Event wrap-up
By Petar Tasev
On February 25th, 2023, SCBWI Japan members joined together for our first Sketch and Word Crawl of 2023 at Ueno Park. It felt like it was the first in-person meet-up in ages. We had all …
Remote Creative Exchange January 2023
Event Wrap-Up
Mari Boyle
January 27th was our first Creative Exchange of 2023. The first month of the year, like the Roman god Janus it is named after, saw us reflecting on the past and looking to the future in …
SCBWI Japan Bonenkai 2022 – Books, Bunnies and Future Goals
Event Wrap-up
Amy Lange Kawamura
We SCBWI Japan Region members met up for the last time of the year on December 9th, 2022. The gathering was held via Zoom, which meant that those of us who live a …
SCBWI Japan Translation Days 2022
Speakers at SCBWI Japan Translation Days on November 12 and 19, 2022 (clockwise from top left): Takami Nieda, Aya Tamura, Kathleen Merz, Naomi Kojima, Jocelyne Allen, and Marilyn Brigham.
Event Wrap-Up
SCBWI Japan’s seventh biennial Translation Day event took place …
Let’s Draw with Perspective! A Workshop with Kazumi Wilds
Event Wrap-Up
Petar Tasev
On October 14th, 2022, SCBWI Japan members joined in a Zoom workshop on drawing with perspective, led by illustrator and Artist’s book creator Kazumi Wilds.
Kazumi led us by (virtual) hand – writers, translators, and …
Remote Creative Exchange September 2022
Event Wrap-Up
Mari Boyle
Following the summer break, SCBWI Japan members got together on September 16, 2022, for a remote creative exchange. Clearly the summer heat had not exhausted those who were ready to share their work. We had two …
YA/MG Novel Revision Workshop 2022
Event Write-Up
Alec McAulay
From May to September 2022, SCBWI Japan ran a YA/MG novel revision workshop. Ten writers signed up, and committed to providing a full draft for peer feedback by June 30. We were then placed in small …
Japanese Children’s Books 2022 Now Online
Resource
Avery Fischer Udagawa
Looking for excellent Japanese children’s books described in English? The Japanese Board on Books for Young People (JBBY) publication Japanese Children’s Books 2022 is now available for download (PDF).
Like Japanese Children’s Books 2021 and Japanese …
Summer Party 2022
Event Wrap-Up
Marie Claire Kaiya
On July 15, 2022, SCBWI Japan members across Japan and the United States gathered for an online summer party to toast member achievements, share some Twitter pitches, and enjoy each other’s company.
The party kicked …
Sketch and Word Crawl at the Institute for Nature Study
Event Wrap-Up
Mari Boyle
On Sunday, June 5, 2022, a dozen or so SCBWI Japan members took a chance on the weather for our first in-person event in two years. We met for a Sketch and Word Crawl event …
Etegami Workshop with Etegami Artist Debbie Davidson
Event Wrap-Up
Marie Claire Kaiya
On May 21, 2022, SCBWI Japan hosted Hokkaido Etegami Artist Deborah Davidson (art name “dosankodebbie”) via Zoom. SCBWI members from Hong Kong, the Philippines, and various locations across Japan joined for an evening of mindful …
Creative Workout: Building Creative Muscles
Event Wrap-Up
Mari Boyle
On April 24, 2022, SCBWI Japan held a Creative Workout via Zoom. This is the second year we have held this workshop remotely, and though many of us are hoping to meet up in person soon, …
Remote Creative Exchange
Event Wrap-Up
Mari Boyle
On March 18th, 2022, we enjoyed the first Creative Exchange of the year via Zoom, and SCBWI Japan members certainly did not fail in their creativity for this session. We welcomed some newcomers to our group, …
Talking with Tang Yaming: Crossing Borders with Picture Books
Event Wrap-Up
Deborah Iwabuchi and Andrew Wong
On February 26, 2022, SCBWI Japan hosted editor, author, and translator Tang Yaming, who spoke to us from his home in Tokyo. Born in Beijing, Tang worked as an editor for 35 …
Voice and Character Workshop
Event Wrap-Up—Double Feature with Author Traci Chee and Translator Avery Fischer Udagawa
Mari Boyle
What a great way to start 2022 with award winning guest speakers Traci Chee and Avery Fischer Udagawa. Traci and Avery joined our SCBWI Japan members …
Japanese Children’s Books 2021 Now Online
Resource
Avery Fischer Udagawa
Looking for excellent Japanese children’s books described in English? The Japanese Board on Books for Young People (JBBY) publication Japanese Children’s Books 2021 is now available for download (PDF).
