"Poetry and Whimsy" April 1984 (Showa 59).
The following is an excerpt from "Yanase Takashi's Life: Anpanman and I / Kumiyo Tsuruoka, author (Bungei Shunju)".
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Around 7 years after the publication of "Loving Songs", Yanase approached Sanrio's founder, Tsuji Shinjiro (played by Yojiro Noda in the drama), with a proposal.
"Can I publish a poetry magazine? I'll do it myself, and there will be no editing fees."
Yanase did everything from editing to layout himself.
"Poetry and Whimsy" was a monthly magazine that featured poems and whimsy submitted by readers, illustrated by professional painters and illustrators, and was unmatched in its kind.
Yanase founded the magazine as editor-in-chief in 1973 (Showa 48).
The same year he published the picture book "Anpanman".
A4-sized thick paper with a large font and colorful illustrations that fill the entire spread.
Yanase, Haya Akira, Ueno Akira, Hayashi Shigetaka, Oota Keiichi, Higuchi Kimpei, Iino Kazuo, Tsushima Shoji, Makino Suzuko, Uchida Shin'ya, Kuroi Ken, and Inoue Naoki, among other top painters and illustrators, were commissioned.
There were no advertisements, making it a luxurious magazine.
Yanase drew an enormous number of illustrations, including the cover, a small monochrome insert called a "bean cut," and wrote feature articles and serialized works.
He worked tirelessly, like a multi-talented person.
For 30 years, he served as editor-in-chief, making "Poetry and Whimsy" his life's work, alongside Anpanman.
"Poetry and Whimsy" featured only beautiful things, whether in poetry or illustration, with a focus on emotional expression.
This was Yanase's resistance to the culture of the high-growth period, which emphasized novelty and attention-grabbing appeal.
At the same time, it was a protest against the exclusion of gentle and beautiful things, and things that were sweet and romantic, which were considered weak and discarded during the war.
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Due to aging, the cover may have yellowed, wrinkled, or developed creases, but the inside is in good condition.
Please understand that this is a used item and consider your purchase.
Shipped via Rakuten Super Logistics (anonymous delivery)
#Poetry and Whimsy
#Yanase Takashi
#Anpanman
#Kobayashi Kenji
Item condition: No noticeable scratches or stains.
