Michio Mado

Michio Mado (1909-2014) was a Japanese poet renowned for his children's poetry and songs, such as the ubiquitous 'Little Elephant' (Zō-san). Born in Tokuyama, Yamaguchi Prefecture, he spent part of his childhood with his grandfather while his family worked in Taiwan, later studying poetry there before returning to Japan after World War II to edit a children's magazine and freelance as a writer and painter. He received numerous awards, most notably the Hans Christian Andersen Award in 1994 for his lasting contributions to children's literature.