Like Japanese Children’s Books 2020, this …
Creative Exchange and Bonenkai December 2021
Event Wrap-Up
Andrew Wong
SCBWI Japan members gathered remotely again for one last creative exchange session before the end of the year. Sharing updates on works in progress, along with new projects and goals for the coming year, we were …
Picture Book Illustration with Dow Phumiruk
Event Wrap-Up
Mari Boyle
On October 24, SCBWI Japan welcomed Dow Phumiruk, to talk about her illustration process in “From Manuscript to Final Art Submission and Everything in Between.” SCBWI Japan members plus SCBWI members from Hong Kong, …
Remote Creative Exchange September 2021
Event Wrap-Up
Mari Boyle
After a long, hot, humid, and mainly housebound summer due to Covid restrictions in Japan, it was wonderful to meet up, albeit virtually, with fellow SCBWI Japan members to share, compare and critique our latest works …
Summer Party 2021
Event Wrap-Up
Avery Fischer Udagawa
On Thursday evening, July 15, 2021, SCBWI Japan members gathered online for our Summer Party. First, we toasted good news and steps forward including a translation out on submission, a novel draft completed and with …
Drawing Inspiration from Poetry 2021
Event Wrap-Up
Mari Boyle
On June 26th, SCBWI Japan members clicked onto a Zoom poetry workshop. Over the past year, many of us have no doubt attended or even hosted Zoom meetings. Often Zoom events can be …
SCBWI Japan Showcase Digest
Mari Boyle
On Friday, April 9th, SCBWI Japan members gathered around their screens for a very special event, the SCBWI Japan Showcase 2021. Our wonderfully talented authors, illustrators and translators took the opportunity to tell us about their recent or …
SCBWI Japan Showcase 2021 and Recording
On April 9, thirteen members of SCBWI Japan presented SCBWI Japan Showcase 2021: Recent and Forthcoming Member Works. At this virtual event, writers, illustrators and translators shared their books’ backgrounds and summaries; glimpses of their processes; a peek at
…Noodling about Noodles with Andrea Wang and Kana Urbanowicz
Magic Ramen: The Story of Momofuku Ando
Post by Mari Boyle, Tokyo, Japan
On March 7, 2021, SCBWI Japan welcomed, via Zoom, Andrea Wang and Kana Urbanowicz to share with our members their experiences of writing and illustrating the award …
Creative Workout: Building Creative Muscle Power
Post by Mari Boyle
On February 6th, 2021, SCBWI Japan members gathered around their screens for our first meeting of the year: Creative Workout: Building Creative Muscle Power. Holly Thompson, our Co-regional Advisor, led the session and highlighted …
Creative Exchange and Bonenkai Lunch 2020
Post by Mari Boyle
December 5th, 2020 was our final SCBWI Japan meeting of the year. Like all our meetings since March 2020, our Creative Exchange and Bonenkai Lunch was a virtual affair. Despite the disappointment of not …
SCBWI Japan Translation Days 2020
SCBWI Japan’s sixth biennial Translation Day event took place remotely on Saturday, November 21, 2020, and Saturday, November 28, 2020. Dubbed “Translation Days 2020” due to taking place over two half-days, rather than one full day as is typical, this …
Instinctive Illustration: Unearthing Images Through Play and Intuition with Author and Illustrator Rebecca Green
Post by Naomi Kojima
On September 27th we welcomed author and illustrator Rebecca Green for a Zoom presentation and workshop. “Sometimes the best creative results happen without a plan,” wrote Rebecca for her event description. We knew this was …
AFCC 2020 Reflections
Two SCBWI Japan Members Share Highlights
Post by Holly Thompson
The annual Asian Festival of Children’s Content always draws speakers and participants from all over Asia and beyond. While usually held on site at the National Library of Singapore, due …
Summer Party 2020: Pitches and a Toast!
Post by Avery Fischer Udagawa
On July 30th, 2020, SCBWI Japan held a remote summer party to toast member achievements, discuss Twitter pitches, and (last but not least) enjoy each other’s company!
