A picture book that adults should read now "Even if someone has dementia, their personality never disappears." The daughter of a neuroscientist records the precious days she spent with her mother who has dementia. - Trend News Guide

【A picture book that adults should read now】”Even with dementia, a person’s individuality remains.” The daughter of a neuroscientist records the precious days she spent with her mother, who has dementia.
Oizumi Shoten Co., Ltd. Press release: September 3, 2025 To Members of the Press [A picture book that adults especially should read now] “Even with dementia, a person’s individuality never disappears.” A neuroscientist’s daughter records the precious days she spent with her mother who has dementia. As the population ages, dementia is a topic that is close to home for everyone. This is an important book that will help you avoid pessimism and lead you to hope by providing accurate information about dementia. Oizumi Shoten Co., Ltd. (President and CEO: Shinya Suzuki, Minato-ku, Tokyo) will release the picture book “Your Individuality Will Never Lose” (written by Ayako Onzo and illustrated by Tarafu Otani) on September 3, 2025. Image
URL: https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/109427/46/109427-46-ded1f23f0f783f461ccd1882bb36fdaa-2250×2700.jpg

Book cover of “Your Individuality Will Never Lose” A picture book by neuroscientist Ayako Onzo, chronicling her daily life with her mother who has dementia. It is estimated that in 2025, the number of dementia patients in Japan will reach approximately 7 million (according to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare’s New Orange Plan). As the population ages, dementia is becoming a familiar topic that cannot be ignored. In this modern age, a picture book has been created that conveys hope that “a person’s individuality does not disappear” even when they develop dementia. This book is based on the real-life experiences of a mother who has Alzheimer’s disease and her daughter (Onzo Ayako), a neuroscientist. The illustrations are by popular animation artist Otani Tarafu. The quiet kindness that flows through the pictures will warmly embrace the reader’s heart. Anxiety and fear that things that you used to be able to do normally will gradually become impossible.
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https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/109427/46/109427-46-05d549a24bfb7af985ee63bb7d220b95-1417×840.jpg A mother who loved cooking suddenly forgets how to cook. She loses her way home. She puts on her daughter’s skirt… The mother becomes anxious as she becomes unable to do things and makes more mistakes. She becomes depressed and doesn’t want to talk to anyone anymore. Amidst these days, sometimes while on a walk, she suddenly remembers the flowers and songs she loved, and her beloved daughter. The feelings of love never go away. Even with dementia, “emotions remain”
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https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/109427/46/109427-46-7a03635685f04f299aeeb09660432422-1417×840.jpg The story progresses in a dialogue format, with the mother’s part in the first half and the daughter’s part in the second half. The daughter of a neuroscientist tells her mother, “It’s okay, Mom.” The book is filled with information about the mechanism of the
hippocampus, which controls memory, and a gentle, warm message of support for a mother with dementia. Even if you don’t know anyone with dementia, this story is sure to resonate with everyone. It’s a book that should be read by many people of all generations.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/109427/46/109427-46-81dc8fc403a8617822d1a6f7c4719605-1719×1019.jpg At the end of the book, there is a 10-page explanation titled “Dementia from a Neuroscientist’s Perspective.” It provides
easy-to-understand explanations of the hippocampus, the brain’s memory center, the relationship between memory and emotions, and how a person’s individuality is maintained in dementia. [Introduction video/Oizumi Shoten YouTube]
https://youtube.com/shorts/vezzSvKZucc?si=PR8eDx7ZxnR8ZU_g
■Information about the event commemorating the publication of “Your Individuality Will Never Lose”■
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/109427/46/109427-46-8289b1b17261868e3a77d26ba195ed01-716×527.jpg To commemorate the publication, we will be holding a picture book reading, lecture, and autograph session. “Neuroscientist Ayako Onzo Discusses Dementia and ‘Individuality'” Date and Time: Monday, September 15th (National Holiday), from 2:00 PM Viewing Venue: Eslite Spectrum Nihonbashi FORUM (COREDO Muromachi Terrace 2F) Online (Zoom) participation is also available. Register here. [Author introduction]
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/109427/46/109427-46-42c3ab830795cf39e860459b0a598c0a-1754×2002.jpg Author close-up Written by Onzo Ayako Neuroscientist. Specializes in self-consciousness and emotions. Completed her doctoral studies in the Department of Intelligent Systems Science at the Tokyo Institute of Technology’s Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Science and Engineering. Currently a project researcher at the University of Tokyo’s Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. Part-time lecturer at Kinjo Gakuin University, Waseda University, and Japan Women’s University. Her books include “My Mother, a Brain Scientist, Develops Dementia” (Kawade Shobo Shinsha), “Why Do People with Dementia Want to Go Home?” (Chuohoki Publishing), co-authored with Toru Nagashima, and “The Reality of Dementia Care” (Business-sha), co-authored with Naoko Nobutomo, and “The Science of Faces” (PHP Institute), among others. Illustrations by Otani Tarafu (Otani Tarafu) Animation artist. Since 2004, he has worked with musicians and programmers in the artist collective 6nin. He has been involved in film screenings, television, promotional videos, commercials, and exhibition videos. After the team disbanded, he is currently working as a freelance animator. In recent years, he has mainly produced animations and music videos for children’s programs. He was in charge of the music video for Mrs. GREENAPPLE’s “Memento Mori,” and also illustrated the picture book of the same title, “Memento Mori” (KADOKAWA). ●Book Information● [Publisher] Oizumi Shoten Co., Ltd. “Your Individuality Will Never Lose” [Author] Ayako Onzo [Illustrations] Tarafu Otani [Format] W182×H217mm [Number of Pages] 40 pages [List Price] 1,700 yen (excluding tax) [ISBN] 978-4-278-08720-8 [URL]
http://oizumishoten.co.jp/ [Click here to purchase this book] [Amazon] https://amzn.asia/d/b52wIbd [Rakuten Books]
https://books.rakuten.co.jp/rb/18272746/?l-id=search-c-item-text-01

A picture book that adults should read now “Even if someone has dementia, their personality never disappears.” The daughter of a neuroscientist records the precious days she spent with her mother who has dementia.