Originally published by Fukuinkan-Shoten Publishers, Inc. in 1971, the English edition of The King of Circles was published by 50 Watts Books in 2023. The text was written by poet Shuntarō Tanikawa, while the artwork was created by artist and graphic designer Kiyoshi Awazu. Yosuke Kitazawa and I translated the book, working in collaboration.
The story is surreal, leaping from setting to setting as a series of round objects compete for the title of the ‘King of Circles’. The illustrations, which include many round objects with eyes staring at the reader, are bright and bold, with a distinctly retro look. For a picture book, the work has a surprising amount of text, but seems well balanced with the overall composition and layout.
Born in Tokyo in 1931, Shuntarō Tanikawa is a poet, translator, author, and screenwriter. During a prolific career spanning more than sixty years, Tanikawa has become one of the most well-regarded modern poets in Japan. Tanikawa is also a prolific translator, having translated Mother Goose, Leo Lionni, Maurice Sendak, and even Charles Schulz’s Peanuts for publication in Japan. Tanikawa has also authored many stories for children, and was nominated for the Hans Christian Andersen Award in 2008. It was an honour to be able to translate his work.
Bookseller Japanese Avant-Garde Books commented about the English language publication of The King of Circles and A Tiger in the Land of Dreams;
“These are likely the coolest two children’s books published in Japan. It’s truly delightful to see these cool Japanese books being translated and enjoyed in languages other than Japanese.”
