Jun'ichi Yoda

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Jun'ichi Yoda (与田凖一 "Yoda Jun'ichi" June 25, 1905 in Fukuoka - February 3, 1997) was a Japanese poet and a leading figure among the Japanese children's book authors while the Shōwa period.

Early life

In 1905, Jun'ichi Yoda was born in Setaka (Miyama at present), Fukuoka, as the second son between Yotarō Asayama and Sue, and was adopted out as the heir of the Yodas, a relative of the Asayamas.

Literary career

Teaching at elementary schools in Chikugo, Yoda studied under Kitahara Hakushū. Then he went to Tokyo and became an editor of "Akai Tori" (Red Bird), an influential children's literature magazine which Miekichi Suzuki published and Nankichi Niimi was active at that time. In 1929, Yoda published his first book for children, "Flag, Bee, and Cloud" (『旗・蜂・雲』).

From 1950 to 1960 Yoda gave lectures of children's literature at Japan Women's University. In 1962 he became the chairman of the Japanese Association of Writers for Children. He was awarded the Sankei Juvenile Literature Publishing Culture Award for "the Complete Works of Jun'ichi Yoda" (『与田凖一全集』) in 1967 and the Noma Juvenile Literature Prize for "Noyuki Yamayuki" (『野ゆき山ゆき』) in 1973. Michio Mado and Kimiko Aman were his pupils.

Works

* "A Goat and a Dish" 『山羊とお皿』
* "12 Stumps" 『十二の切株』
* "Bippu and the Town Mayor" 『びっぷとちょうちょう』
* "A Song of Playing with a Ball Hitting with the Hand" 『てまりのうた』
* "The Complete Works of Jun'ichi Yoda" 『与田凖一全集』