[Highly Anticipated Reprint] Shuntaro Tanikawa's Rare Picture Book Reimagined with Kotori Kawashima's Photographs! "Utsukushii!" to be Released July 10th!

Kaiseisha Co., Ltd. (Publisher Headquarters: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo; President: Yuji Imamura) will publish the picture book "Utsukushii!" (Text by Shuntaro Tanikawa / Photographs by Kotori Kawashima) on July 10, 2026 (Fri).

▼ "Utsukushii!" Book Details

https://www.kaiseisha.co.jp/books/9784034352007

Shuntaro Tanikawa and the Picture Book "Utsukushii!"

The original photo picture book "Utsukushii!" (Text by Shuntaro Tanikawa, Photographs by Takuya Tsukahara / Britannica Japan) was published in 1983 as the final volume in a 25-volume set called "Britannica Picture Book Hall Pico Mos." Poet Shuntaro Tanikawa served as supervisor for this series along with Sakyo Komatsu. In a commentary from that time, Tanikawa spoke about the series' aims as follows:

"I don't want this 'Picture Book Hall' to end as a mere listing of knowledge and information. Learning things should inherently be moving, shouldn't it? Whether it's a catalog or a story, I want to show children a way of seeing the world they hadn't noticed before, to surprise and delight them. Because that connects to the strength to live."

"I feel that the perspective to grasp oneself and the world around oneself comprehensively ultimately leads to a sense of purpose in life, and the ability to feel beautiful things. When planning this series, I had a desire to fill the gaps in things that fall through the cracks of highly specialized information or knowledge, while also, from an early age, developing the ability to grasp comprehensive knowledge and how to use and feel it – that is, to have an overall understanding of the world."

It was a grand series that explored the possibilities of the picture book medium. Among them, "Utsukushii!" was the book Tanikawa worked on most diligently. However, as it was created for a door-to-door sales series, it had been difficult to obtain for a long time.

Reimagined with Kotori Kawashima's Photographs! A Highly Anticipated Reprint

The new reprint of "Utsukushii!" retains Shuntaro Tanikawa's original text written for the Britannica Japan edition, but the overall composition has been completely renewed with the fresh photographs of Kotori Kawashima, a photographer with whom Tanikawa had a close friendship, including their collaboration on "Oyasumi Kamitachi" (Nanarokusha).

Our perception of "beauty" has changed over the past 43 years. Nevertheless, Tanikawa's words still illuminate the essence of "beauty" with the same brightness, opening our eyes. Furthermore, they give us hope that new discoveries await us as we stand from various perspectives, question words, and continue to think.

Please pick up and enjoy this long-awaited reprint.

Author Introduction

Shuntaro Tanikawa Born in Tokyo in 1931. Poet. Winner of numerous awards including the Yomiuri Literature Prize, Hagiwara Sakutaro Prize, Mainichi Art Prize, and the Hagiwara Sakutaro Prize. Major poetry collections include "2 Billion Light Years of Solitude," "Wordplay Songs," "Sekenshirazu," and "Into the Void." Picture books include "Moko Moko Moko," "Kanai-kun," and "Heiwa to Sensen." Translations include "Swimmy," "The Rainbow Fish," and "The Complete Peanuts," among many others. Passed away in 2024 at the age of 92.

Kotori Kawashima

Born in Tokyo in 1980. Photographer. Graduated from Waseda University, Faculty of Letters, Department of French Literature. Major collections include "BABY BABY" (2007), "Mirai-chan" (2011), "Myojo" (2014), "Oyasumi Kamitachi" (2014) co-authored with Shuntaro Tanikawa, "Ohayo Moshimoshi Aishiteru" (2020), "(Sekai)" (2021), "s(e)oul mate" (2024), and the latest photo book "Sa-lanlan" (2025). Winner of the 42nd Kodansha Publishing Culture Award for Photography and the 40th Kimura Ihei Award for Photography.

Book Details

Title: Utsukushii!

Text: Shuntaro Tanikawa

Photographs: Kotori Kawashima

Price: 1,980 yen (tax included)

Format: 31cm x 24cm

Target Audience: Upper elementary school students and up Pages: 40 pages ISBN: 978-4-03-435200-7 Release Date: July 10, 2026 Kaiseisha HP Bibliography: https://www.kaiseisha.co.jp/books/9784034352007