Sachiko Kiyono (Japanese: キヨノサチコ, Hepburn: Kiyono Sachiko, born Sachiko Seino, 1947 – 19 June 2008) was a Japanese picture book author. She is best known as the creator of Nontan.
Biography
editKiyono was born Sachiko Seino (清野 幸子, Seino Sachiko) in 1947.[1] In 1976, Kiyono made her debut with Nontan Buranko Nosete (ノンタンぶらんこのせて; lit. Nontan, Let Me Use the Swing); the Nontan series went on to publish 40 volumes and 28 million copies.[1] She married Yasuomi Ōtomo, who also worked on the Nontan series. However, they divorced and subsequently had a lawsuit over the copyright distribution of Nontan; it was decided that Kiyono was the main author and Ōtomo only supported her.[2] Ōtomo died during the trial, and though his successor appealed, it was dismissed.[3] Kiyono lived in Hawaii before returning to Japan to be hospitalized.[4] She died from a brain tumor on 19 June 2008; a funeral was held with relatives.[5] However, her death was reported in December, as she reportedly told her family and editor to hide the news of her death, saying, "Even if I'm gone, Nontan will continue to live in good health."[4]
References
edit- ^ a b 訃報:キヨノサチコさん60歳=「ノンタン」の絵本作家 [Obituary: Sachiko Kiyono 60 years old = Picture book author of "Nontan"]. Mainichi Shimbun. 9 December 2008. Archived from the original on 23 December 2008.
- ^ 【事件名】共同著作名義「ノンタン」絵本事件 【年月日】平成10年3月30日 [[Case name] Co-authored "Nontan" picture book case [Date] 30 March 1998]. Japan Uni Copyright Center. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
- ^ 【事件名】共同著作名義「ノンタン」絵本事件(2) 【年月日】平成11年11月17日 [[Case name] Co-authored "Nontan" picture book case (2) [Date] 17 November 1999]. Nihon Uni Copyright Center. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
- ^ a b 「ノンタン」の作者キヨノサチコさん、6月に死去 [Sachiko Kiyono, creator of Nontan, dies in June]. Asahi Shimbun. 9 December 2008. Archived from the original on 23 December 2008.
- ^ 絵本作家キヨノサチコさんが6月に死去 『ノンタン』の作者 [Picture book author Sachiko Kiyono passed away in June Author of Nontan]. Oricon News. 4 March 2015. Retrieved 20 July 2023.