Abstract

Born out of a research collaboration with Japan’s leading academic institution, the University of Tokyo, here is the first volume of the best-selling series that sold more than 530,000 copies in Japan only!

"I wanted to create a picture book using the favourite characters of babies.“
--- That was the start of this Baby study picture-book project

"We started the "Infant Study Picture-book Project" to create a picture-book for infants through scientific studies, implementing various experiments.
Studying what shapes infants visualise to the phrase “MOIMOI", an illustration caught the eyes of infants. They kept staring at it. We created the picture-book with the "MOIMOI" character from this experience. It was amazing when this picture-book was shown to the babies! The character in this picture-book drew an overwhelmingly high level of attention that even drew the attention of a crying infant."

Author’s Information

Hiraki Kazuo
Hiraki Kazuo is a professor at the Department of General Systems Studies at the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Interfaculty Initiative in Information Studies, at The University of Tokyo. He specialises in “Baby Study," and manages the Baby Laboratory at The University of Tokyo. This project was started because he wanted to create a picture-book truly loved by babies.

Ichihara Jun
Ichihara Jun graduated from the Design Course at Osaka University. In addition to being an illustrator for picture books, he also produces illustrations for goods and advertisements and animation characters.