Ryo Kisaka

Kisaka Ryo was born in 1958 in Saitama Prefecture, Japan. She published her first collection of poems, “Jikan wa jibun to” (Time Tells Me) upon graduating from university in 1981. Her second book of poetry with the onomatopoeic title “Tsut-Tsut-To” was awarded the Hanatsubaki Poetry Prize. “Konjiki no ami” (The Golden Net) published in 1996 won that year’s Japanese Art Prize. Kisaka has written numerous books for children, including the Roly-Poly Family series and the popular Bento Hug picture book. She is also a prolific translator of children’s literature. Works by Margaret Wise Brown, William Steig, Simms Taback, Lauren Child and many others speak to Japanese children through Kisaka.