Japanese-Language Textbooks and Children's Literature

K-1Futari wa tomodachi [Frog and toad are friends]
Written by Arnold Lobel/Translated by Taku Miki
BUNKA PUBLISHING BUREAU 1972
(Misesu kodomo no hon [Mrs. Books for Children])
Call No. Y17-3887
This volume includes stories like Otegami [The letter], featuring heartwarming depictions of the friendship between Master Toad and Master Frog. There are a number of other books published in this series.

K-2Suimi: Chiisana kashikoi sakana no hanashi [Swimmy: Story about a little wise fish]
Written by Leo Lionni/Translated by Shuntaro Tanikawa
Kogakusha 1994
Call No. Y18-M98-337 (First ed. Y7-1688)
First published in 1969. The artwork not only illustrates the story but is also an important element of the story, in which the text explains the artwork. The translation into Japanese is very poetic.

K-3Chiichan no kageokuri [Chii-chan and the shadow figures]
Written by Kimiko Aman/Illustrated by Noriko Ueno
Akane Shobo 1982
(Akane sosaku ehon [Akane original picture books])
Call No. Y7-9969
Story by an author who grew up during a war. It is one of the few stories for young children that deals with war and is a powerful statement for peace.

K-4Shiroi boshi [The white hat]
Written by Kimiko Aman/Illustrated by Takushi Kitada
POPLAR Publishing 2000
(Kuruma no iro wa sora no iro: Shinsoban [Color of the car is the one of the sky: Revised edition] 1)
Call No. Y8-N00-218
New format of Kuruma no iro wa sora no iro [The color of the car is the color of the sky] republished with a new format in 1968. Includes eight stories from the magazine Biwa no mi gakko [Loquat fruit school]. Shiroi boshi [The white hat] first appeared in no. 24 (August 1967).

K-5Gongitsune [Gon, the little fox]
Written by Nankichi Niimi/Illustrated by Ken Kuroi
Kaiseisha 1986
(Nihon no dowa meisakusen [The best selection of Japanese children's stories])
Call No. Y18-2604
Carried in Akai tori [Red bird] revival vol. 3, no. 1 (January 1932) as Gongitsune [Gon, the little fox]. First published as book form in an anthology of dowa(children’s stories) called Hananoki mura to nusubitotachi [Hananoki Village and the thieves] published by Teikoku Kyouikukai Shuppanbu in 1943. Shown here is the picture book illustrated by Ken Kuroi.

K-6Yukiwatari [Snow treading]
Written by Kenji Miyazawa/Illustrated by Seiichi Horiuchi
Fukuinkan Shoten 1969
Call No. Y7-1912
Featured in the magazine Aikoku fujin [Patriotic women] (published by Aikoku Fujin-kai) as Yukiwatari [Snow treading] in the December 1921 and January 1922 issues. One of the few works published during his lifetime.

K-7Chumon no ooi ryoriten [The restaurant of many orders]
Written by Kenji Miyazawa/Illustrated by Setsu Asakura
Kodansha 1971
(Nihon no meisaku [Japanese masterpieces])
Call No. Y7-2448
First appeared as Chumon no ooi ryoriten: Ihatovu dowa [The restaurant of many orders: Children's stories of Ihatov], published by Morioka shuppanbu Tokyo Kogensya in 1924. This anthology of nine short stories is the only collection of dowa(children’s stories) published during his lifetime.

K-8Daizo jiisan to gan [Old Daizo and a wild goose]
Written by Muku Hatoju
Dainippon tosho 1968
(Kodomo toshokan [Children's library])
Call No. Y8-N03-H901
Published in Shonen kurabu [Boys' club] vol.28, no.11 (November 1941) as under the title Dobutsu monogatari Daizo jiisan to gan [Animal tales, old Daizo and a wild goose]. Later included in the collection Dobutsudomo [Animals] published by Sankosha in 1943.

K-9Yamanashi [Wild pear]
Written by Kenji Miyazawa/Illustrated by Shigetoshi Tooyama
Kaiseisha 1987
(Nihon no dowa meisakusen [The best selection of Japanese children's stories])
Call No. Y18-2937
Featured in Iwate mainichi shimbun [Iwate daily newspaper] on April 8th, 1923. This masterpiece from the author's early works is poetic depiction of a father crab and child, and was published during his lifetime.

K-10Obberu to zo: Gahon Miyazawa Kenji [Ozbel and the elephant: Picture book by Kenji Miyazawa]
Written by Kenji Miyazawa/Illustrated by Toshiya Kobayashi
Parol-Sha 1987
Call No. Y18-4567
Featured in the first issue of Getsuyo [Monday] in January 1926. This masterpiece was written in mid-career, when the author had decided to engage in agriculture, and depicts a story narrated by a cowboy with a surprise ending. Shown here is the picture book illustrated by Toshiya Kobayashi.