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  • Illustrator Nominee:Japan

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Akiko Hayashi
Japan, Illustrator

Born in Tokyo in 1945, Akiko Hayashi graduated from the Faculty of Fine Arts at Yokahama National University, after which she began working as a magazine illustrator.

Akiko Hayashi published her first children's book, Hajimete no otsukai, in 1973. Since then she has become one of Japan's leading picturebook illustrators/writers, receiving numerous awards, domestic and international, for her outstanding work, including The Second Japan Picture Book and Art Award for Ofuro daisuki and Le Grand Prix ees Treize for Hajimeteno kyampu [I'm going camping] (1984), among many others.

In 1986 she was selected by the renowned picturebook artist Mitsumasa Anno to participate in his picturebook Matui chikyu no maruichinichi [All in a day] (1987). In this, eight artists from around the world show in eight scenes from different countries what is happening at the same time around the world. Anno declares that Hayashi's scenes of New Year's morning in Tokyo are 'outstanding, not only in the conscientiousness of her artistry but in her depiction of the story that unfolds within a day'. He continues, describing her style as 'rather academic, consistently restrained, modern in touch, and unconcerned with fads and fashions'.

Hayashi is widely recognised in Japan as an artist who, using delicate lines and soft colours, can give expression and meaning to a child's slightest gesture. Her books range from realism to fantasy, but are always characterised by a wry sense of humour.

Since her first book in 1973, she has created almost 40 picturebooks. Titles written and illustrated by her include Kon to Aki (1989), Detekoi detekoi [Who's in it?] (1995) and Maho no enogu, as well as the Akiko Hayashi Christmas Book series and the Akiko Hayashi Baby Book series, which received praise for their simple storylines for a very young audience. Her books have been translated into more than ten languages and she has won awards for her work in Japan and the USA.


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Selected bibliography

Hajimete no otsukai [Li-chan's first errand] (text by Yoriko Tsutsui) 1977 Fukuinkan
Ofuro daisuki [I love to take baths!] (text by Kyoko Matsuoka) 1982 Fukuinkan
Majo no takkyubin [Kiki's delivery service] (text by Eiko Kadono) 1985 Fukuinkan
Kon to Aki [Kon and Aki visit Grandma] 1989 Fukuinkan
Maho no enogu [Yoshimi's magic colours] 1993 Fukuinkan [End Page 41]

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