Momoko Ishii - Momoko Ishii

Japanese: 石井桃子 - いしいももこ

Children's literature author, translator, critic, editor, and book-reading advocate. Born in Urawa City, Saitama Prefecture (now Saitama City). While studying English at Japan Women's University, she helped compile original texts under Kikuchi Kan (selecting, translating, and submitting materials published in overseas magazines). After graduating from university, she began translating British and American children's literature while working for Bungeishunju. From 1934 (Showa 9), she worked with Yamamoto Yuzo on the editing of the "Nihon Shokokumin Bunko" (16 volumes, 1935-1937) at Shinchosha, but with the intensification of World War II, she left the company and, immediately after Japan's defeat, began working in agriculture in Miyagi Prefecture. Her experiences bore fruit in "Tom-san of the Mountains" (1957). From 1950, he participated in the planning and editing of the Iwanami Children's Library, which introduced many world masterpieces and launched the picture book series Iwanami no Kodomo no Hon (Iwanami's Children's Books) (1953- ), which had a major impact on postwar children's book publishing. In 1954, he left Iwanami Shoten and received a scholarship to travel to the United States, where he observed the children's book publishing scene in the UK and the US and was exposed to library activities. After returning to Japan, he devoted himself to writing, translation and library activities. As a concrete method for getting good books into the hands of children, he opened the Katsura Library in 1958 and began a movement to connect children with books through reading aloud and other activities. It was on this foundation that the Tokyo Children's Library was established.

Her representative works include Non-chan Rides a Cloud (1947) and March Hina Moon (1963). Her translations include Winnie-the-Pooh (1940) by A.A. Milne and Toad's Adventure by the River Pleasure (1950) by Kenneth Grahame, as well as the Collected Works of Farjeon, including Eleanor Farjeon's Barley and the King (1959), the Little Bunny series (1964- ) by Dutch picture book author Dick Bruna (1927- ), and the Peter Rabbit series (1971- ) by Beatrix Potter, among many others. Her other works include an autobiography, "Childhood Stories" (1981), a full-length novel, "Phantom Scarlet Fruit" (1994), a research book, "Children and Literature" (1960), and a translation of a research book, "Children's Literature" (1964), by Lillian Helena Smith (1887-1983).

In 1997, she became a member of the Japan Art Academy. Since 1998, "Ishii Momoko Collection" (7 volumes, 1998-1999) has been published. Ishii Momoko's achievements are wide-ranging, and she has made a great contribution to improving the quality of Japanese children's culture after the Second World War. She has received the 1st Minister of Education's Art Encouragement Prize (1951, for "Non-chan Rides a Cloud"), the 2nd Kikuchi Kan Prize (1953), the 2nd Sankei Children's Publishing Culture Prize (1955, for 24 books in the "Iwanami Children's Books" series), the 23rd Sankei Children's Publishing Culture Prize (1978, for "Farjeon Works Collection"), the 1st Itochu Memorial Foundation Children's Library Merit Award (1984), the Japan Art Academy Prize (1993), and the Yomiuri Literature Prize (1995, for "Maboroshi no Akami").

[Yoko Inokuma]