First, we toasted translator member and volunteer Andrew …
Remote Book Discussion: To Amplify Marginalized Voices
Post by Mari Boyle, Tokyo, Japan
On June 26th, 2020, SCBWI Japan held its second remote meeting. This one was a book discussion to amplify marginalized voices, a highly relevant topic given the current international focus on …
Staying Connected with a Remote Creative Exchange
Post by Mari Boyle, Tokyo, Japan
Over the past few months, we have all made adjustments to our lives. For many of us, working, learning, and socializing have become digitized. SCBWI Japan also moved to an online platform for our …
Japanese Children’s Books 2020: A Curated List, Now Online
Post by Avery Fischer Udagawa
One of SCBWI Japan’s sister organizations, the Japanese Board on Books for Young People, has published its annual Japanese Children’s Books list online. Though previously offered in print, this year’s edition is digital due to …
Stay Connected. Keep Creating.
Post by Cam M. Sato, Vermont, USA
The last time we were able to gather for a SCBWI Japan event was back in February for KidLit Create Day 2020 in Yokohama. I was looking forward to attending my last Creative …
SCBWI Japan KidLit Create Day 2020: Growing Our Stories
Post by Cam Sato and Mari Boyle, Tokyo, Japan
On February 16, 2020, a great number of us, traveling from near and far, braved the drizzle and the threat of the novel coronavirus to attend SCBWI Japan KidLit Create Day …
Sketch and Word Crawl: Winter Stories
Post by Mari Boyle, Tokyo, Japan
A new year brings new opportunities and new projects, which is exactly what we discovered at our first SCBWI Japan meeting of 2020. On January 19, we gathered at one of our favorite children’s …
Thank You Lunch with Editor Akiko Beppu
Post by SCBWI Japan
SCBWI Japan started out 2020 with a Regional Team lunch gathering with former Kaisei-sha editor Akiko Beppu on January 4. Beppu-san retired at the end of August 2019 from Kaisei-sha Publishing Company, where she had been …
Year-end Events at SCBWI Japan
Post by Cam M. Sato, Tokyo, Japan
As another year comes to a close, it’s time to think about the year we are leaving behind as well as the one we are heading into. There’s no better place to do …
Writing Nonfiction and Biography with Author Alice McGinty
Post by Mari Boyle, Tokyo, Japan
When it comes to writing biography and creative nonfiction picture books, Alice B. McGinty, award winning author, is the perfect person to ask for advice. SCBWI Japan members and friends had the opportunity …
SCBWI Japan at the Japan Writers Conference
Post by Cam M. Sato, Tokyo, Japan
The SCBWI Lunch Meet-Up and Re-Envisioning Revisions: A YA/MG Novel Revision Workshop were scheduled to be held on Saturday, October 12, 2019 at Meiji Gakuin University in Tokyo. Unfortunately, Typhoon Hagibis decided …
Getting to the heART of a Story with Frané Lessac and Mark Greenwood
Post by Mari Boyle, Tokyo, Japan
At our monthly SCBWI Japan meeting on October 5, 2019, Frané Lessac and Mark Greenwood, an award-winning Antipodean team, shared their knowledge, experiences and love of creating picture books for children. Between them …
2019 Asian Festival of Children’s Content
Four SCBWI Japan Members Share Highlights
post by SCBWI Japan
The Asian Festival of Children’s Content (AFCC) is held annually in Singapore at the National Library. This year’s festival was September 5th to 8th. Here, we present the …
September Creative Exchange
Post by Mari Boyle, Tokyo, Japan
After a summer break, SCBWI Japan members got together September 6, 2019, for our second creative exchange of the year. With a mix of first-time attendees and some familiar faces, we began as usual …
Art Director Kerry Martin–Mapping Out a Picture Book
Post by Cam M. Sato, Tokyo, Japan
On July 12, 2019, we gathered with Art Director Kerry Martin of New York City publisher Holiday House to discuss the layout of picture book dummies. Before the event, those who had registered …
The World of Shaun Tan
A Visit to the Chihiro Art Museum Tokyo
Post by Mari Boyle, Tokyo, Japan
On July 6, 2019, a rather damp Saturday afternoon to be honest, a group of SCBWI Japan members set out through a quiet Tokyo neighborhood …
Translator Takami Nieda on the YA-Adult Crossover Novel
Post by Cam M. Sato, Tokyo, Japan
On June 22, 2019, we gathered at Tokyo Women’s Plaza in Shibuya, Tokyo, to hear translator and educator Takami Nieda discuss her translation of Kazuki Kaneshiro’s novel Go, a story about a …
May Creative Exchange–Event Write-Up
Post by Mari Boyle, Tokyo, Japan
At the recent Creative Exchange on May 25, 2019, it was wonderful to see so many participants. I’ve been attending these meetings regularly over the past few years and have never been disappointed with …
The Unputdownable Page with Jennifer Nielsen
Post by Cam M. Sato, Tokyo, Japan
On April 20, 2019, we converged on the Tokyo Women’s Plaza in Shibuya to hear the prolific New York Times Bestselling author Jennifer Nielsen share the secret of the unputdownable page.
