小林 豊

Yutaka Kobayashi Born in Tokyo in 1946. After graduating from Rikkyo University with a degree in sociology, he studied abroad in England, where he aspired to become a painter. 1979 was the first time he was selected for the Japan Art Exhibition, and in 1983 he was awarded a special prize at the Ueno Royal Museum. 　From the early 1970s to the early 1980s, he frequently traveled to the Middle East and other Asian countries, an experience that is said to have greatly influenced his work. His picture books, which strongly reflect his desire to bring his experiences of traveling the world to children, are highly acclaimed not only in Japan but also internationally. 　Wanting to let people know the reality of Afghanistan, where the civil war continues, he wrote a nonfiction book, "Why the War Does not End: What I Saw in Afghanistan”. This book led to "The Most Beautiful Village in the World" (Poplar Publishing, 1995), "A Circus Came to My Village" (Poplar Publishing, 1996), and "My Village - The Most Beautiful in the World," (Poplar Publishing, 2003). 　His other books include "36° North Lattitude" (Poplar Publishing, 1999), "I Walked with My Friend" (Iwasaki Shoten, 2002), "Prayer of Claudia " (Poplar Publishing Co., 2008), and many more. “A Circus Came to My Village” " was designated as the featured book of the 43rd National Youth Book Report Contest, and " My Village - The Most Beautiful Village in the World " and " Boku wa Otouto to aruita (I Walked with my Younger Brother) " series are both included in Japanese language textbooks for fourth grade elementary students.