Toshiya Kobayashi

Toshiya Kobayashi was born in 1947 in Shizuoka, Japan. He graduated from the Crafts Department at the Tokyo University of the Arts. He is a graphic designer turned illustrator. He designs books and illustrates books and magazines. In 1979 he became fascinated with the works of the poet Kenji Miyazawa and published his first picture book based on a tale written by Miyazawa entitled “Gahon Miyazawa Kenji: Donguri to yamaneko” (The Acorns and the Wildcat). From 1983 he would publish a picture book based on a story written by Miyazawa each year.

“Kenji uchū” (The Universe of Kenji), published also by Parol-sha, is an illustrated anthology of poems by Miyazawa. “Cut World”, published by Futo-sha, is a collection of Toshiya’s works. “Shōwakusei bijutsukan” (Asteroid Museum, text by Michiko Ryo) and “Furusato wa natsu” (Summer in Dad’s Hometown, text by Katsushige Shibata) are some of the titles he has illustrated. In 2003 he won the Miyazawa Kenji Prize sponsored by the city of Hanamaki in Iwate Prefecture where Miyazawa was born.