The moving masterpiece picture book “The Bear and the Wild Cat” will be reprinted! Fuji TV’s monthly drama ” Umi no Hajimari”, NHK E-Tele’s “Ashita Mo Hare!” After appearing in “Recipes for Life,” it became a hot topic, ranking first on Amazon (pict

The moving masterpiece picture book “The Bear and the Wild Cat” will be reprinted! Fuji TV’s monthly drama “Umi no Hajimari”, NHK E-Tele “Tomorrow will be sunny too! After appearing in “Recipes for Life,” it became a hot topic, ranking first on Amazon (picture book)! *Kawade Shobo Shinsha*
Press release: September 3, 2024
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The moving masterpiece picture book “The Bear and the Wild Cat” will be reprinted! Fuji TV’s monthly drama “Umi no Hajimari”, NHK E-Tele “Tomorrow will be sunny too! After appearing in “Recipes for Life,” it became a hot topic, ranking first on Amazon (picture book)! *Because we
We’ll be together forever — The award-winning picture book “The Bear and the Wild Cat” has sold over 290,000 copies! It has been translated into many countries around the world, including the United States, France, Germany, Brazil, and China, and has become a long-selling book. *
Written by Kazumi Yumoto, illustrated by Komako Sakai, “The Bear and the Wild Cat” Kawade Shobo Shinsha
Kawade Shobo Shinsha Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shinjuku-ku,
Tokyo/Representative Director: Yu Onodera) will be publishing the masterpiece picture book “Kuma and Yamaneko”, which was published in April 2008 and has been read for 16 years, starting from July. Due to the multiple media exposures and great response, we have decided to urgently reprint a large number of copies. We would like to inform you that as of the 48th printing, which was published on September 2nd, the total number of copies in circulation has exceeded 290,000.

* “The Bear and the Wild Cat” Written by Kajumi Yumoto, Illustrations by Komako Sakai*
* Kuma suddenly loses his beloved friend Kotori. Out of sadness, Kuma locks himself in a dark room.
But even bears have a time to bloom…*
“The Bear and the Wild Cat” Kawade Shobo Shinsha
“The Bear and the Wild Cat” Kawade Shobo Shinsha
“The Bear and the Wild Cat” is a moving picture book written by the dream duo of Kazumi Yumoto and illustrator Komako Sakai.
“One morning, the bear was gone, and his friend Kotori fainted.” It begins with a sentence and a monochrome picture.

This book won the 40th Kodansha Publishing Culture Award Picture Book Award, the 1st MOE Picture Bookstore Award, and the 2009 edition of “I Love This Picture Book!”
It has won numerous awards, including the number one picture book in Japan.

Fuji TV’s popular monthly drama “Umi no Hajimari” (Cast: Ren Meguro, Kasumi Arimura, Sena Izumiya, Daisei Kido, Kotone Furukawa, Sosuke Ikematsu)
Shinobu Otake), it appears as an important picture book that connects Mizuki and her daughter Umi. We have received many responses on social media, such as “My favorite picture book,” “I want to read it again,” and “What kind of picture book is it?”

Also NHK
E-Tele “Tomorrow will be sunny too! In the “Charm of picture books that touch the hearts of adults” special feature of “Recipes for Life” (aired on July 26th), a reading session of “The Bear and the Wild Cat” was aired. Librarian Hajime Tanaka’s encounter with “The Bear and the Wild Cat” led him to start “Death Cafe,” a book club that looks at “death” through picture books. Participants of all ages, from college students to people in their 70s, talked about death.
“The Bear and the Wild Cat” Kawade Shobo Shinsha
“Parting” and “death” are inevitable for everyone – they are irreplaceable experiences for each person and cannot be compared to anyone else.
In the 16 years since its publication in 2008, this book has been read by many people, from children to adults, as a picture book that helps people cope with grief. In addition, various reading sessions and story-tellings have been held by people who cherish this book, and it is still being passed on to new readers.

Please take this opportunity to pick up this picture book full of light.

* ・Official website for Fuji TV’s monthly drama “Umi no Hajimari”* https://www.fujitv.co.jp/uminohajimari/index.html

* -Recommendation comment-*
“The Bear and the Wild Cat” Kawade Shobo Shinsha
How sad
How painful
How deep
How warm
It’s a picture book of love. ─── Keiko Ochiai

While reading, I remembered the important people and things I have lost up until now.
I vividly remembered the pain and cried over and over again. Because I cried, together with the bear,
I was able to see a flower garden filled with light.
To my new friend called Yamaneko,
I was able to meet you. ────Mitsuyo Tsunoda
At that moment, I felt that the sound of the violin played by the mountain cat reached my ears.
My chest trembled. Tears were flowing. ────Natsu Miyashita

Loss and rebirth so vividly and tenderly.
It’s been a long time since I read a work that was written from the front. My heart is shaking and I can’t stop.
I want to gently hand it over to the person I care about most. ────Atsuko Asano

A picture like a shadow that fell in my heart,
Words that seem to be echoing in my own ears.
It’s as if the picture and the words were born at the same moment. A breathtaking masterpiece. ────Shinji Ishii

* ■Artist introduction*

*Kazumi Yumoto* (Kazumi Yumoto)
Born in Tokyo in 1959. writer. His books include the novel “Summer Garden -The Friends-” (Japan Children’s Writers Association Newcomer Award, Children’s Literature Newcomer Award, Boston Globe-Horn Book Award, Mildred Batchelder Award), “A Journey to the Shore” (filmed by director Kiyoshi Kurosawa), picture book “Anata” When they become adults” (Illustrations: Koshiro Hata), etc. The picture book with Komako Sakai, “Kuma and Yamaneko” (Kodansha Publishing Culture Award) Picture Book Award) and “On the Bridge” (Japan Picture Book Award).

* Komako Sakai * (Sakai Komako)
Born in Hyogo Prefecture in 1966. Picture book author. His books include “Yorukuma” and “My Mom…” (PITCHOU 2006 in France, Zilveren in the Netherlands)
Griffel 2006 [Silver Stone Award]), “Romper and the Balloon” (Nati per Leggere Italia)
2015), “Friday’s Sugar Girl” (gold medal at the Bratislava World Picture Book Original Art Exhibition), etc. His picture book with Kazumi Yumoto is “Kuma and Yamaneko” (Kodansha Publishing Culture Award)
Picture Book Award) and “On the Bridge” (Japan Picture Book Award).

* ■Bibliographic information*
“Bear and Wild Cat”
Text: Yumoto Kajumi
Illustration: Komako Sakai
Specifications: B5 variant / hardcover / 48 pages
Release date: April 18, 2008
Reprint date: September 2, 2024 (48th printing)
List price including tax: 1,430 yen (base price 1,300 yen)
ISBN: 978-4-309-27007-4
URL: https://www.kawade.co.jp/np/isbn/978409270074/