When …
Drawing Inspiration from Poetry: Event Wrap-up
Post by Mari Boyle, Tokyo, Japan
What a treat this poetry workshop was. The hands-on event Drawing Inspiration From Poetry, held on March 9, 2019, gave us an opportunity to exercise our poetic muscles. Our SCBWI Japan Regional Advisors and …
Writing a Chapter Book Series with Debbi Michiko Florence
Post by Cam M. Sato, Tokyo, Japan
On February 16, 2019, a group of us gathered at Tokyo Women’s Plaza in Shibuya to learn about writing a chapter book series with Debbi Michiko Florence, author of the charming Jasmine Toguchi …
Dear SCBWI: Epistolary Stories Sketch and Word Crawl
Event Write-Up
Post by Mari Boyle, Tokyo, Japan
On January 28, 2019, SCBWI Japan members and friends gathered at the Book House Café in Jinbocho, Tokyo, for the first meeting of the New Year. Our Sketch and Word Crawl …
Creative Exchange and Bonenkai 2018: A Time for Reflection
Event Write-Up
Post by Cam M. Sato, Tokyo, Japan
On December 9, 2018, we met in Shibuya at the Tokyo Women’s Plaza for our final Creative Exchange for the year. We discussed picture books, illustrations, middle grade, and …
Telling Stories in Layers: A Workshop with Illustrator Ellen Weinstein
Event Wrap-Up
Post by Mari Boyle, Tokyo, Japan
On November 18, 2018, I spent a lovely afternoon with fellow SCBWI Japan members and other like-minded folk, playing with paper. This came about through a workshop event with award-winning New York …
SCBWI Japan Translation Day 2018: Japanese Children’s and YA Literature in English
A Writer’s Perspective and a Translator’s Perspective on Translation Day 2018
by Cam M. Sato and Andrew Wong
1. Glimpsing the “Magnificent Puzzle”
by Cam M. Sato, poet, author and editor
I feared I was going to be way …
SCBWI Japan Creative Exchanges
September Creative Exchange
Event Write-Up
Post by Mari Boyle, Tokyo, Japan
On September 9, 2018, SCBWI members and non-members got together in the second of our three annual creative exchange sessions. This is an opportunity to share current works in …
Asian Festival of Children’s Content 2018 in Singapore
Two Perspectives on AFCC: September 6-8, 2018
by Andrew Wong and Avery Fischer Udagawa
1. Reflections on AFCC 2018
Post by Andrew Wong
On a cloudy Thursday morning in Singapore, the Asian Festival of Children’s Content opened its ninth edition …
SCBWI LA 2018–Two Views
SCBWI LA Summer Conference 2018
Conference Reflections by Ruth Gilmore Ingulsrud and Holly Thompson
Wishes Need Goals; Pigs Need Wings
by Ruth Gilmore Ingulsrud
Leslie Helakoski and Ruth Gilmore Ingulsrud
On my way to my first writers’ conference ever, the
…Picture Book Day with Art Director Saho Fujii
SCBWI Japan Event Write-Up
Post by Cam M. Sato, Tokyo, Japan
On Saturday, July 21, 2018, a good number of illustrators and a few writers braved the searing temperatures and made their way to The Book House Café in Jimbocho, …
Submissions, Query Letters and Voice–Working with US Agents, Editors and Publishers
SCBWI Japan Event Write-Up
Post by Mari Boyle, Tokyo, Japan
On 30th June, 2018, SCBWI Japan members and friends gathered together for an invaluable workshop on the specificities of submitting work to US agents, editors and publishers. Our talented …
Sketch and Word Crawl: A Trip Back in Time to the Belle Êpoch!
