Rieko Nakagawa

Rieko Nakagawa was a Japanese children's literature writer and lyricist. Her first work, Iyayaen, was published in 1962, and she published over 30 books since then. She had won multiple awards for her works, including the Kikuchi Kan Prize.
Nakagawa wrote the lyrics for the opening theme song for the 1988 Studio Ghibli film My Neighbor Totoro as well as to another song used in the film. She wrote the lyrics for over 20 other songs, including "Yūki" sung by Mana Ashida for the 81st NHK All Japan School Singing Competition.

Personal life

Rieko Ōmura was born on September 29, 1935, in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan. When she was four years old, her family moved in with her grandfather in Tokyo, where she lived until she was in the third year of grade school. Her family then moved back to Sapporo for a short time before being evacuated at the end of World War II. Her father was transferred to Fukushima, where she lived until moving back to Tokyo during her second year of high school. She graduated from the Tokyo Metropolitan High School Nursery School Academy.
Nakagawa died on October 14, 2024, at the age of 89.

Professional life

While working as a nursery school worker, she wrote No-No Academy. In 1962, this book won the Minister of Health and Welfare Award, the Sankei Juvenile Publications Culture Award, the Noma Juvenile Cultural Arts Recommended Work Prize and the NHK Juvenile Literature Honorable Mention. Her 1980 book, Rock the Puppy Is Here was awarded the Mainichi Publishing Culture Award.
The Society for the Promotion of Japanese Literature awarded the Kikuchi Kan Prize jointly with her younger sister Yuriko Yamawaki for their children's book series Guri and Gura. Nakagawa and Yamawaki have collaborated on many projects since that time, including on additional volumes in the Guri and Gura series, as well as works like Sora Iro no Tane and The Peach-Colored Giraffe.
Nakagawa wrote a number of essays. She also wrote lyrics for multiple songs for the 1988 Studio Ghibli film My Neighbor Totoro, including Sanpo and Maigo. She wrote the lyrics for the song "Yūki" sung by Mana Ashida, which was released as a single with "Fight!!" in 2014. "Yūki" was the theme song for the 81st NHK All Japan School Singing Competition in the elementary school group.

Works

Children's books

Guri and Gura series

This series has been published since 1967 by Fukuinkan Shoten. All of the books are illustrated by Yuriko Yamawaki, though the first book is credited to Yuriko Ōmura. Several of these titles have been released in English, Korean, and other languages.

Other works

Iyaiyaen Kaeru no Eruta Sora Iro no Tane Momo Iro no Kirin Raion Midori no Nichiyoubi Hajimete no Yuki Obaa-san Guma to Kaburi-chan Kujiragumo Tanta no Tanken Kodanuki 6-piki Kogitsune Konchi to Okaa-san Tanta no Tantei Ohisama ha Harappa Mori Obake Koinu no Roku ga Yattekita Torata to Maruta Wanwan-mura no Ohanashi Mitsuko no Kobuta Ohayō Oyasumi Kenta - Usagi Nazonazo Ehon Ohisama Onegai Chichinpui Takataka-yama no Taka-chan Torata to Ōyuki Takara Sagashi Kuma-san Kuma-san Torata to Yotto Hanehane Hane-chan Otegami Kobuta Hoikuen Kuma no Kokumakichi Chiisai Michiko-chan Nekotora-kun Neko no Ongaeshi Itazura Kitsune
'''Sources:'''

Essays

Hon - Kodomo - Ehon Subarashiki Monogatari-tachi - Omoiyari no Aru Ko wo Sodateru Tame ni

''Ehon to Watashi''

Lyrics

"Itazura Koneko"
"Ichinensei no Uta"
"Kanagawa Kenritsu Hoiku Senmon Kaguin Inka"
"Castella no Uta"
"Kirin no Kirika"
"Kujiratori"
* "Zō to Raionmaru"
"Kuma-san no Odekake"
"Guri to Gura no Uta"
"Gokigen Wani-san"
"Komazawa Olympic Kōen"
"Te wo Tsunagō" My Neighbor Totoro :
* "Sanpo"
* "Maigo"
* "Susuwatari"
* "Okaa-san"
* "Neko Basu"
* "Fushigi Shiritori Uta"
"Tobidase Tankentai"
"Tonton Taisō"
"Haru"
"Boroichi Kazoeuta"
"Mado"
"Mari-chan no Komoriuta"
"Yūki"