Shogakukan Children Publishing Culture Award
1 appearances
-
Edition 34 (1985) award
Iwamura Kazuo
いわむら かずお
Iwamura Kazuo
Pen Names:
Kazuo Iwamura（Pen name used for published picture books. Real name is Iwamura Waro (same reading).）
Profile
- Gender
- Male
- Born
- 1939-04-03 （Adachi, Tokyo, Japan）
- Died
- 2024-12-19 （Mashiko, Tochigi, Japan） age 85
- Nationality
- Japan
- Languages
- Japanese
- Residence History
- Adachi, Tokyo (birth) → Suginami, Tokyo (raised) → Mashiko, Tochigi (moved residence)
Career
- Occupations
- Picture book author, Author, Illustrator
- Active Years
- 1970-2024
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tokyo Metropolitan Nishi High School | — | — | — | — | Japan |
| Tokyo University of the Arts | Faculty of Fine Arts | Crafts | — | — | Japan |
Tokyo Metropolitan Nishi High School
Year of Graduation:
1958
Country:
Japan
Tokyo University of the Arts
Faculty of Fine Arts
/ Crafts
Year of Graduation:
1964
Country:
Japan
Graduated from Faculty of Fine Arts, crafts department. Worked briefly as a salaried employee after graduation.
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | Ehon Nippon Prize | The 14 Mice: Breakfast | — | — | 受賞 |
| — | Shogakukan Picture Book Award | The 14 Mice: Yamaimo (and others) | — | Shogakukan | 受賞 |
| — | Sankei Children's Publishing Culture Award | The Last Train for the Lonely | — | Sankei Shimbun | 受賞 |
| — | Kodansha Publishing Culture Award (Picture Book) | Thinking Frog | 絵本賞 | Kodansha | 受賞 |
| 2008 | Tochigi Prefecture Cultural Meritorious Person | — | — | Tochigi Prefecture | 受賞 |
| 2014 | Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Chevalier) | — | — | French Ministry of Culture (investiture at the French Embassy in Japan) | 受章（シュヴァリエ） |
Ehon Nippon Prize
Work:
The 14 Mice: Breakfast
Result:
受賞
Shogakukan Picture Book Award
Work:
The 14 Mice: Yamaimo (and others)
Organization:
Shogakukan
Result:
受賞
Sankei Children's Publishing Culture Award
Work:
The Last Train for the Lonely
Organization:
Sankei Shimbun
Result:
受賞
Kodansha Publishing Culture Award (Picture Book)
Work:
Thinking Frog
Category:
絵本賞
Organization:
Kodansha
Result:
受賞
Tochigi Prefecture Cultural Meritorious Person
2008
Organization:
Tochigi Prefecture
Result:
受賞
Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Chevalier)
2014
Organization:
French Ministry of Culture (investiture at the French Embassy in Japan)
Result:
受章（シュヴァリエ）
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
The 14 Mice Move
1983 Picture bookA picture book depicting a large family of 14 mice working together to move house, rendered in large, detailed double-page spreads.
FamilyCooperationNature
The 14 Mice: Breakfast
1983 Picture bookOne of the 14 Mice series: a warm depiction of three generations preparing and sharing breakfast amid nature.
FamilyMealsEveryday life
Thinking Frog
Picture book (introductory children's philosophy)A picture book introducing philosophical questions to children. Through an anthropomorphized frog, it stimulates thinking and inquiry.
Introductory philosophyThinkingQuestioning
Bibliography
- Pukupuku's Picture Book
- The 14 Mice Move
- The 14 Mice: Breakfast
- Other titles in The 14 Mice series
- Thinking Frog
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- Detailed, warm scene depictionVisual storytelling using large double-page spreadsDepiction of everyday life through anthropomorphized animals
- Recurring Motifs
- Large family of miceMeals and food preparationAbundant natural settings
Legacy
Beloved for the long-running "14 Mice" series and many picture books, producing several long-sellers. Opened a museum in Tochigi in 1998 and engaged with the local community. Recognized domestically and internationally, he is highly regarded in children's literature.
Museums
- Iwamura Kazuo Picture Book Hill Museum Batou (now Nakagawa), Tochigi, Japan Opened in 1998
Archives
- Iwamura Kazuo Picture Book Hill Museum Archives
Trivia
- Real name is Iwamura Waro (same reading).
- Moved to Mashiko, Tochigi at age 36 and continued creative work while farming.
- "The 14 Mice" series has sold over 8 million copies in total and is a long-selling phenomenon.