- December
- Iwanami shonen bunko [Iwanami children’s library] started publishing
Robert Louis Balfour Stevenson /Naojiro Sasaki, Takarajima [Treasure island] (Iwanami shonen bunko [Iwanami children’s library])
|
- June
- Korean War begins
- August
- National Police Reserve formed
|
| 1951 |
- June
- Miyoko Matsutani, Kai ni natta kodomo [The child who turned into a shellfish]
- December
- Jun'ichi Yoda, Goju ichibanme no zabon [The fifty-first pomelo]
|
- September
- Treaty of San Francisco and Security Treaty between the United States and Japan signed
|
| 1952 |
- December
- Sakae Tsuboi, Nijushi no hitomi [Twenty-four eyes]
|
|
| 1953 |
- September
- Makoto Ooishi, Fushinki [Wind vane] (Doen [Children’s garden])
- December
- Tomiko Inui, Tsugumi [Thrush] (Mugi [Wheat])
|
- August
- School Library Act established
|
| 1954 |
- December
- Ichitaro Kokubun, Tetsu no machi no shonen [Boys of the ironworks town]
Written by Munro Leaf/illustrated by Robert Lawson, Hana no sukina ushi [The story of Ferdinand], (Iwanami no kodomo no hon, yo ichi ni nenmuke [Iwanami children's books for kindergarten, first and second grade students]; 11)
|
|
| 1955 |
|
|
| 1956 |
- April
- Kodomo no tomo [Children's companion] (Fukuinkan Shoten Publishers) started publishing
Written by Jun'ichi Yoda/illustrated by Fumiko Hori, Bippu to chocho [Bip and the butterfly], (Kodomo no tomo [Children's companion] no. 1)
Sukeyuki Imanishi, Sora no hitsujikai [The shepherd of the sky]
- May
- Original story by Kenji Miyazawa/original plan by Yoshimi Sato/illustrated by Takeshi Motai, Serohiki no Goshu [Gauche the cellist], (Kodomo no tomo [Children's companion] no. 2)
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- October
- Joint Declaration by Japan and the USSR signed
- December
- Japan joins the United Nations
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| 1957 |
- March
- Tomiko Inui, Nagai nagai pengin no hanashi [A long long story of the penguins]
- December
- Edited by Jun’ichi Yoda, Nihon doyoshu [The collection of Japanese children's songs]
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|
| 1958 |
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| 1959 |
- August
- Satoru Sato, Daremo shiranai chiisana kuni [The tiny country that nobody knows]
- December
- Tomiko Inui, Kokage no ie no kobitotachi [Yuri and the little people]
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|
| 1960 |
- July
- Hisashi Yamanaka, Akage no Pochi [Red-haired puppy, Pochi]
- August
- Miyoko Matsutani, Tatsu no ko Taro [Taro, the dragon boy]
- October
- Yoshitomo Imae, Yama no muko wa aoi umi datta [Over the mountain there was the blue sea] →another edition
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- January
- Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security between the United States and Japan signed
- May to June
- Protests against the United States-Japan Security Treaty expands
- December
- Vietnam War begins
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| 1961 |
- January
- Hachiro Sato, Okasan [Mother] →picture book
- June
- Teruo Teramura, Boku wa osama [I am the king]
- November
- Taruhi Furuta, Nusumareta machi [A stolen town]
- December
- Toshiko Kanzawa, Chibikko Kamu no boken [The adventures of little Kamu]
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|
| 1962 |
- December
- Rieko Nakagawa, Iyaiyaen ["No-no" nursery school]
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|
| 1963 |
- December
- Written by Rieko Nakagawa/illustrated by Yuriko Oomura, Guri to Gura [Guri and Gura], (Kodomo no tomo [Children's companion] no. 93)
Momoko Ishii, Sangatsu hina no tsuki [The dolls' day for Yoshiko]
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|
| 1964 |
- March
- Yoshiko Okkotsu, Piichashan [Mt. Piecha]
- July
- Miyoko Matsutani, Chiisai Momochan [Little Momo]
- September
- Gennosuke Nagasaki, Aho no hoshi [The star of a fool]
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- October
- Tokaido Shinkansen opens
Tokyo Olympic Games held
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| 1965 |
- January
- Makoto Ooishi, Chokoreto senso [Chocolate war]
- August
- Tadashi Ozawa, Me wo samase Toragoro [Wake up, Toragoro]
- October (to August 1968)
- Makoto Oishi, Kyoshitsu niimarugogo [Classroom no. 205] (Biwa no mi gakko daiikki [Loquat fruit school, first semester]) →published in book format
- December
- Sukeyuki Imanishi, Higo no ishiku [The mason of Higo]
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- June
- Treaty on Basic Relations between Japan and the Republic of Korea signed
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| 1966 |
- December
- Written by Minami Nishiuchi/illustrated by Seiichi Horiuchi, Gurunpa no yochien [Grumpa's kindergarten], (Kodomo no tomo kessakushu [Masterpieces of Children's companion] 32)
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|
| 1967 |
- February
- Ryuji Goto, Tenshi de daichi wa ippaida [The land is filled with angels]
