New picture book A new edition of “Myoga-yado” by Kawabata Makoto, a pioneer of rakugo picture books, is now available from Rokurinsha, a children’s book publisher known for the “Kobito Zukan” series! A reviewer recruitment campaign is also being h

[New Picture Book] A new edition of “Myoga-yado” by Kawabata Makoto, a pioneer of rakugo picture books, is now available from Rokurinsha, the children’s book publisher known for the “Kobito Zukan” series! A reviewer recruitment campaign is also being held! ​
ROKULINSHA Co., Ltd. Press release: October 28, 2025 To Members of the Press [New Picture Book] A new edition of “Myoga-yado” by Kawabata Makoto, a pioneer of rakugo picture books, is now available from Rokurinsha, the children’s book publisher known for the “Kobito Zukan” series! We’re also running a reviewer recruitment campaign! The pauses and dialogue of rakugo are recreated in this picture book. A classic picture book series used in libraries and educational settings as an introduction to rakugo. Rokurinsha, a children’s book publisher known for the “Kobito Zukan” series, has published and released “Myoga Yado” (written by Kawabata Makoto) on Monday, October 27, 2025. Image
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What is a rakugo picture book? “Rakugo picture books” (rakugo ehon) are picture books based on the classic Japanese rakugo storytelling. They are easy for children to understand, and express elements of the storytelling art, such as the narrative style, pauses, and lively exchanges between characters, through the text and illustrations of the picture book. The “rakugo picture book” genre originated with “Bakemono Tsukai” (Bakemono Tsukai) (1994, Crayon House) by Kawabata Makoto, the author of this work. It was later made into a series, and the style and name became established. The “Rakugo Picture Book” series is said to be ideal for parents and children to read aloud together, as it is both entertaining and educational, allowing children to learn the rhythm and timing of words, experience Edo culture, lifestyle, and human feelings, and develop communication skills through laughter. It has become a staple picture book series not only for rakugo fans, but also in libraries and educational settings. A refreshing punchline that leaves you feeling refreshed! “Myoga Inn” Synopsis A married couple who run an inn use the legend that eating myoga will make you forgetful to plot to steal their guests’ belongings. They treat a traveling merchant who visits the inn to myoga dishes, and when the merchant leaves, they search his room for valuables. What did the merchant leave behind…?
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https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/81580/9/81580-9-9153fe3bf692e804bcb0a12d6f36f9f1-1241×877.png Please enjoy the rest in this book! Bibliographic information Image
URL: https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/81580/9/81580-9-c2f5b2c992ea47c0e2894d1cf44db9bd-1080×1080.png Picture book cover of “Myoga-yado” Myoga Inn Written by Makoto Kawabata ISBN 978-4-86761-040-4 Price: ¥1,700 tax Format: A4 Number of pages: 24 Publication date: October 27, 2025 Book information page: https://www.rokurin.jp/book/myougaydo author From Makoto Kawabata I first heard this story when I was in junior high school, performed by Kinbaratei Masui on a TV program called “Stories That Have Lost Their Performers.” It’s a story I’ve never heard before, and I’ve never heard it again. I don’t remember the story at all, but I do remember the punchline clearly. I wonder if it really did lose its performers after that. I’ve never heard it, but maybe it was a blessing that I hadn’t heard it since I started making rakugo picture books. I thought it would be more visually interesting to arrange pictures of ginger flowers than to listen to it, so I made it. Rather than portraying a poor inn, I made it appear to be a wealthy inn, investing lavishly in facilities and creating a ridiculously thorough “myoga inn.” Apparently, a poor person is someone who has lost control of their desires, and the punchline of this story is that greed will make you a fool, so that’s probably why it was so well remembered. Makoto Kawabata (From the afterword of this book) Author Profile Kawabata Makoto Born in 1952 in Joetsu City, Niigata Prefecture. In 1982, he won the 5th Nippon Picture Book Award for his debut work, “Bird Island.” His major works include “Forest Tree,” “Pikapikabutsu,” the “Ghost” series (all published by BL Publishing), and the “Fruits” series (published by Bunka Publishing Bureau). His “Rakugo Picture Book” series (Crayon House), released in 1994, also garnered significant attention, and he has gained popularity as a pioneer of “rakugo picture books.” Other rakugo picture books include “The Bowl at the Well” (Rokurinsha), “The Angel” and “The Gonbee Danuki” (all published by KADOKAWA). Another recent original picture book is “Pijo’s Feast Festival” (Kaiseisha). Additional Information: About the New Edition of “Myoga-yado” This book, “Myoga Yado,” is a completely new edition of “Myoga Yado” (by Kawabata Makoto), originally published by Crayon House in 2012. The entire screen has been redrawn, and Kawabata’s attention to detail has led to revisions to the text and layout for easier reading. From the characters’ kimonos to the “myoga” items scattered throughout, the book is well worth a look and read. ■ Picture Book “Myoga-yado” Reviewer Recruitment Campaign To commemorate the publication of the picture book “Myoga Yado,” we will be giving away a copy to two picture book reviewers selected by lottery. If you’re interested in reading it, please apply, and if you win, we would be grateful if you could introduce the book on your social media or blog. Application Period:October 28th (Tuesday) – November 3rd (Monday, National Holiday), 2025 Winners will receive a copy of the picture book “Myoga Yado” in November. Click here for application and details (Rokurinsha official website)
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