"Non-chan Rides on a Cloud" (1947, Daichi Shobo, 1967, Fukuinkan Shoten) ▽ "Iwanami Children's Book: Why Are Soba Stems Red?" (1954, Iwanami Shoten) ▽ "Mr. Tom of the Mountain" (1957, Kobunsha, 1980, Iwanami Children's Library) ▽ "March Hina Moon" (1963, Fukuinkan Shoten) ▽ "Childhood Stories" (1981, Fukuinkan Shoten) ▽ "A Journey through Children's Literature" (1981, Iwanami Shoten) ▽ "Benkei and Otomi-san" (1985, Fukuinkan Shoten) ▽ "The Phantom Scarlet Fruit, Volumes 1 and 2 (1994, Iwanami Shoten) ▽ "Collection of Ishii Momoko, 7 volumes (1998-1999, Iwanami Shoten)" ▽ "Winnie-the-Pooh" by A.A. Milne (1940, Iwanami Shoten, published in 1956 by Iwanami Children's Library as "Winnie-the-Pooh")" ▽ "The House at Pooh Corner" by A.A. Milne (1942, Iwanami Shoten, published in 1958 by Iwanami Children's Library)" ▽ "The Adventures of Toad" by Kenneth Grahame (1950, Eihosha, published in 1963 by Iwanami Shoten as "Little Toad - The Adventures of Toad")" ▽ "Iwanami Children's Books: The Little House" by Virginia Lee Burton (1954, Iwanami Shoten)" ▽ "Bag Alley Number One" by Eve Garnett (1957, Iwanami Children's Library)" ▽ "Peter Pan and Wendy" by J.M. Barrie (1957, Iwanami Children's Library, 1972, Fukuinkan Shoten)" ▽ "The King and the Wheat" by Eleanor Farjeon (1959, Iwanami Children's Library)" ▽ "The Little Bunny" by Dick Bruna (1964, Fukuinkan Shoten)" ▽ "The Tale of Peter Rabbit" by Beatrix Potter (1971, Fukuinkan Shoten)" ▽ "The Happy River" by Kenneth Grahame, translated by Nakano Yoshio (1940, Hakurin Children's Library) ▽ "Doctor Dolittle: A Journey to Africa" by Hugh Lofting, translated by Ibuse Masuji (1941, Hakurin Children's Library) ▽ "How to Guide Children to Read" by Ishii Momoko (1960, Kokudosha) ▽ "Children and Literature" by Ishii Momoko et al. (1960, Chuokoron-Shinsha) ▽ "Children's Libraries" by Ishii Momoko (1965, Iwanami Shinsho) ▽ "Children's Literature Theory" by Lillian Smith, translated by Ishii Momoko et al. (1964, Iwanami Shoten) ▽ "Living in a World of Children and Books" by Eileen Colwell, translated by Ishii Momoko (1974, Fukuinkan Shoten) ▽ "Winnie-the-Pooh and the Enchanted Forest" by Christopher Milne, translated by Ishii Momoko (1977, Iwanami Shoten) ▽ "Pooh and Me" by Ishii Momoko (published in Tosho no. 238, 1969, Iwanami Shoten) ▽ "Stories for Young Children -- Ishii Momoko" by Ishii Momoko (published in Kodomo no Yakata no. 20, 1975, Fukuinkan Shoten) ▽ "At the Time of the Launch of the Iwanami Children's Library" by Ishii Momoko (published in Tosho no. 374, 1980, Iwanami Shoten) "Ishii Momoko, 'The Technique of Adult Literature and Having a Child's Heart'" (included in the February special edition of Eureka, 2002, Seidosha) ▽ "Ibuse Masuji, 'Impressions of People -- About Ms. Ishii Momoko'" (included in Tosho No. 55, 1954, Iwanami Shoten) ▽ "Ueno Akira, 'Postwar Children's Literature Theory' (1967, Rironsha)" ▽ "Shimizu Masako, 'Ishii Momoko'" (included in Inokuma Yoko, Jingu Teruo et al. eds., 'Lecture Series on Japanese Children's Literature, Vol. 8, Japanese Children's Literature Writers 3', 1973, Meiji Shoin) ▽ "Jingu Teruo, 'Children in Children's Literature' (1974, NHK Books)" ▽ "Jingu Teruo, 'Contemporary Japanese Children's Literature' (1974, Hyoronsha)" ▽ "Shimizu Masako, "Between a Sense of Mission and Self-Liberation - A Discussion of Ishii Momoko" (Shimizu Masako, "The Current State of Children's Books," 1982, Yamato Shobo)" ▽ "Manda Tsutomu, "Ishii Momoko - Focusing on 'Non-chan Rides a Cloud'" (Japanese Literature Interpretation and Appreciation, Vol. 48, No. 14, 1983, Shibundo)" ▽ "Shimizu Masako, "Commentary: Reuniting with Childhood Days" (Ishii Momoko, "Ishii Momoko Collection 1," 1988, Iwanami Shoten)" ▽ "Amasawa Taijiro, "Commentary: Things in Transition" (Ishii Momoko, "Ishii Momoko Collection 1," 1988, Iwanami Shoten)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

Japanese:

児童文学作家、翻訳家、評論家、編集者、読書運動家。埼玉県浦和市（現さいたま市）に生まれる。日本女子大学英文科在学中から菊池寛のもとで原書をまとめる手伝いをする（海外の雑誌などに掲載された資料を選択し、翻訳して提出）。大学卒業後、文芸春秋社勤務のかたわら英米児童文学の翻訳を始める。1934年（昭和9）から、新潮社で山本有三とともに「日本少國民文庫」（山本有三編・全16巻・1935～1937）の編集に携わるが、第二次世界大戦の激化とともに、同社を退き、敗戦直後から宮城県で農業に従事。その経験が『山のトムさん』（1957）に結実した。1950年（昭和25）から「岩波少年文庫」の企画編集に参加、以後多数の世界名作を紹介するほか、絵本のシリーズ「岩波の子どもの本」（1953～　）を創刊、戦後の児童書出版に大きな影響を与えた。1954年に岩波書店を退社し、奨学金を得て渡米。英米の児童書出版事情を視察し図書館活動に触れる。帰国後は、著述、翻訳、文庫活動に専念。子供に良書を手渡すための具体的手法として、1958年「かつら文庫」を開設、読み聞かせその他、子供と本を結び付ける運動を始めた。その土台のうえに財団法人「東京子ども図書館」が設立されるに至った。

　代表作に『ノンちゃん雲に乗る』（1947）、『三月ひなのつき』（1963）、翻訳書にA・A・ミルン著『クマのプーさん』（1940）、ケネス・グレアム著『たのしい川べ――ヒキガエルの冒険』（1950）のほかに、エリナー・ファージョン著『ムギと王さま』（1959）をはじめとした『ファージョン作品集』、オランダの絵本作家ディック・ブルーナDick Bruna（1927―　）著「ちいさなうさこちゃん」シリーズ（1964～　）、ビアトリクス・ポター著「ピーターラビット」シリーズ（1971～　）など、多数の名訳がある。また、自伝に『幼(おさな)ものがたり』（1981）、長編小説に『幻の朱(あか)い実』（1994）、研究書に『子どもと文学』（1960）、研究書の翻訳に、リリアン・スミスLillian Helena Smith（1887―1983）著『児童文学論』（1964）などがある。

