Sachiko Kiyono Explained

was a Japanese picture book author. She is best known as the creator of Nontan.

Biography

Kiyono was born in 1947.^[1] In 1976, Kiyono made her debut with Nontan Buranko Nosete (; Nontan, Let Me Use the Swing); the Nontan series went on to publish 40 volumes and 28 million copies. 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."

Notes and References

Web site: 9 December 2008 . ja: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" . https://web.archive.org/web/20081223055900/http://mainichi.jp/enta/art/news/20081210k0000m040069000c.html . 23 December 2008 . Mainichi Shimbun.
Web site: ja:【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 . 20 July 2023 . Japan Uni Copyright Center.
Web site: ja:【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 . 20 July 2023 . Nihon Uni Copyright Center.
Web site: 9 December 2008 . ja:「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 . https://web.archive.org/web/20081223102424/http://www.asahi.com/obituaries/update/1209/TKY200812090284.html . 23 December 2008 . Asahi Shimbun.
Web site: 4 March 2015 . ja: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 . 20 July 2023 . Oricon News.