The Nara Prefectural Library and Information Center is hosting the "Shinobu Saito Picture Book Original Art Exhibition."
Do you remember singing playground songs like "Mitchan michi michi..." on your way to school when you were a child?
Picture book creator Shinobu Saito's word-play picture book "Acchyan A ga Tsuku: Tabemono Aiueo" (literally "A is for Acchyan: Food ABC") uses the rhythm of "Mitchan michi michi" to create fun phrases like "Natchan na ga tsuku natto neba-neba" and "Ratchan ra ga tsuku ramen tabeyo," accompanied by Saito's delightful illustrations of natto rice and ramen. Since its release in 2001, this bestselling book has sold over 560,000 copies.
This exhibition features 69 original artworks: all 46 basic hiragana characters from "a" to "n," plus 23 voiced and semi-voiced characters ("ga" to "go," "za" to "zo," "da," "de," "do," "ba" to "bo," and "pa" to "po").
Enjoy this delightful "food ABC" that you can sing along with, play with, and have fun exploring!
https://www.library.pref.nara.jp/gallery/4757
Special Event: Shinobu Saito Talk + Signing Session
Date: May 17, 2026 (Sunday)
Admission: Free
Registration Required: Applications open April 21, 2026 (Tuesday) from 9:00 AM
https://www.library.pref.nara.jp/event/4758
About Shinobu Saito
Born in Sakai City. After working as a designer for textiles and other products, Saito studied at the International Academy Picture Book Class. Works include "Shiritori Shimasho!" "Omiseyasan de Kudasaina!" "Oshaberi-san," "Shitsumon Oshaberi-san" (winner of the 3rd Kindergarten Grand Prize), "Tabemono Karuta," "Oishii Oto Nani?," and "Kodomo to Tanoshimu Gyoji to Asobi no Ehon" (winner of the 55th Sankei Children's Publishing Cultural Award Nippon Broadcasting Prize), among many others.
