Fumiko Takeshita and Mamoru Suzuki are renowned for their popular series of picture books on working vehicles, and they have also collaborated on dinosaur picture books, of which this new volume is the third. It joins ‘A Hungry Day for Tyrannosaurus’ and ‘An Uneventful Day for Triceratops’. This new addition features beautiful illustrations from the perspective of the Pteranodon, soaring above the land and sea, looking down on the dinosaurs below.

Yuji Okushi is an author-illustrator renowned for his uniquely creative picture books, including ‘Pete the Shopping Street’ and ‘The Mountain God’s Giant Lunchbox’. We’re delighted to announce the release of a new title from him: The Endless Proverb Story
The story focuses on a child who has grown up doing little but sleep, but now, finally, he gets up and sets off to deliver something to his grandma and grandpa. The text of the story is creating by connecting Japanese proverbs and idioms. Okushi uses 50 proverbs in total, weaving them into a story along with his characteristic illustrations. The entire picture book is reminiscent of a traditional picture scroll, with a distinctively Japanese feel.

The ‘Research for All’ series, which saw the publication of seven volumes between June to September 2022, is now set to continue.
This non-fiction series targets elementary school students and has so far featured a wide range of authors, including a biologist who seeks out unusual creatures, a female soccer player, and an engineer specialising in prosthetics. The aim of the series is to support and nurture curiosity in young readers and to communicate the vast range of research and interests.
This second release started in February 2024 with ‘Can A Girl Become Prime Minister? The Road to Parliament’, written by politician Kiyomi Tsujimoto. The series will continue with three further volumes, published between February and April, written by authors with the following careers: activism, Lego building, and art restorer.

The “The Supernatural Sweet Shop” series has reached its 21st volume and has been rebranded as “The Street of Fortune and Misfortune” from this instalment onwards. This marks the beginning of a new chapter in the story, ensuring that both long-time readers and those starting from this volume can enjoy the content.

In addition to the ongoing animated television series, a live-action film adaptation has been announced in Japan, further expanding the media mix of this popular title. The books have been translated and published in several countries, including South Korea, China, Taiwan, Thailand, and Indonesia. The series has achieved a remarkable milestone, with a cumulative total of over 10 million copies in print, combining both domestic and international editions.

Jun Okada, one of Japan’s most renowned children’s literature authors, has released two new books in quick succession this April and May.

“Usakichi Under the Desk” is a new long-form adventure fantasy novel in which a young boy, while home alone, stumbles upon a mysterious alternate world beneath his grandfather’s study desk, where he meets a large rabbit named Usakichi and embarks on a journey.

“Excuses That Never End” is the latest addition to the “Grandpa and Me” series, following “The Corner where Dreams Come True“, “Magic Words for a Quick Escape“, and “The Hot-Hot-Hot Goblin“. This new release is a collection of short stories.

A new title has joined the picture book series “Women in Folklore“, which was first launched in 2022. While traditional fairy tales often feature male protagonists, this series focuses on lesser-known stories with female leads.

The latest instalment, “The Girl Born on a Sunday“, is based on a German folk tale. It tells the story of a brave girl who embarks on a journey all on her own to find her brothers, who vanished after being lured away by a witch.

Following the remarkable success of “Japanese New Year Dishes”, published by Fukuinkan Shoten Publishers in November 2024 and selling over 90,000 copies within its first month, author Yumi Uchida’s second picture book, “Various Foods“, has been published by Kaisei-sha.

This charming and interactive title invites little ones to guess what’s on the plate from its silhouette. As each page is turned, colourful foods in white, yellow, pink and more are revealed through beautifully detailed illustrations. Aimed at children aged two and up, it is a picture book full of enjoyment for both parents and children to share.

The beloved “The Supernatural Sweet Shop” series, with over 11 million copies sold worldwide, returns with a powerful new volume. This marks the 23rd book overall and the third since the title was updated to “The Street of Fortune and Misfortune” with Volume 21 in April 2024.

In the latest instalment, the enigmatic shopkeeper Beniko falls into a mysterious sleep brought on by a curse, leaving the shop in the temporary care of Mr Zenji Futatsugashira, the peculiar owner of Zempuku Bookshop, who first appeared in the “Street of Fortune and Misfortune” arc. But can he truly manage Zenitendo in Beniko’s absence? This volume marks a turning point in the story – one not to be missed.

A new instalment has arrived in the long-running “Whale Sea” series, which began in 2001 with the international bestseller ‘I’m an African Giraffe‘. The previous title, ‘I’m Flippers from Moshi-Moshi Bay‘, was released in October 2021, making this the first new volume in three and a half years.

The star of this seventh book is Drifter, the laid-back sea otter who first appeared in ‘My name is Drifter, from the Seaweed Forest‘. As always, the story unfolds through letters that carry heartfelt friendships across the sea. ‘I’m an African Giraffe‘ is known internationally as “Yours Sincerely, Giraffe”, published in English by Gecko Press (New Zealand). Its German edition received the prestigious German Youth Literature Prize. The series continues to resonate with readers around the world, with translations available across Europe and Asia.

A brand-new spin-off has arrived from the bestselling Supernatural Sweet Shop series. This volume turns the spotlight on Yodomi, Beniko’s formidable rival in the trade of enchanted sweets. Across six stories, it reveals her hidden past before opening the “Tatarime-dō,” recounts an untold showdown with Zenitendō, and follows her recruitment into Hellven Towers after defeat. Featuring a host of her notorious “malicious sweets,” the book delivers both fresh intrigue and a darker perspective on the much-loved world of Zenitendō.

