[Connecting Picture Book 01] "Rabbit Island" - A message from 80 years ago

Did you know that there was once an island in Japan that was erased from maps?
Okunoshima Island in Hiroshima Prefecture is a small island with a circumference of about 4km floating in the Seto Inland Sea. In 2025, 80 years after the end of the war, a picture book set on the island, "Rabbit Island," was published. We spoke to the book's authors, picture book author and illustrator Eri Kondo and painter and picture book author Hiroshi Tateno, both born in Kanagawa Prefecture, about the thoughts they put into the work.
(Top image: From left: Eri Kondo and Hiroshi Tateno / Interview cooperation: Hiratsuka City Central Library)

Things parents and children should know about Okunoshima

On November 29, 2025, a reading and talk event titled "Rabbit Island - It's Not Just Cute" was held at Hiratsuka City Central Library by Kondo, Tateno, and their elementary school-aged children.

Following the opening remarks, Kondo read aloud. The cover of the picture book projected onto the screen shows rabbits living freely under a plane tree. One white rabbit is staring intently at us.

The film depicts the current state of Okunoshima, affectionately known as "Rabbit Island," with its beautiful sea, abundant nature, and the interaction between rabbits and the many tourists who visit from both Japan and abroad. A parent and child find the famous white rabbit.

"Is his mother white too?" "What about his father?"
The seemingly peaceful story changes as the children ask questions.

A rabbit brought to the island during the war

-What inspired you to create "Rabbit Island"?

Kondo's mother started keeping abandoned rabbits, which made him aware of their existence and the problems they pose, and he wanted to create a picture book on the theme of abandoned rabbits. At the same time, he was struggling with his own style, so he changed his style and drew rabbit pictures at a picture book store in Jimbocho, exhibiting and selling them in preparation for a picture book on abandoned rabbits. At that time, Tateno, whom he had just met, told him, "You should draw more rabbit sketches," so he decided to go to the "Rabbit Island" in the Seto Inland Sea, the name of which he only knew, and draw a mountain of rabbit sketches, and researched Okunoshima for the first time.

I said that I thought the theme of this exhibition would be conveyed more effectively through a painterly touch. My teacher was Chikabo Kumada, who continued to paint before, during, and after the war. He taught me that pictures to be shown to children should be completely honest.

Kondo: In response to that, I decided to aim for a painterly touch with the production of this picture book, and I tried out a new style.

-You can see that the process was carried out carefully.

Kondo: During my research, I was shocked to learn that Okunoshima had a history of producing poison gas and was a victim of human abuse. As the problems on the island became more and more apparent, I felt that I had to write a picture book about it, and so I began working on the picture book "Rabbit Island."

-Was it difficult to deal with war, especially perpetrators, in a picture book?

I heard that this is the first picture book to touch on the Kondo persecution. So I visited the island many times, even lived there for a while, thoroughly researched the land and history, and built relationships. I was grateful to have so many people to help with the publication.

I was surprised by many things, such as learning that the editor at Tate is a third-generation Hiroshima atomic bomb survivor, and that Kondo and my grandfather were both involved in military operations on Okunoshima, but I was able to learn about my own roots. It may be 80 years since the end of the war, but with the coming of the new year, it will only be 81. The present exists because of the past. I realized that we are all connected to the war, and I wanted to put my utmost effort into bringing this book to the world, working as a team.

An opportunity to think about history and current issues

But rabbits are not just cute! It's been about six months since Kondo finished drawing this book, which not only addresses the war but also the reality of "rabbit activities" such as feeding. "I'm surprised at how many people don't know about Okunoshima and what happened there," says Kondo. Tateno also said, "I hope that by reading this book and learning about history, people will think broadly about their roots, the state of humanity and living creatures, tourism, environmental issues, and more."

At the autograph signing session after the event, it was impressive to see the two of them freely sharing their thoughts with the participating parents and children. At the venue that day was the trunk (lumber) of a sycamore tree that had been cut down after watching over the people of Okunoshima for decades and carving out history... Now that the living creatures that appear in picture books are disappearing, I hope everyone will pick up a copy of "Rabbit Island."

Text by Mai Shimura (editor/writer)

"Rabbit Island"
Published by: Sekai Bunka Publishing Co., Ltd.
Book introduction site: here
　
Eri Kondo (Picture book author and illustrator)
Official website: here

Hiroshi Tateno (Painter and Picture Book Author)
Official website: here

Interview cooperation: Hiratsuka City Central Library
Official website: here