Rewritten by Tadashi Matsui/illustrated by Suekichi Akaba, Daiku to oniroku [Oniroku and the carpenter], (Kodomo no tomo kessakushu [Masterpieces of Children's companion] 36)
- April
- Written by Miyoko Matsutani/illustrated by Yasuo Segawa, Inai inai ba [Peek-a-boo]
- September
- Yasuo Maekawa, Yan
- November
- Ryusuke Saito, Berodashi Chonma [Chomma (Chomatsu) poking out his tongue]
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| 1968 |
- March
- Kimiko Aman, Kuruma no iro wa sora no iro [Taxi driver Matsui’s special customers]
- June
- Michio Mado, Tenpura piripiri [Tempura piripiri (sizzling)]
Chihiro Iwasaki, Ame no hi no orusuban [Staying home alone on a rainy day]
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|
| 1969 |
- April
- Written by Leo Lionni/ illustrated by Shuntaro Tanikawa, Suimi: Chiisana kashikoi sakana no hanashi [Swimmy: Story about a little wise fish]
- May
- Taku Miki, Horobita kuni no tabi [A travel through a ruined country]
- June
- Makoto Ooishi, Kyoshitsu niimarugogo [Classroom no. 205]
Toshiko Kanzawa, Kuma no ko Ufu [Oof, the bear cub]
- December
- Tsuguo Okuda, Bokuchan no senjo [My battle field]
Kayako Nishimaki, Watashi no wanpisu [My miracle dress]
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- July
- Apollo 11 lands on the moon.
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| 1970 |
- February
- Atsuo Saito, Gurikku no boken [Enchanted journey]
- November
- Hiroshi Sunada, Saraba haiuei [Farewell to highways]
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- March
- Japan World Exposition held
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| 1971 |
- February
- Written by Funazaki Yoshihiko/ illustrated by Funazaki Yasuko, Tonkachi to hanashogun [Tonkachi, a little boy’s adventure]
- March
- Mitsumasa Anno, Fushigina e [Topsy-turvies: Pictures to stretch the imagination] (Kodomo no tomo kessakushu [Masterpieces of Children's companion])
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| 1972 |
- February
- Akira Saneto, Jibetakkosama [Earth god]
- May
- Naoko Awa, Kaze to ki no uta [A song of wind and a tree]
- August
- Mikio Ando, Dendenmushi no keiba [Snail’s contest]
- October
- Haruo Yamashita, Umi no shirouma [White horse of the sea]
- November
- Written by Arnold Lobel/translated by Taku Miki, Futari wa tomodachi [Frog and toad are friends]
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- May
- Okinawa returned to Japan
- September
- Japan-China Joint Communique signed
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| 1973 |
- March
- Jun’ichi Yoda, No yuki yama yuki: Shonen shojo shikyokushu [To fields, to mountains: The collection of boys' and girls' poems and songs]
- April
- Taijiro Amazawa, Hikariguruma yo maware! [Spin round, O wheels of light!]
Seizo Tajima, Fukimanbuku [The girl and the butterbur sprout]
- October
- Shuntaro Tanikawa, Kotoba asobi uta [Word game: Nonsense pictures and rhymes]
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- November
- Outline of emergency measures on oil adopted (1973 oil crisis)
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| 1974 |
- March
- Yoshihiko Funazaki, Poppen sensei to kaerazu no numa [Professor Poppen and the swamp of no return]
- June
- Kenjiro Haitani, Usagi no me [A rabbit's eyes]
- August
- Written by Yoshio Nakae/illustrated by Noriko Ueno, Nezumikun no chokki [Little mouse’s red vest]
- November
- Written by Taruhi Furuta/illustrated by Seiichi Tabata, Oshiire no boken [Adventure in the closet]
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| 1975 |
- May
- Nobuyuki Mitamura, Otosan ga ippai [So many fathers]
- June
- Daihachi Ota, Kasa [Umbrella] (Joifuru ehon kessakushu [Best of joyful picture books] 10)
- October
- Sachiko Kashiwaba, Kiri no muko no fushigina machi [The marvelous village veiled in mist]
- December
- Hiroo Sakata, Sacchan [Satchan]
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| 1976 |
- February
- Shuntaro Tanikawa, Daremo shiranai [Nobody knows]
- June
- Shuhei Hasegawa, Hasegawakun kiraiya [Can't stand Hasegawa] →another edition
- October
- Written by Shuntaro Tanikawa/illustrated by Shinta Cho, Watashi [Me], (Kagaku no tomo [Children's science companion] no. 91)
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- February
- Lockheed bribery scandals occurred
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| 1977 |
- April
- Written by Yoriko Tsutsui/illustrated by Akiko Hayashi, Hajimete no otsukai [Mii-chan’s first errand], (Kodomo no tomo kessakushu [Masterpieces of Children's companion])
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|
| 1978 |
- February
- Masamoto Nasu, Soreike zukkoke sanningumi [Let's go, funny trio]
- August
- Toshihide Kunimatsu, Okashina kin'yobi [Funny Friday]
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- August
- Treaty of Peace and Friendship between Japan and China signed
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| 1979 |
- November
- Taro Gomi, Saru, rururu [Monkey, rururu]
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| 1980 |
- January
- Masamoto Nasu, Bokura wa umi e [We'll go out to the sea]