A Trip Back in Time to the Belle Êpoch! Sketch and Word Crawl with a French Twist
Post by Cam M. Sato, Tokyo, Japan
Humor, silence, details, joy, love, and symmetry, just a few of the spontaneous one-word descriptions …
The Kerlan Collection with Curator Lisa Von Drasek
Two Reflections on Lisa Von Drasek’s Evening with SCBWI Japan
by Mari Boyle and Andrew Wong
1. Lisa Von Drasek Talks about Children’s Books and Stuff.
Guest post by Mari Boyle, Writer, Tokyo, Japan
Lisa Drasek is Curator of the …
KidLit Create Day: Crafting KidLit for the World
Two Reflections on SCBWI Japan KidLit Create Day
by Cam M. Sato and Mari Boyle
1. The Exciting Challenge of Crafting KidLit for the World
Guest Post by Cam M. Sato, Tokyo, Japan
On February 25, 2018 a group of …
SCBWI’s Revised Anti-Harassment Policy
February 20, 2018
Post by Avery Fischer Udagawa
Recently, much attention has focused on sexual harassment in the US children’s book industry. Here are two articles that provide background:
Children’s Book Industry Has Its #MeToo Moment (New York Times…
Book House Café Sketch and Word Crawl
January 27, 2018
Post by Holly Thompson
SCBWI Japan’s first event of 2018 was held at the Book House Café in Tokyo’s Jinbocho bookstore district. Book House Café opened in its current form as a children’s bookshop and café in …
Wrapping Up 2017: Creative Exchange and Bonenkai Lunch
December 17, 2017
Post by Holly Thompson
For our last event of 2017, SCBWI Japan held a morning Creative Exchange in Tokyo, followed by a year-end bonenkai lunch.
In advance of the creative exchange, open both members and nonmembers, participants …
Translation as a Mission: Japanese Children’s Books Today with JBBY President Yumiko Sakuma
November 11, 2017
Post by Mari Boyle
Yumiko Sakuma, editor, translator, writer, professor of children’s literature, and president of JBBY (Japanese Board on Books for Young People), recently joined SCBWI members and others to talk about the work of JBBY …
Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained: 2017 Japan Writers Conference
October 8-9, 2017
by Mari Boyle
This year’s Japan Writers Conference was held at the Ekoda Campus of Nihon University College of Art, near Ikebukuro in Tokyo. This free, two-day conference, hosted writers, editors, photographers, and literary artists who …
Going Digital: From Colored Pencils to the Apple Digital Pencil With Illustrator, Daniel Schallau.
March 12, 2017
Post by Mari Boyle, Tokyo
On March 12th, 2017, in a two-part SCBWI Japan event, Daniel Schallau, published children’s book illustrator, gave us insights into his pencil illustration work. Up until six months or so ago, Dan …
Double Feature Part 2: SCBWI Japan Showcase of New Works
February 4, 2017
Posted by Mari Boyle
As part of a double feature event, we had the opportunity to celebrate the recent and forthcoming work of some of our Japan SCBWI members. The books featured in the showcase were:
Ginny …
Double Feature Part 1: Are You an Echo? Lessons in Collaboration
February 4, 2017
Posted by Mari Boyle
When David Jacobson was given a slim book of Japanese poetry by a friend, he was eager to find out more about the author, Misuzu Kaneko (1903–1930), and the child-like simplicity of her …
Giving and Receiving: SCBWI Japan Creative Exchange
January 21, 2017
Posted by Melissa Uchiyama
We sat. Fifteen of us, admiring and offering words of feedback to the authors and illustrators represented in our Japan chapter Saturday evening, January 21st. This was my first time being present and taking part …
Japan Writers Conference 2016
October 29-30, 2016
Posted by Suzanne Kamata, Avery Fischer Udagawa, Mari Boyle and Holly Thompson
On October 29-30 the annual Japan Writers Conference (JWC) was held at Tokushima University in Shikoku. Several SCBWI Japan members presented and attended; in their …
Event Wrap Up: SCBWI Japan Translation Day 2016
October 22, 2016
Posted by Avery Fischer Udagawa
On Saturday, October 22, 2016, SCBWI Japan presented its fourth biennial Translation Day: a day of presentations, critiques, and conversations for published and pre-published translators of Japanese children's/YA literature into English, including …
AFCC 2016 Part 2: SCBWI Japan Wrap-up
May 25-29, 2016
Posted by Holly Thompson
At the 2016 Asian Festival of Children’s Content (AFCC) held in Singapore May 25-29, Japan was the featured Country of Focus, and SCBWI Japan participated mightily!
