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Gomi Tarō: The “Everyone Poops” Author Looks Back on a Life in Picture Books

  • Visitors can pick up and read the books on display at the exhibition. The first translation of a Gomi picture book was Coco Can’t Wait, which was published in the United States in 1979 (later published under the title I Really Want to See You, Grandma) (center of photo at left); The Goldfish Got Away and Everyone Poops, visible in the collection at right, have appeared in a number of languages. (© Hanai Tomoko)

    Visitors can pick up and read the books on display at the exhibition. The first translation of a Gomi picture book was Coco Can’t Wait, which was published in the United States in 1979 (later published under the title I Really Want to See You, Grandma) (center of photo at left); The Goldfish Got Away and Everyone Poops, visible in the collection at right, have appeared in a number of languages. (© Hanai Tomoko)

  • Spring Is Here (left) won the Bologna Children’s Book Fair Award in 1981; I Am a Ship (right), written when Gomi was 79, shares his various emotions in 50 years of creating picture books through the story of a ship that sails onward while being asked “Where have you come from?” and “Where are you going?” There are Chinese translations, but as yet it has not been translated into English. (© Hanai Tomoko)

    Spring Is Here (left) won the Bologna Children’s Book Fair Award in 1981; I Am a Ship (right), written when Gomi was 79, shares his various emotions in 50 years of creating picture books through the story of a ship that sails onward while being asked “Where have you come from?” and “Where are you going?” There are Chinese translations, but as yet it has not been translated into English. (© Hanai Tomoko)

  • Gomi Tarō says his picture books are not particularly aimed at children. (© Hanai Tomoko)

    Gomi Tarō says his picture books are not particularly aimed at children. (© Hanai Tomoko)

  • Everyone Poops struck a chord with many. (© Hanai Tomoko)

    Everyone Poops struck a chord with many. (© Hanai Tomoko)

  • Gomi’s charming illustration shows everyone lined up doing a poop. (© Nippon.com)

    Gomi’s charming illustration shows everyone lined up doing a poop. (© Nippon.com)

  • Gomi Tarō: The “Everyone Poops” Author Looks Back on a Life in Picture Books
  • Versions of Scribbles from different countries are exhibited in a spiral-shaped pile. (© Hanai Tomoko)

    Versions of Scribbles from different countries are exhibited in a spiral-shaped pile. (© Hanai Tomoko)

  • “There are so many interesting topics.” (© Hanai Tomoko)

    “There are so many interesting topics.” (© Hanai Tomoko)

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