TAB Event - Children's Book Fair "From Pippi to Pekka"

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At Embassy of Sweden
Media: Illustration, Film, Art Talk

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It is a well known fact that very little Swedish literature for adults has been translated into Japanese. However, the situation of Swedish literature for children that is available on the Japanese market is much better: almost all of the best books have been translated and it seems as if Japanese publishing houses are very interested in what is being published in the field of children's literature in Sweden.

Why is this so, one may ask? Is it that much easier to translate children's books than those written for adults? Or could it perhaps be that Swedish children's books have a higher status in Japan, a spin-off effect of Sweden's international reputation as a welfare state? Sweden has a well-developed program of child care and parental rights, as well as a tradition of regarding children as individuals with their own rights; rights that Sweden willingly fights for on the international scene. Sweden follows the work done by world famous author Astrid Lindgren, who was engaged in the struggle for children's rights for many years.

If Astrid Lindgren were alive she would be 100 years old this year. Because Astrid Lindgren is Sweden's internationally most well-known author of children's literature, her centenary is being celebrated in Sweden and all over the world. Her books have been translated into over 90 languages and have sold more than 145 million copies all over the world. In Japan she is primarily known as the author of the Pippi Longstocking series. She is also known for the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, the ALMA-prize, granted annually in her memory. Because of its size (five million Swedish crowns, about 82 million JPY) it has been called the "little Nobel Prize in Literature". The recipients of the ALMA prize for 2005 were the British author Philip Pullman and the Japanese illustrator Ryoji Arai.

The Swedish Embassy in Tokyo will be celebrating the Astrid Lindgren centenary with a children's books festival from the 28th of April to the 13th of May. There will be an exhibition and film on the life of Astrid Lindgren, a workshop with the ALMA prizewinner Ryoji Arai and many children's books by Swedish authors translated into Japanese.

With this festival the embassy wishes not only to celebrate Astrid Lindgren, but also to cast light on the new generation of Swedish authors and illustrators in the genre of children's literature who have come after her. The artists Kristina Digman and Stina Wirsen will have an exhibition of their illustrations in the Embassy's exhibition hall and, together with the illustrator Jockum Nordstrom, take part in a seminar on Swedish children's literature for people in the publishing business.

Japanese children can see Swedish children's films with Japanese translation in the Embassy's auditorium. They can also listen to stories and play in a landscape of cushions, children's furniture and playhouses. The bookstore Crayon House will be selling Swedish children's books in Japanese translation and the restaurant "Dalarna" will have a cafe in the exhibition hall. Every child who visits the festival will in addition receive a souvenir of their visit in the form of a Swedish "mini-book".

The opening hours of the museum are subject to change, so please check the embassy website before your visit.

May 8th (Tue) Closed from 15:00
May 11th (Fri) Open only to those attending seminars
May 12th (Sat) Closed from 13:00 due to workshops being held
May 13th (Sun) Closed from 13:00 due to workshops being held

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