Picture books for 0-years-old

An insight from a Japanese researcher In this entry, I’ll resort to a viewpoint expressed by Toshiyuki Shiomi, a Japanese author of pediatric literature. The field of psychology dedicated to the study of infants, specifically those aged 0 to 1, has only recently emerged as a topic of research. This is due to the fact ... Read More

A Research Field Was Born

Today (Aug 26th) marks the birthday of Children’s Literature Translation Studies as a field, which was established in 1976 at the 3rd Congress of IRCL, titled “Problems of Translation in the Field of Literature for Children and Young People.” At the congress, Children’s Literature scholars and translators gathered in Sweden and agreed on the importance ... Read More

Children and other talking animals

Picture books and books intended for two- to three-year-olds often use talking animals as a way to show children agency and explain the transition from animal-like existence to that of a talking little human. In books for children aged one to three, animal characters take on human roles and behaviors such as talking, cooking and ... Read More

PhDone: Thesis Writing Tips

How I wrote my thesis and felt happy about it In the past month, I submitted my thesis and felt happy and motivated to continue my research. However, it seems that many novice PhDs have a different experience. After submitting their dissertations, they often feel worn out and burnt out. Unfortunately, many never return to ... Read More

Warabe uta: what kind of song?

Warabe uta is a distinct type of Japanese vocal storytelling that is considered a part of Japanese vocal culture. Although it is often classified as a children’s song or similar to nursery rhymes, its origins date back to a time when adults would sing these songs to children, who would then dance or move along ... Read More