AFCC 2016 Part 1– Country of Focus: Japan
May 25-29, 2016
Posted by Naomi Kojima
May is the month for the Asian Festival of Children’s Content (AFCC). Held every year in Singapore and organized by the National Book Development Council of Singapore, the AFCC aims to …
Event Wrap-Up: March 13, 2016 Picture Book Day
A Thousand Words
Guest post by Chika Nishina
Most of us have had the pleasure to visit the world of picture books in our daily lives and already know that a picture (book) is worth a thousand words. …
SCBWI Japan Translation Group Commemorates 3.11
by Avery Fischer Udagawa, SCBWI Japan Translator Coordinator
The SCBWI Japan Translation Group blog has featured a series of posts commemorating the five-year anniversary of 3.11: The Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami of March 11, …
Member News: Winter 2016
SCBWI Japan Member News
Posted by Misa Dikengil Lindberg, Vermont, USA
As always, compiling this season's members news has been hugely inspirational. SCBWI Japan members are a diverse crew of dedicated translators, authors, poets, and illustrators. I hope …
Event Wrap Up: January 22, 2016 Naomi Shihab Nye Reading
Meet the Author Reading and Dinner with Naomi Shihab Nye
Posted by Holly Thompson
Author/poet Naomi Shihab Nye was recently in Japan visiting International schools in Tokyo and Yokohama. On a Friday afternoon in January, SCBWI Japan members had a …
Event Wrap-Up: Jan. 6, 2016 SCBWI Japan New Year’s Dinner
Gathering to Celebrate and Set Goals
by Avery Fischer Udagawa, Bangkok, Thailand
Like many members of SCBWI Japan, I perform my children’s lit-related work largely in isolation. Our 2016 New Year’s Dinner was the perfect antidote to this! Held …
Event Wrap-Up: Nov. 9, 2015 The 2016 Asian Festival of Children’s Content Session
Celebrating Asian Culture
Guest post by Mari Boyle, Tokyo, Japan
AFCC Chairperson Claire Chiang and a selection of successful book titles launched at the AFCC. Photo courtesy of Andrew Wong.
I love a good festival with music, dance and food. …
Adventures with “Eigo de Asobo”: Part 2
Adventures with "Eigo de Asobo": The Illustrator's View
Guest post by Ross Wiley, Japan
A six-year-old girl named Emily, a teddy bear named Henry of proportions that could only work in pictures, and a parrot named Jack who has …
Event Wrap-Up: October 24-25, 2015 Japan Writers Conference
Connecting at the Japan Writers Conference
by Melissa Uchiyama, Tokyo, Japan
Writing in Japan can sometimes be a lonely number. We don’t have the big-name conferences comparable to those in New York, San Francisco or Minneapolis. Some writers fly to other …
Event Wrap-Up: SCBWI Annual Summer Conference in LA
Three Notes to Remember When I Go to My Next Annual SCBWI Conference
by Mariko Nagai, Tokyo, Japan
I’ve been a member of SCBWI since around 2005, but I’ve only attended one SCBWI Annual Summer or Winter Conference (Los …
Adventures with “Eigo de Asobo”: Part 1
Adventures with “Eigo de Asobo”: Learning to Play in English is Never Simple
Guest post by Gerri Sorrells, Japan
In 2014, SCBWI Japan was contacted by NHK Educational seeking illustrators and writers to collaborate on creating segments for their television …
Event Wrap-Up: Asian Festival of Children’s Content 2015: Three Perspectives
An Illustrator's Perspective
by Naomi Kojima, Tokyo, Japan
I am a Japanese author and illustrator of children’s books, but that doesn’t mean my picture books have Asian elements. I have been conscious of this since I first attended …
Event Wrap-Up: June 20, 2015 Ginny Tapley Takemori Translation Talk
Translator Ginny Tapley Takemori: "On Whales, Blue Glass, War and Young People"
Translator Ginny Tapley Takemori spoke to SCBWI Japan on June 20, 2015, at an event titled "On Whales, Blue Glass, War and Young People."