　1997年（平成9）には日本芸術院会員となる。1998年から『石井桃子集』（全7巻・1998～1999）が刊行された。石井桃子の業績は広範囲にわたり、第二次世界大戦後の日本の児童文化の質の向上に多大な寄与を果たした。第1回芸術選奨文部大臣賞（1951。『ノンちゃん雲に乗る』による）、第2回菊池寛賞（1953）、第2回サンケイ児童出版文化賞（1955。「岩波の子どもの本」シリーズ24冊）、第23回サンケイ児童出版文化賞（1978。『ファージョン作品集』）、伊藤忠記念財団第1回子ども文庫功労賞（1984）、日本芸術院賞（1993）、読売文学賞（1995。『幻の朱い実』）などを受賞している。

［猪熊葉子］

『『ノンちゃん雲に乗る』（1947・大地書房、1967・福音館書店）』▽『『岩波の子どもの本　おそばのくきはなぜあかい』（1954・岩波書店）』▽『『山のトムさん』（1957・光文社、1980・岩波少年文庫）』▽『『三月ひなのつき』（1963・福音館書店）』▽『『幼ものがたり』（1981・福音館書店）』▽『『児童文学の旅』（1981・岩波書店）』▽『『べんけいとおとみさん』（1985・福音館書店）』▽『『幻の朱い実』上下（1994・岩波書店）』▽『『石井桃子集』全7巻（1998～1999・岩波書店）』▽『A・A・ミルン著『熊のプーさん』（1940・岩波書店、1956刊の岩波少年文庫は『クマのプーさん』）』▽『A・A・ミルン著『プー横丁にたった家』（1942・岩波書店、岩波少年文庫は1958刊）』▽『ケネス・グレアム著『ヒキガエルの冒険』（1950・英宝社、1963年岩波書店刊は『たのしい川べ――ヒキガエルの冒険』）』▽『バージニア・リー・バートン著『岩波の子どもの本　ちいさいおうち』（1954・岩波書店）』▽『イーヴ・ガーネット著『ふくろ小路一番地』（1957・岩波少年文庫）』▽『J・M・バリ著『ピーター・パンとウエンディ』（1957・岩波少年文庫、1972・福音館書店）』▽『エリナー・ファージョン著『ムギと王さま』（1959・岩波少年文庫）』▽『ディック・ブルーナ著『ちいさなうさこちゃん』（1964・福音館書店）』▽『ビアトリクス・ポター著『ピーターラビットのおはなし』（1971・福音館書店）』▽『ケネス・グレアム著、中野好夫訳『たのしい川邊』（1940・白林少年館）』▽『ヒュー・ロフティング著、井伏鱒二訳『ドリトル先生アフリカ行き』（1941・白林少年館）』▽『石井桃子著『子どもの読書の導きかた』（1960・国土社）』▽『石井桃子他著『子どもと文学』（1960・中央公論社）』▽『石井桃子著『子どもの図書館』（1965・岩波新書）』▽『リリアン・スミス著、石井桃子他訳『児童文学論』（1964・岩波書店）』▽『アイリーン・コルウェル著、石井桃子訳『子どもと本の世界に生きて』（1974・福音館書店）』▽『クリストファー・ミルン著、石井桃子訳『クマのプーさんと魔法の森』（1977・岩波書店）』▽『石井桃子著「プーと私」（『図書』238号所収・1969・岩波書店）』▽『石井桃子著「幼児のためのお話――石井桃子」（『子どもの館』20号所収・1975・福音館書店）』▽『石井桃子著「『岩波少年文庫』創刊の頃」（『図書』374号所収・1980・岩波書店）』▽『石井桃子著「大人の文学の技術と子どもの心を持つこと」（『ユリイカ』2月臨時増刊号所収・2002・青土社）』▽『井伏鱒二著「人の印象――石井桃子女史のこと」（『図書』55号所収・1954・岩波書店）』▽『上野瞭著『戦後児童文学論』（1967・理論社）』▽『清水真砂子著「石井桃子」（猪熊葉子・神宮輝夫他編『講座　日本児童文学第8巻　日本の児童文学作家3』所収・1973・明治書院）』▽『神宮輝夫著『児童文学の中の子ども』（1974・NHKブックス）』▽『神宮輝夫著『現代日本の児童文学』（1974・評論社）』▽『清水真砂子著「使命感と自己解放のあいだで――石井桃子論」（清水真砂子著『子どもの本の現在』所収・1982・大和書房）』▽『萬田務著「石井桃子――『ノンちゃん雲に乗る』を中心に」（『国文学　解釈と鑑賞』48巻14号所収・1983・至文堂）』▽『清水真砂子著「解説　幼い日々との再会」（石井桃子著『石井桃子集1』所収・1988・岩波書店）』▽『天沢退二郎著「解説　移行するものたち」（石井桃子著『石井桃子集1』所収・1988・岩波書店）』