News Letter TOHAN
We had a table at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair 2025!
TOHAN Corporation Table
Facts and figures for BCBF 2025
1,577 exhibitors gathered in Bologna from approximately 95 countries and regions of the world.
33,318 trade visitors (up 5% on 2024 figures) took part in both over 500 events curated by both BCBF and its exhibitors and more than 100 underground events organized by exhibitors at the exhibition center and around the city.
This time, we set up a table within the rights center. If you would like a copy of our catalog, please feel free to reach out. Offers a variety of children's books as well as comic books, literature, and more. Numerous requests received. On the next page, we will highlight some of the most popular books.
#How to greet
When the cat woke up in the morning and forgot what to say, he decided to ask everyone. From the conversation between the cat and his friends, this picture book makes you realize not only the importance of greetings, but also the warmth of having someone to talk to.
What was it...? :
Shin TANAKA /Kinnohoshi
#Thought-provoking
Interior:
"One day I came to the house, and there you were, a newborn baby." A warm and sad story of a cat and a boy, depicted from the cat's point of view. You, who grew up and played together, eventually became an adult, spending less and less time together, and finally departed, leaving the cat behind. This is a story of a cat and “you” that encourages all departures.
Just forget about it.：
By Hiroko Omori /KADOKAWA
/MOE Picture Book Store Award 2024 2nd Prize
/Book House Cafe Award, Gold Prize
Interior: Award:
#Fantasy
A story of a miracle surrounding the secret of a grand clock in the town of Carije! In the town of Carige, there is a grand clock that has been cherished by the inhabitants since ancient times. The clock has a mysterious power to make special wishes come true. One day, a girl visits the Grand Clock, wishing desparately to meet someone. A wonderful and heart-warming story of what happens once a year on a special night in Carije.
#Melodious
The Grand Clock of Carije：
Maki Numanou
/Sekai Bunka Sha
Interior:
With the rhythm of a happy hum, happiness continues to spread everywhere to surround the world. A single wild flower blooming in the rabbit's garden makes his heart dance. It then creates a melody on a harmonica which makes the birds soar up into the sky. Small happiness spreads everywhere and ...... One person's happiness chains beyond place and time, one day embracing the world.
Oh Happy Day：
By PEIACO
/Sekai Bunka Sha
# Studio Ghibli
This work depicts creatures and flowers living together in a spring garden. A tree frog wakes up amidst flowers in full bloom. A bumblebee comes to collect pollen from the flowers. A jumping spider perches on a halcyon. A canary snake aims at it from behind. The many events that took place in the garden convey the brilliance of life.
# Best seller
IN THE SPRING GARDEN：
Tamami Sawaguchi, Hiromasa Yonezawa
/Fukuinkan Shoten
Written by Famous Studio Ghibli animator
Interior :
Yuji Hasegawa
/Chuou Kouron Sinsha
Rights sold: Italian, Erench Soon-to-be-eaten
Rights sold: Italian, Erench
Over 250,000 copies sold
“I am a cow, and it seems I will soon be eaten.” A cow, just days away from being shipped off, boards a train for one last wish—to see its mother again.
A story that reminds readers not only to be grateful for food but also to cherish their own lives. This picture book emphasizes the profound realization that we are sustained by the lives of others, inspiring a deeper appreciation for oneself.
#Bestseller in 2023
ARROGANCE AND VIRTUE：
By Mizuki Tsujimura /Asahi Shimbun
Rights sold:
English, Korea, Russia, Indonesian
Traditional Chinese
Simplified Chinese
978-4-022515957
The copy of sold:
1 Million copies sold Visualization: The Movie in 2024
#Romance #Studio Ghibli
The Ocean Waves:
The story follows a man and a woman who meet on a matching app and become engaged to be engaged, but the woman suddenly disappears, and the man confronts her past and lies as he searches for his fiancée. The work is highly praised for its meticulous examination and precise portrayal of the arrogance displayed by seemingly virtuous individuals, which is brought to the surface in situations such as marriage hunting, where one is inevitably forced to judge others.
By Saeko Himuro/ Illustration: Katsuya Kondo
Rights sold:
English, Korean,
Simplified Chinese
Animation
"The Ocean Waves" is a unique work by Studio Ghibli, and it has a strong following as a hidden masterpiece of an animation. The story is about the main character, Taku Morisaki, who left his integrated junior high and high school in Kochi to attend a university in Tokyo and recalls his encounters and memories with Rikako Muto, who transferred from Tokyo when she was in high school. This story depicts the friendship and romance between high school students, in 1990’s. This work evokes the nostalgia of one's youth.
By Miho Kajihara /WAVE Publishing
Bored cats started to make “cat mandalas” one day. Paint it with your favorite pattern!
THE WONDERFUL & DELICIOUS IN JAPAN：
By Kailene Falls /Asahi Shimbun
Rights sold: Spanish
We introduce the charms of Japanese food culture and restaurants that are not found overseas, using food illustrations that have been lovingly drawn. You will discover new charms of commonplace dishes by learning about them from a different angle.
Catalog
With over 30 years of experience as a copyright agency, TOHAN acts as an intermediary between more than 750 Japanese publishers and 800 foreign publishers in a variety of genres, including literary, practical, self-help, children’s, and manga books.
You can view the TOHAN catalogs here.
Online meeting
We would love to have an online meeting! Feel free to apply at the below URL!
https://calendly.com/alnair_04/tohanmeeting
Contact person
If you have any questions or titles of interest, please contact us.
Mail: sei.watanabe@tohan.co.jp
Archives
https://issuu.com/japanbookbank/docs/tohan_n ews_letter_mar._2025