COVER	TEXT

Daruma-chan to Tengu-chan is a picture book story whose characters are daruma (a Japanese traditional toy tumbler modeled after Dharma) and tengu (a Japanese traditional folktale character, long-nosed goblin). Conversations between the characters are humorous, and visual representations are effectively used in enumeration (catalogue) method or in the scenes such as the transformation of Daruma-chan’s nose. 　　Daruma-chan wants to have everything Tengu-chan has. One day, Tengu-chan’s fan caught Daruma-chan’s eye, and he wishes to have one too. A continuous process of trial and error begins involving Daruma-chan’s father, Daruma-don. Daruma-don collects all kinds of fans in the house for Daruma-chan and lays them on the floor, but they are nothing like Tengu-chan’s. Then Daruma-chan hits on an idea and fetches a fatsia leaf in the garden, which looks exactly like the fan. Daruma-chan then wishes to have a hat like Tengu-chan’s, and then a pair of clogs, and then the long nose. Daruma-don took “nose” for “flower” (both pronounced “hana” in Japanese) and things get mixed up. Finally, Daruma-don pounds steamed rice into cakes and rolls Daruma-chan a long nose on which a sparrow can perch. 　　Kako Satoshi (1926- ) studied organic chemistry in university and took a doctorate in engineering. He also was a settlement worker while at college, and learned how to create kamishibai (picture-story show) and picture books. Not having specialized in literature or art, his work has an unsophisticated quality. However, the story is organized logically and the way it develops attracts children. Kako’s knowledge of traditional children’s play is incorporated here and there. Young readers can also enjoy pictures of the items laid on the floor, like looking at a catalogue. 　　Sequels to the book, for example Daruma-chan to Kaminari-chan [Little Daruma and Little Kaminari (Thunder)] (1968), were published and became a popular series. An English translation of Daruma-chan to Tengu-chan has been published by Tuttle Publishing.