In her …
Around the World with SCBWI Japan
Recently Words & Pictures, the blog of the British Isles chapter of SCBWI featured SCBWI Japan in its Around the World with SCBWI series.
Have a look at Around the World with SCBWI Japan!
And at last, recently we …
Meet Museyon: An Independent Publisher Excited About Japanese Children’s Literature in Translation
by Misa Dikengil Lindberg
Since December 2014 four new Japanese picture books in English translation have been released by the independent publisher Museyon Inc. Established in 2009 by the former president of Pokémon USA, Inc., Akira Chiba, Museyon …
Event Wrap-Up: May 8, 2015 Workshop with Designer Ian Lynam
Activating Creativity Using Typography with Designer Ian Lynam
Written in Japanese by Izumi Tanaka
Translated and Edited by the SCBWI Japan Editorial Team
On May 8, 2015, designer Ian Lynam presented a workshop on typography entitled "A Little
…Member News: Spring 2015
SCBWI Japan Member News
Posted by Misa Dikengil Lindberg, Vermont, USA
This latest collection of member news reaffirms my conviction that hardworking writers, illustrators and translators who persist in their craft eventually earn recognition. Success also seems to snowball; for many, …
Event Wrap-Up: March 14, 2015 Writers’ Craft Workout
Writers' Craft Workout in Five Quotes
Guest post by Doug Brittain, Tokyo, Japan
“Write about your last six months of writing.”
The prompt on the whiteboard that greeted participants seemed simple enough. For some SCBWI Japan members attending the March …
SCBWI Japan Regional Team
SCBWI Japan Regional Team Roles for 2015
The SCBWI Japan Regional Team roles have shifted slightly for 2015. Holly Thompson and Mariko Nagai will now serve as Co-Regional Advisors (Co-RAs), and for the time being SCBWI Japan will not …
Event Wrap-Up: February 21, 2015 Winter Sketch and Word Crawl in Yokohama
Winter Sketch and Word Crawl in Yokohama
Contributed by Mariko Nagai, SCBWI Japan Co-Regional Advisor
It’s such a rare moment in our busy lives when someone gives us uninterrupted time to find inspiration. It’s not rare, but a gift, …
Reflecting on 2014
Reflecting on 2014 with SCBWI Japan
Contributed by Holly Thompson, SCBWI Japan Regional Advisor
SCBWI Japan had a full and eventful year in 2014. Here is the complete list of 2014 SCBWI Japan events:
Jan. 10 Of Asia and Children’s …
Event Wrap-Up: November 6, 2014 Workshop with Illustrator Ross Kinnaird
Event Wrap-Up: Illustrator Ross Kinnaird: Using Humor to Motivate Reluctant Readers–the Carnivalesque in Illustration
Guest post by JP McCormick, Tokyo, Japan
Ross Kinnard showing attendees his work
I am no artist. I haven't even picked up a pencil or a …
Event Wrap-Up: October 25-26, 2014 Japan Writers Conference
Japan Writers Conference 2014
The Japan Writers Conference 2014 was held at Iwate University in Morioka on October 25-26, 2014. Several SCBWI Japan members attended. Author Trevor Kew posted a wonderful wrap-up of the weekend on his blog here, …
Event Wrap-Up: October 18, 2014 SCBWI Japan Translation Day
SCBWI Japan Translation Day
On October 18, 2014, translators convened at the Yokohama International School for the third biennial SCBWI Japan Translation Day, which featured a keynote speech by Cathy Hirano …
Event Wrap-Up: September 26, 2014 Tokyo Creative Exchange
Tokyo Creative Exchange
Guest post by Shilpa Agashe, Tokyo, Japan
I had the opportunity to attend my first SCBWI creative exchange led by Mariko Nagai. The conference room setting was in direct contrast to the imagination and creativity brought …
Event Wrap-Up: August 23, 2014 John Shelley Gallery Visit and Dinner
John Shelley and Stone Giant: Gallery Visit and Dinner
