In 2010, through a senior pianist, I met a doctor who was receiving treatment in a hospice. The man, who had been making violins as his personal passion for many years alongside his medical practice, told me he wished to hear a performance with his own violin for the last time. So I borrowed one of his violins and held a mini-concert at the hospice together with the senior colleague.

Kacchi-san, who was a high school student at the time, wrote the story "Violin in the Forest" after hearing about this event, which was then made into a beautiful picture book by my long-time friend, Maiko.

This book is a reminder that life is a connection of one life to another. I would like to express my sincere gratitude for the opportunity to present this work.

The picture book production began in June 2021, when my long-time friend, Risa Inagawa, told me she has a story she would love to turn into a picture book. In her career as a violinist Risa has been holding numerous recitals and concerts, and in her book-reading concerts she had been using existing picture books, but with such books there are usage restrictions which limit the possibilities of the concert's contents and promotion. She entrusted me with her vision for more and more people and children to become familiar with the world of classical music and that an original picture book would allow her to do this more freely!

Friends have often said to me that my drawing style would be perfect for children’s picture books, but when the idea (and with a beautiful story!) actually manifested in front of me, I wasn’t immediately sure whether I could do it. Not only does drawing a whole book take a fair amount of determination, it was going to be an entirely self-published book, so I contemplated whether I would have the time and energy to successfully complete such a big project. So I took quite a long time to think about it.

I am very grateful to Risa for having waited so patiently while I contemplated, because once I decided to take on the project my enthusiasm for the book never wavered. I was also encouraged by the fact that when I first read the story, I immediately thought “My art style is definitely a match for this story!”, so I am grateful to Kacchi-san, the author, for the beautiful story. Interweaving several people’s strong passions and visions is at times challenging, but it has definitely been a rewarding experience.

In creating this book, I aimed to draw a book in which every page is visually captivating and communicative so that the drawings alone could convey the story and the book be enjoyable for a wide range of readers including very young children. The hardcover book has a flat spread finish with no weaving in the centre; many of the pages were originally drawn as spreads, and the flat spread finish lets you enjoy this intention of the original artworks. The pencil textures and the subtle translucency of watercolour have also been beautifully reproduced in the printing. I hope you will enjoy the book for a long time!

By the way, the rabbit is actually drawn in the spread on pages 6-7. Please try finding it!

I hope that this heart-warming story of a very sweet and kind rabbit's encounter will reach many people.

2023 Aug