Abstract

--Folktales know no borders. (Toshio Ozawa) This book contains folktales from five countries visited by artist Kensuke Miyazaki for his mural project.

◆Includes folktales from Ukraine, East Timor, Palau, Ecuador, and Haiti.
◆A book filled with the hope that people of all ages, from children to adults, will learn about and appreciate folktales from various countries.
◆Features clear and beautiful writing by Keiko Masaoka and powerful illustrations by Kensuke Miyazaki that depict the culture of each country.
◆The book includes an introduction to the "Over the Wall World Mural Project" and commentary by Toshio Ozawa, Professor Emeritus of Tsukuba University and Director of the Ozawa Folktale Research Institute.

Kensuke Miyazaki, who is in charge of the illustrations, is working to support local people by visiting regions facing difficulties around the world and painting murals, mainly with children, as part of the "Over the Wall World Mural Project." This book contains folktales from five countries that Miyazaki has visited so far. Learning about folktales from various countries fosters an understanding of those cultures, worldviews, and ethnic groups. The thoughtful commentary by Professor Toshio Ozawa, Professor Emeritus of Tsukuba University and Director of the Ozawa Folktale Research Institute, is also a must-read.

Author’s Information

Keiko Masaoka was born in Hiroshima Prefecture in 1941. She is a picture book author and children's story writer. Her major works include "The Fox's Tanabata Festival" (Sekai Bunka Publishing), "I'll Be Waiting" (Froebel-kan), "The Badger's Cleaning Shop" (PHP Institute), and many others. She is also actively involved in storytelling activities.

Kensuke Miyazaki was born in Saga City in 1978. After completing his master's degree in art at the University of Tsukuba, he moved to the UK and creates works that make people happy the moment they see them, based on the theme of "Super Happy." He presides over the "Over the Wall World Mural Project," which involves leaving murals all over the world, and has worked in Kenya (2015), East Timor (2016), Ukraine (2017), Ecuador (2018), and other locations.