Guest post by Naomi Kojima, Tokyo, Japan
The SCBWI Japan August event was a happy reunion and an inspiring gallery visit with SCBWI Japan’s long-time friend John Shelley, who now …
SCBWI Summer Conference Wrap-Up
SCBWI Summer Conference in LA–Wrap-Up
by Li-hsin Tu, Avery Fischer Udagawa, Kazumi Wilds, Holly Thompson
Li-hsin Tu, Writer
My time at the summer conference in LA was nothing short of an adventure. My hotel at the Beverley …
Member News: Summer 2014
Member News highlights the latest inspiring successes of our talented writers, illustrators and translators. SCBWI Japan members should submit news to the blog editors by July 1 for the summer post and January 1 for the winter post. Other SCBWI members who frequently visit …
Event Wrap-Up: July 3, 2014 Children’s Books of Malaysia
Children's Books of Malaysia
with Author/Illustrator Yusof Gajah
Literary Agent Linda Tan Lingard
This year Malaysia was the featured theme country at the Tokyo International Book Fair July 2-5 at Tokyo Big Site, and as a result SCBWI Japan was able to invite …
Event Wrap-Up: June 22, 2014 Creative Exchange in Miura
Creative Exchange/Miura Sketch and Word Crawl
at the Sakurai Temple House and Surroundings in Akiya
Our group of illlustrators and writers met at Zushi Station on Sunday morning and took a bus down the west coast of Miura to the …
Event Wrap-Up: May 17, 2014 Comic Book Writing with Sean Michael Wilson
Comic Book Writing with Sean Michael Wilson
Many people think graphic novels, comic books, or manga are all conceived and generated by illustrators. But this is not necessarily the case. Sean Michael Wilson flew up from Kyushu to share …
Event Wrap-Up: April 18, 2014 Master Class with Rosemary Wells
Master Class in Picture Book Writing and Illustration
with Author/Illustrator Rosemary Wells
Guest post by Ruth Gilmore Ingulsrud, Tokyo, Japan
From our opening introductions to the final story of the evening, author and illustrator Rosemary Wells gave SCBWI Japan …
Event Wrap-Up: February 22, 2014 SCBWI Japan Writers’ Day
SCBWI Japan Writers' Day: Jazz It Up! Writing Today for Children and Young Adults
Guest post by Colleen Sakurai, Akiya, Kanagawa, Japan
I’m always excited to be able to spend a day focused entirely on the writing craft, …
Event Wrap-up: January 10, 2014 Of Asia and Children’s Books
Of Asia and Children’s Books: The Role of the Asian Festival of Children’s Content (AFCC)
featuring R. Ramachandran, Executive Director of AFCC
and Bolormaa Baasansuren and Ganbaatar Ichinnorov, SingTel Asian Picture Book Award Winners for Old City on
…Happy New Year from SCBWI Japan!
SCBWI Japan Year of the Horse Greetings
SCBWI Japan Regional Team Message, posted by Holly Thompson, Mariko Nagai, Naomi Kojima
We would like to wish everyone a wonderful new year—we hope that for all 2014 is a happy, healthy year …
See what SCBWI Japan did in 2013!
Reflecting on 2013 with SCBWI Japan
Contributed by Holly Thompson, SCBWI Japan Regional Advisor
2013 certainly felt like a busy year for SCBWI Japan.
Here is the complete list of all our 2013 events:
Feb. 2, 2013 Creative Exchange, …
SCBWI Japan Showcase, September 27, 2013
SCBWI Japan Showcase 2013
featuring Linda Gerber, Suzanne Kamata, Trevor Kew, Naomi Kojima, Leza Lowitz, Benjamin Martin, Mariko Nagai, Shogo Oketani, Holly Thompson, Kazumi Wilds and Yoko Yoshizawa
At this SCBWI Japan Showcase 2013, SCBWI Japan member authors and …
SCBWI Japan Blog Welcome!
Welcome to the new SCBWI Japan Blog. Check back here for event write-ups and posts of interest to writers, illustrators and translators.
SCBWI Japan holds monthly events in Tokyo and Kanagawa and occasionally in other regions of Japan. Check the events calendar and …