Museum of Picture Book Art will hold an exhibition of original drawings from two picture books by author Tashima Seizo in the spring of 2025.

①『Earth Passport』Original Drawings Exhibition

This is a bellows picture book about imaginary countries presented to children by 24 picture book authors. There are children suffering from wars on the same planet. Also, the pandemic that is sweeping the globe has not been easily contained. In this stagnant daily life, picture book authors have started a project called “Earth Passport” in order to convey hope to children beyond national borders. It is a project that allows people to freely travel between borderless countries with their imagination, and everyone on the planet can join hands with each other. Picture book artists thought of an ‘imaginary country’ for each spread and drew pictures that would lead to the next country.

②『Dragon』Original Drawings Exhibition

Santaro, the main character in “Dragon,” was small-minded and did not like to be seen. He always lived quietly at the bottom of the swamp. One night, however, he is discovered by the villagers, and the village is in an uproar… This unique story of a dragon who is worshipped as a god is vividly depicted with powerful pictures.

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▼Talk Events「Tashima Seizo × Hiromatsu Yukiko」

Hiromatsu Yukiko, one of the founders of “Earth Passport,” will be one of the talk guests. She will talk about how the picture book was born, how it was published, and what she wants to convey to children around the world. You will be able to enjoy behind-the-scenes stories that you can only hear at this talk event. Don’t miss this opportunity!

Hiromatsu Yukiko

After working as an editor, library manager, and curatorial director of the Chihiro Art Museum, she currently works freelance as a writer, critic, translator, and exhibition planner for picture books. She has served as a judge for international picture book competitions such as the Bologna Children’s Book Fair Bologna Illustrators Exhibition (2010) and the Bratislava World Picture Book Original Drawing Exhibition (2013, 15, 17), and as a selection committee member for Bookstart (2012-13, 14-15). She is a regular contributor to Asahi Shimbun’s “Kodomo no Hondana” (Children’s Bookshelf) and writes regularly about picture books for “MOE” and other magazines. She is a lecturer at Rikkyo University, Musashino University, and Yokohama University of Art&Design and a board member of JBBY.

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Hachi & Seizo Tashima Museum of Picture Book Art