The White Ravens, published annually by the International Youth Library in Munich, is an international recommendation catalogue of outstanding children’s and YA books selected from around the world. The list aims to introduce high-quality titles that might otherwise remain little known internationally and is showcased at major events such as the Bologna Children’s Book Fair, as well as at institutions including the International Library of Children’s Literature in Japan.

For The White Ravens 2025, two titles published by Kaiseisha have been selected:

‘Let’s Go on an Adventure!‘ by Kanayo Sugiyama

A tactile picture book that allows sighted children, as well as those who are blind or have low vision, to share the experience of a joyful adventure through touch.

‘The Callers Travel‘ by Marie-Lou Hasegawa

A linked short-story collection about people known as “Callers,” who unintentionally attract animals, insects, plants, or natural phenomena, exploring both the pain and hope of living alongside difference.

The internationally bestselling The Supernatural Sweet Shop Zenitendō series, with over 11 million copies sold worldwide, welcomes its 24th volume:
‘The Street of Fortune and Misfortune 4‘, published in September 2025.

As more shops with uncanny powers open along Fortune and Misfortune Street, the area grows increasingly lively and unpredictable. With the appearance of mysterious new establishments beyond Zenitendō and Zempuku Bookshop, the story moves steadily toward its central arc, further expanding the world of Zenitendō.

On the evening of 5 November 2025, the Noma Cultural Foundation announced the recipients of its literary awards.
‘The Poet Postman‘, written by Rin Saitō and illustrated by Yasuyoshi Botan, received the 63rd Noma Prize for Juvenile Literature.

First published in November 2024, the story is set in a small town served by just two postmen. What they deliver are not ordinary letters, but poems. As each poem reaches its recipient, new emotions emerge and, in turn, give rise to new poems. Written by a poet, this gently layered narrative invites readers to consider the question: What is poetry?

Mamiko Shiotani, who debuted in 2018 with ‘The Little Stone from the Sky‘ and went on to publish ‘The Attic Ghost‘ and ‘Fishy‘, has now released a new work. This picture book turns its gaze to drifting clouds. Through the eyes of a young girl who wonders, How can I become friends with a cloud?, the story gently invites readers to reflect and imagine. Unlike her earlier works, created with charcoal pencil and watercolour, every illustration here is painted in oils, marking a striking new stage in Shiotani’s artistic expression.

We’re delighted to announce that “Let’s Go on a Trip!” by Taro Gomi and “Off to the Mountains / Off to the Sea” by Taro Miura have been selected for The BRAW Amazing Bookshelf at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair 2025.

The BRAW Amazing Bookshelf is a special showcase of outstanding picture books drawn from submissions to the BolognaRagazzi Award. This year’s award attracted 3,858 entries from 68 countries and regions, with just 150 titles chosen for display at the fair. Among them were four titles from Japan, including the two mentioned above.

View the full list of selected books.

The The Supernatural Sweet Shop series has launched a brand-new chapter with its 21st volume, published in April, under the renewed title The Supernatural Sweet Shop Zenitendo: The Street of Fortune and Misfortune the second volume of Fortune Street has now been released.

Additionally, for the first time, an “Anime Edition” has been published, featuring artwork from the ongoing animated adaptation. While the original series is aimed at readers aged around 8 and older, the “Anime Edition” has been specially designed for younger children, enabling them to enjoy reading independently.

Each book in the Anime Edition contains a single episode, including three fan-favourite stories: Wild Beast Biscuits, Cut-out Mermaid Gummies, and Dr. Ramune Kit. The books use plenty of vibrant animation materials and feature simplified, easy-to-read text, making them more accessible for younger readers and anime fans alike.

The Shinoda! series, which portrays the mysterious and magical life of the Shinoda family—where the father is human but the mother harbours the secret of being a fox—has a brand-new instalment out after a five-year hiatus.

First published in 2003, this series now spans 12 volumes and has been translated into languages such as Korean, Taiwanese, and Chinese. The author, Yoko Tomiyasu, is also well-known for other children’s literature series like “Suzuna, The Little Mountain Goddess” and “A Girl at the Museum”.

A sixth book in the ‘House of 100 Stories’ series has been released, and this time the house is found in a swamp. Open the book horizontally and turn the pages downwards to discover – alongside Swirly the tadpole – the residents, from crayfish to Koi carp. Move down each storey until together you reach the 100^th floor: who could it be home to? This popular series has achieved sales of 4.4 million copies to date.

The latest volume in ‘The Supernatural Sweet Shop’ series – which has sold an incredible 4.35 million copies over the ten years since the release of the first book – was published in September. Volume 20 sees Beniko troubled to see the number of customers visiting her sweet shop drop dramatically due to the emerging popularity of an AI chat app.

November saw the release of ‘Feline Fine Every Day’, by the same author-illustrator team. This book stars the lucky cats who make Beniko’s sweets, and combines cat profiles, comic strips, and stories not featured in ‘The Supernatural Sweet Shop’ series.

Akiko Miyakoshi’s ‘The Little Shrew’ (published November 2022) has won the 72^nd Shogakukan Award for Children’s Literature, announced on September 14.

The Shogakukan Award recognises excellence in picture books, fairy tales, and children’s literature intended for children and young people. Several Kaiseisha publications have won this prestigious award in recent years, including ‘On a Bright Summer Morning’ (Rui Kodemari, 68^th Award), ‘Oil Beetle’ (Hitoshi Tateno, 66^th Award), and ‘The Ocean Studio’ (Rimako Horikawa, 71^st Award).