TOKYO -- Thirty-two original paintings by renowned children's book illustrator Chihiro Iwasaki (1918-1974) have been discovered, with some now on display in Tokyo and Nagano Prefecture.

A representative at the Chihiro Art Museum Tokyo in the capital's Nerima Ward said, "Finding such a substantial number of original works in excellent condition is almost a miracle."

The paintings, created between 1958 and 1962, were originally contributed to the children's magazine "Kodomo no Sekai" (Children's world), published by Shiko-sha. While printed versions were known, the originals had been missing for decades.

The collection features diverse themes, including seasonal scenes, children at play, and nursery rhyme illustrations. Among the highlights is "Amefuri" (Rainfall) from 1958, which vividly depicts a girl about to cry after dropping her crayons in the rain, while other children help pick them up.

These works, created before Iwasaki's peak period, are notable for their bold outlines and detailed backgrounds, contrasting with her later style of blurred lines, soft colors and blank backdrops. A museum representative explained that this period coincided with her son Takeshi Matsumoto's elementary school years, and her detailed depictions of children, flowers, and seasonal scenes suggest she carefully observed these elements. "One can see she was very motivated to paint these works. The new discoveries are very valuable and significant, and will be material for future research," the representative said.

The find was made in January 2024 in Shiko-sha's warehouse during an archive reorganization. The publisher returned the works to the Chihiro Iwasaki Memorial Foundation, which manages her copyrights and museums.

According to the museum, in the 1950s and 1960s, it was not uncommon for original artworks to be discarded rather than returned to their creators. However, Shiko-sha generally returned Iwasaki's works, and this excellently preserved collection is believed to have been overlooked due to some error.

Seven of the paintings are on display at the Chihiro Art Museum Tokyo until May 11, while 11 are exhibited at the Chihiro Art Museum Azumino in Matsukawa, Nagano Prefecture, until June 1.

(Japanese original by Yuta Hiratsuka, Digital News Group)