Kiyo Tanaka

Kyo Tanaka was born in 1972 in Kanagawa, Japan She studied oil painting and printmaking at Tama Art University in Tokyo. After her works were selected at the Illustrators Exhibition (Bologna Children's Book Fair) in 1995 and 1996, she started her career as an picture book illustrator with "Mizutama no Chihuahua" (The Polka-dot Chihuahua, text by Areno Inoue). Her first picture book in which she is also author of the text is "Okiniri" (My Favorite). Her picture-book about a big ripe tomato “Tomato-san” published by Fukuinkan Shoten in 2006 is a favorite among children. Her dynamic etching techniques create a unique atmosphere that sometimes scares but never fails to fascinate children and adults alike. She is organizer in Japan for the Blue Book Group based in Iran and participates in many exhibitions also as a printmaker.