"CRAFT TOURISM ECHIZEN"　A message for us living in the present left by Satoshi Kako

Kako Satoshi

Daruma-chan and Tengu-chan, the crow baker

The picture books "Daruma-chan and Tengu-chan" and "Karasu no Panya-san" are long-selling books that are loved by a wide range of generations, from children to adults. I'm sure many of you have read it in the past and are now reading it with your children. The author Satoko Kako (below, Satoshi Kako) was born in Echizen City. Over half a century, he has published more than 600 books.

There are many places in Echizen City that are inspired by his works. Among them, "Kako Satoshi Furusato Picture Book Hall Raku", which opened in 2013, has most of his picture books and picture-story shows available for viewing, and many Kako Satoshi fans visit from all over the country. This time, we asked Chiyoko Tanide, director of the picture book museum, about the life of Satoshi Kako.

▲There are many places in Echizen City that have motifs from his works.

Picture book debut

The picture book debut work is "Dam"

Takako Satoshi lived in Echizen City until he was seven years old. After that, he moved to Itabashi-ku, Tokyo, graduated from the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Tokyo, and joined Showa Denko. Since he encountered children's theater at a theater study group in college, he became absorbed in settlement (volunteer activities for children) in Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture even after he got a job.

“At Settlement, we created picture-story shows for children on various themes, such as nature and chemistry. It seems that there were days of trial and error.”

One day, a picture postcard he drew accidentally caught the eye of the staff of a publishing company that handled children's books, and decided to work on a picture book. After that, while working as an office worker, he made his debut in his early 30s with the picture book "Damu no Ojisan-tachi" about dam construction. At the age of 47, he retired and devoted himself to being a picture book author.

original experience

The workings of water learned from the original experience in the Hino River

Even so, why was the debut work "dumb"? According to Tanide, this is related to the theme of Satoshi Kako's work, "water."

“The base of my work is the original experience I had in Echizen City when I was a child. Takako was born and raised by the Hino River, which runs through the city. When I saw the river flowing through the river, I strongly felt the importance of water in the way we live.”

As for the subject matter of his debut work, the editor gave him three options: shipbuilding, steelmaking, and dams. It is said that Satoshi Takako chose a dam because he thought that "water power" was important for a work that considered the future.

In addition, Kawa, one of his representative picture books, depicts the relationship between human activities and rivers. Playing games are introduced. Through various works, we can see that Satoshi Kako himself had various experiences in the nature of Hino River.

tell the truth

belief in telling the truth

Another feature of his work is the “pictures drawn in full spreads”.

“In Kako’s work, there are a lot of drawings. Moreover, it is also good that you can get a good taste of Japanese while playing with words rather than just drawing numbers. The world view expands through many paintings,” says Tanide.

Some of Satoshi Kako's works deal with chemistry and technology, and there are themes that seem difficult even for adults at first glance. However, it is also important to always convey the truth correctly, without letting the superficial explanations spoil the story just because it is something that children will read. It is from the experience of experiencing the children's pure eyes and real reactions that I felt through the activities of Settlement.

The creation of the picture book is based on his own exhaustive research. It is not uncommon for a book to take ten years to complete. One of the reasons why he is loved by people of all generations is that he digests difficult words and conveys them in a simple and easy-to-understand manner.

phantom work

A phantom work discovered after his death

Satoshi Kako died at the age of 92, but three years later, in 2021, a new picture book "Autumn" was published. I found an unpublished picture-story show based on my own war experience. Mr. Tanide talks about those days as follows.

“Takako has continued to draw picture books in a variety of fields, but she has never had a work that directly deals with the war. At the time, it didn't reach the point of publication, but from the notes left behind, it seems that Kako's desire to 'get it out into the world somehow' was imbued in it."

"Autumn" has a different touch from the generally known picture books of Satoshi Kako. The title "Autumn" uses three colors: the orange of the clear autumn sky, the pink of the cosmos, and the black of the war that casts a dark shadow.

A series of air raids on a daily basis, a fighter plane crashing into the clear autumn sky, an aviator whose parachute did not open, and the news that the doctor who once took care of him had died in the battle... The world of the book, which depicts the beautiful nature and vivid daily life of the time, contains his sorrow about the war and a strong desire for peace. Reading "Autumn" will give you a deeper understanding of the works of Satoshi Kako that you've read so far.

picture and word gift

Kako Satoshi's picture book loved by generations

▲Many visitors come from within the prefecture as well as from outside the prefecture to the picture book museum.

Satoshi Takako, who thinks of children more than anyone else and continues to create picture books with a strong conviction. Not only children but also adults can be seen in the picture book museum. Some of the people who have visited have cried, saying, "It brings back memories of reading to me when I was little."

All of the books that he created over the course of his life contain the gifts of pictures and words that he left to us living today that he wants to pass down to eternity.

▼Kako Satoshi Hometown Picture Book Museum “Rin”

https://www.city.echizen.lg.jp/office/090/060/kakosatosi/index.html