[Released Today] Enjoyable as both an encyclopedia and a guidebook! "Dinosaurs and Ancient Creatures You Can Meet!" featuring Japanese dinosaurs found in museums, released July 8 (Wed)!

Gentosha Co., Ltd. (President and CEO: Toru Kenjo / Shibuya-ku, Tokyo) has published "Dinosaurs and Ancient Creatures You Can Meet!" (Author: Ken Tsuchiya / Vertebrate Supervisor: Shoji Hayashi / Invertebrate Supervisor: Daisuke Aiba / Illustrations: Tsukunosuke) on July 8, 2026 (Wed).

Recommended for independent research! 60 types of dinosaurs and ancient creatures you can meet at museums

How many dinosaurs that lived in Japan do you know?

In recent years, fossils of dinosaurs and ancient creatures have been continuously discovered across Japan. This book introduces 60 species that lived in Japan during the Mesozoic Era (the Age of Dinosaurs), which lasted from approximately 251.9 million to 66 million years ago. All of them are "dinosaurs and ancient creatures you can meet" whose fossils are exhibited in museums and other facilities.

During this period, Japan was still on the edge of the Asian continent, and much of the land was submerged under the sea. Therefore, many fossils of both terrestrial and marine ancient creatures have been found in Japan. This book visually explains the dinosaurs and ancient creatures that were active on land and in the seas of Japan. Let's compare them with actual fossils while imagining their appearance when they were alive.

"Why does it have this shape?" "Does it resemble the bones of that animal?"... Discoveries like these will make visiting museums to see fossils even more enjoyable. You can also use this book as a reference for your summer vacation independent research by observing the fossils at museums.

An encyclopedia that can also be enjoyed as a guidebook

A major feature of this book is that it can be enjoyed as both an encyclopedia and a guidebook.

Along with explanations of Japanese dinosaurs and ancient creatures, it also guides you to museums and facilities where their fossils are exhibited. If you find a favorite species you want to meet, be sure to visit a museum in the region where the fossil was discovered.

It also includes a checklist of the dinosaurs and ancient creatures you can actually meet, making museum hopping even more fulfilling. Discuss with your family which fossil to meet next while looking through this book.

Profiles

Author: Ken Tsuchiya

A science writer. Representative of Office Geopaleont. Member of the Geological Society of Japan. Member of the Palaeontological Society of Japan. Member of the Japan Writers' Association. Born in Saitama Prefecture. Obtained a Master of Science degree from the Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Kanazawa University (specializing in geology and paleontology). Afterward, he worked as an editorial writer and deputy manager at the science magazine "Newton" before taking his current position. In 2019, he received the Contribution Award from the Palaeontological Society of Japan for the first time as a science writer. His daily routine includes walking his dogs and napping. He has authored numerous books on ancient creatures. Recent works include "'What If?' Encyclopedia: Comparing Sizes! Ancient Creatures of the Cambrian" (Jitsugyo no Nihon Sha), "Dinosaurs and Ancient Creatures You Can Keep at Home!" (Gentosha), and "Cambrian Life-Size World" (Gijutsu Hyoron Sha).

Vertebrate Supervisor: Shoji Hayashi Associate Professor, Department of Dinosaur Studies, Okayama University of Science. Completed his doctoral program at the Graduate School of Science, Hokkaido University. After working as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Bonn in Germany and as a curator at the Osaka Museum of Natural History, he assumed his current position in 2017. He studies evolution and ecology using the bone tissues of various vertebrates, such as dinosaurs and plesiosaurs, as clues. In recent years, he has expanded his methods to extant animals and is working to elucidate the ecology of rare animals such as the Japanese giant salamander and the Amami rabbit. "Museums offer new discoveries every time you visit. I hope that through this book, everyone will feel the joy of visiting museums and the excitement of discovery."

Invertebrate Supervisor: Daisuke Aiba Born in Tokyo in 1989. Completed his doctoral program at the Graduate School of Environmental Information Sciences, Yokohama National University, and obtained a Ph.D. (Academic). After working as a researcher at the Mikasa City Museum, he is currently a chief researcher at the Fukada Geological Institute. His specialty is paleontology, particularly the evolution and paleoecology of ammonites (cephalopods). His books include "Introduction to Ammonitology: Decoding Evolution and Ecology from Shell Shape" (Seibundo Shinkosha), "My 100 Million Year Adventure with Ammonites" (East Press), and supervised works include "Natural Science Handbook: Fossil Encyclopedia" (Sogen Sha) and "The Great Dinosaur Extinction: What Happened on Land, Sea, and in the Air" (Chuo Koron Shinsha). While working as a museum curator, he conceived the traveling exhibition "Pokemon Fossil Museum" and served as its general supervisor.

Illustrations: Tsukunosuke A science illustrator. He creates restoration drawings and illustrations for books and museum exhibits on ancient creatures. His books include "Picture Book for Dinosaur Hunters" (KADOKAWA), "Under the Feet of Dinosaurs" (Seibundo Shinkosha), and "Agamid Lizard's Party" (East Press). He has also illustrated numerous books, including "Dinosaurs and Ancient Creatures You Can Keep at Home!" (Gentosha). He also designs dinosaur merchandise.

Bibliographic Information

"Dinosaurs and Ancient Creatures You Can Meet!"

Author: Ken Tsuchiya

Vertebrate Supervisor: Shoji Hayashi

Invertebrate Supervisor: Daisuke Aiba

Illustrations: Tsukunosuke

Price: ¥1,700 + tax

Format: 46 size / 176 pages / All color

Target Audience: Elementary school students (fully vocalized)

Release Date: July 8, 2026 (Wed)

ISBN: 978-4-344-79303-3

Published by: Gentosha Co., Ltd.

Details and Purchase:

https://www.gentosha-edu.co.jp/book/b678415.html

Inquiries regarding this release

Gentosha Co., Ltd.

Education Department, Contact: Tsuchidate

TEL 03-5411-6215 / FAX 03-5411-6217

E-mail: [email protected]