Kazuo Iwamura, Beloved 'The 14 Forest Mice' Picture Book Author, Passes Away at 85
Kazuo Iwamura, the picture book author behind the beloved The 14 Forest Mice series, passed away on December 19, 2024, at the age of 85. The announcement was made today, December 22, via the official website of his publisher, Doshinsha.
The picture book author behind the beloved The 14 Forest Mice series, passed away
The statement read, "Kazuo Iwamura passed away on December 19, 2024, at the age of 85. As we mourn his passing, we reflect on his life and extend our deepest condolences."
Since the simultaneous publication of The 14 Forest Mice Moving Day and The 14 Forest Mice Have Breakfast in 1983, The 14 Forest Mice series has been cherished by children not only in Japan but across the globe.
The website also shared the message, "Family and nature transcend borders and eras, offering joy and comfort to all. We will continue to share this sentiment, embodied in Iwamura's works, with many people worldwide."
Kazuo Iwamura
Born in Tokyo in 1939, Kazuo Iwamura graduated from the Crafts Department of Tokyo University of the Arts. In 1975, he relocated to a wooded area in Mashiko, Tochigi Prefecture, where he began creating his enduring series, including The 14 Forest Mice (published by Doshinsha) and The Squirrel Series (Shiko-sha). These works became long-time bestsellers, not only in Japan but also in countries like France, Germany, and Taiwan, captivating children worldwide.
The 14 Forest Mice series
Among his many accolades, Iwamura received the Picture Book Nippon Prize for The 14 Forest Mice Have Breakfast, the Shogakukan Illustration Award for The 14 Forest Mice and the Mountain Potato, the Sankei Children’s Book Award for The Last Train Alone (Kaiseisha), and the Kodansha Publishing Culture Award Picture Book Prize for Thinking Frog (Fukuinkan Shoten).
In 1998, Iwamura opened the Kazuo Iwamura Picture Book Museum of the Hill in Nasu-Karasuyama, Tochigi Prefecture, where he promoted themes of picture books, nature, and children. In 2014, he was honored with the French Chevalier of the Order of Arts and Letters.
Source : ORICON NEWS