- June
- Toshi Maruki, Hiroshima no pika [The Hiroshima story]
- September
- Shiro Yadama, Hare tokidoki buta [Fair, then partly piggy]
Shinta Cho, Kyabetsukun [Cabbage boy]
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- September
- Iran–Iraq War begins
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| 1981 |
- July
- Eiko Kadono, Zubon senchosan no hanashi [Tales of an old sea captain]
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| 1982 |
- January
- Naoko Kudo, Tetsugaku no raion: Kudo Naoko shonen shishu [Philosophical lion: The collection of children's poems by Naoko Kudo]
- August
- Kimiko Aman, Chiichan no kageokuri [Chii-chan and the shadow figures]
- October
- Gen'ichiro Yagyu, Hana no ana no hanashi [The holes in your nose] (Kagaku no tomo kessakushu [Masterpieces of Children’s science companion])
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|
| 1983 |
- June
- Yuhi ga senaka wo oshitekuru [The sunset pushes my back], written by Hiroo Sakata/illustrated by Jun Takabatake
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- April
- Tokyo Disneyland opens
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| 1984 |
- February
- Edited by Jun’ichi Yoda and others, Kaneko Misuzu zenshu [Complete works of Misuzu Kaneko]
- May
- Naoko Kudo, Nohara uta [A field sing-a-long] 1
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| 1985 |
- April
- Miyako Moriyama, Kiiroi baketsu [The yellow bucket]
- June
- Makoto Kawashima, Denwa ga natteiru [The telephone is ringing]
- December
- Tadaaki Mori, Shonen jidai no gashu [Collected pictures of childhood]
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|
| 1986 |
- March
- Takaya Hama, Hi no o tanjo [Birth of the fire king]
- December
- Jun Okada, Gakko usagi wo tsukamaero [Catching the school rabbit]
Shuzo Oka, Boku no oneesan [My older sister]
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|
| 1987 |
- May
- Hiroshi Saito, Rudorufu to Ippaiattena [Rudolf the black cat]
- September
- Tatsuya Saragai, Umi no medaka [Killifish in the sea]
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- April
- Privatization and separation of Japanese National Railways
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| 1988 |
- January
- Ken Katayama, Oyasuminasai Kokkosan [Good night, Kokko]
- August
- Noriko Ogiwara, Sorairo magatama [Dragon sword and wind child] →revised version
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- March
- Seikan Tunnel opens
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| 1989 |
- August
- Kaori Ekuni, Tsumetai yoru ni [At the cold night]
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| 1990 |
- June
- Yoko Tomiyasu, Kunugibayashi no Zawazawaso [Apartment Zawazawa in oak woods]
- August
- Hiko Tanaka, Ohikkoshi [Moving]
- December
- Yosuke Inoue, Magareba magarimichi [Around the corner] (Kodomo no tomo [Children's companion] no. 417)
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| 1991 |
- May
- Hiroshi Ito, Osaru no mainichi [A day in a monkey's life]
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- January
- Gulf War begins
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| 1992 |
- May
- Kazumi Yumoto, Natsu no niwa: The friends [The friends] →revised version
- September
- Written by Michio Mado/edited by Hideharu Ito, Mado Michio zenshishu [Complete works of poems by Michio Mado] →revised edition
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-
- Bubble Economy bursts
|
| 1993 |
|
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| 1994 |
- April
- Kaho Nashiki, Nishi no majo ga shinda [The witch of the west is dead] →another edition
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| 1995 |
- March
- Written by Misuzu Kaneko/selected by Setsuo Yazaki, Akarui ho e: Kaneko Misuzu doyoshu [To a brighter place: The collection of children's songs by Misuzu Kaneko]
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- January
- Great Hanshin-Awaji earthquake occurs
- March
- Tokyo subway Sarin attack occurs
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| 1996 |
- June
- Yoko Saso, Bokura no saite no natsu [Our worst summer ever]
- July
- Nahoko Uehashi, Seirei no moribito [Moribito: Guardian of the spirit]
- December
- Atsuko Asano, Batteri [Battery]
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|
| 1997 |
- October
- Joko Iwase, Arumajiro no shippo [The tail of the armadillo]
Takako Sato, Iguanakun no ojamana mainichi [Day for day with our troublesome iguana]
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| 1998 |
- July
- Eto Mori, Karafuru [Colorful]
- August
- Hiroshi Abe, Gorira nikki [Gorilla diary]
- October
- Written by Yu Ito/illustrated by Daihachi Ota, Oni no hashi [A bridge to the other world]
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| 1999 |
- August
- Written by Hiroshi Osada /illustrated by Ryoji Arai, Mori no ehon [A forest picture book]
- September
- Hoko Takadono, Juichigatsu no tobira [The door of November]
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