Welsh Illustrators Collaborate with Japanese Artist on Bilingual Children's Book Project in Osaka

Welsh illustrators Liz Fenwick and Valériane Leblond are currently in Osaka, Japan, working on an innovative cross-cultural project by Literature Across Frontiers and Wales Literature Exchange that will see a Welsh dragon meet its Japanese counterpart in a new bilingual children's story.

The project, "A Tale of Two Dragons: Connecting Wales and Japan Through Stories for Children," brings together the two Welsh illustrators with Yoshifumi Hasegawa, a leading Japanese author of books for children to create a unique narrative exploring the meeting between Y Ddraig Goch, the Welsh Red Dragon, and the blue Japanese dragon, a traditional water creature.

Alexandra Büchler, Director of LAF, has travelled with the Welsh participants to Japan and following successful online workshops earlier this year, the team is now collaborating in person at Yoshifumi Hasegawa's gallery in Osaka, where story boards are taking shape.

"Nothing beats an in-person session," said Büchler, reflecting on the creative energy of the collaboration. The team has been treated to traditional kamishibai (Japanese paper theatre) performances and immersive experiences in Hasegawa's studio, deepening their understanding of Japanese storytelling traditions.

As part of the visit, Liz Fenwick and Valériane Leblond will facilitate a picture-book making workshop with children in Osaka and meet with local members of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. The project will culminate in a public event at Osaka Central Library, where the collaborative story will be presented.

LAF and WLE are partnering with two significant Japanese literary organisations on this project: the International Institute for Children's Literature in Osaka (IICLO) and the Japanese Board on Books for Young People (JBBY). The initiative is supported by Wales Arts International and British Council Wales.

The tale of how, where, and why the two dragons meet "half-way between Wales and Japan" will be revealed in due course.