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Artist Introduction

Writing activities

Writing activities

It all started in the 2000s when a series of tragic murders occurred involving children as both the victims and perpetrators.
Seeing the ease with which lives were being damaged and lost, I (Kusaba) felt a sense of crisis and realized the urgent need to convey to children the preciousness of life. I hastily drew up a picture book, published it at my own expense, and began distributing it to people close to me.
The picture book happened to catch the attention of Sunmark Publishing, and after being published nationwide in 2004 under the title Inochi no Matsuri ~Nuchinugusuji~, it rapidly went through several editions and was incorporated into the moral education textbooks used by elementary school students.

Writing activities

Political turmoil, economic stagnation, social turmoil, natural disasters, environmental destruction, and uncertainty about the future… Despite the supposed affluence and convenience of daily life in Japan, there is a palpable sense of entrapment and hopelessness, and it seems as though we are losing sight of what “happiness” truly is. I believe that this is fundamentally due to a reversed sense of values resulting from people’s loss of awareness of something important enough to serve as a guidepost, in other words, something that connects our lives together. Even though the original purposes of politics, economics, and education should be to aid in the continuation and development of life, the order has been reversed and all life is being consumed and grounded down to fuel their growth instead. Each of us may differ in what we live for, what we study for, and what we work for, but our ultimate purpose should be to “connect our lives” and “cherish life.”

It is a fact that our lives are not ours alone. It is arrogant to think that one’s life belongs to oneself alone. Each individual “I” only exists thanks to the web of connections carefully woven by our ancestors, and is supported and kept alive through the lives of many others. Each of us is enveloped within this cycle of life. Looking ahead to the future, each “I” could be considered a single blip in time within this perpetual cycle of life. It is the mission of each of us alive right now to pass this life––passed down through an extraordinary history encompassing all species––onto the next generation in a better form. It is not a matter of whether or not we become parents. Rather, it is our responsibility to the next generation as adults to have compassion for the life around us and to personally demonstrate sincerity toward life.

We live in an era in which life is often trivialized, and this is precisely why we need to continuously convey to children––who are our future––what the essence of “life” is. I am delighted that these have been read by so many people both in Japan and around the world, and that they have been incorporated into moral education textbooks, as these are testaments to the fact that people empathize with the desire to convey this message of life. In addition, conveying this message to children requires us as adults to have a deep understanding of the cycle of life and to be able to cherish both ourselves and others, as we are all parts of the whole. Although Inochi no Matsuri is published as a picture book series, it is my sincere hope that it will serve as an opportunity for not only children but also adults to consider the topic of “life.”

Due to its popularity, Inochi no Matsuri has been made into a series, and translated and published in several countries,
primarily in Asia, including China and Korea.
In 2009, it was selected to represent Japan at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair.
It has been broadcast on NHK’s TV Picture Book program since 2013.

Cumulative sales of approx. 520,000 copies
(As of 2023; Sunmark Publishing, Inc.)

  • Inochi no Matsuri (Festival of Life) - Nuchinugusuji -

    Inochi no Matsuri
    – Nuchinugusuji –

    (Published in 2004)
    Tokyo Shoin, Mitsumura Tosho Publishing Co., Ltd., Nippon Hyojun Co., Ltd.
    Incorporated into 3rd grade elementary school moral education textbooks ever since.

  • Inochi no Matsuri Tsunagatteru!(Life is connected!)

    Inochi no Matsuri
    Tsunagatteru!

    (Published in 2007)
    Kobun Shoin Publishing Co., Ltd.
    Incorporated into 2nd grade elementary school moral education textbooks ever since.

  • Inochi no Matsuri Okage-sama(Thanks to you)

    Inochi no Matsuri
    Okage-sama

    (Published in 2010)
    Gakken
    Incorporated into 4th grade elementary school moral education textbooks ever since.

  • Essay series Mainichi ga Inochi no Matsuri (Everyday is festival of life)

    Essay series
    Mainichi ga Inochi no Matsuri

    (Published in 2011)

  • Shiawase wo uru otoko (Man who sells happiness)

    Shiawase wo uru otoko

    (Published in 2012)

  • Inochi no Matsuri Kagayaiteiru (Sparkling)

    Inochi no Matsuri
    Kagayaiteiru

    (Published in 2013)
    Tokyo Shoseki Co., Ltd.
    Incorporated into 3rd grade elementary school morals textbooks ever since.

  • Inochi no Matsuri Miraihe (To the future)

    Inochi no Matsuri
    Miraihe

    (Published in 2015)
    Gakkotosho Co., Ltd.
    Incorporated into 4th grade elementary school moral education textbooks ever since.