Ryōji Arai

Ryōji Arai (born 1956 in Yamagata, Japan) is a Japanese illustrator and picture book author known for his bold, mischievous, and unpredictable style that appeals to children and adults alike. He debuted with his first picture book Melody in 1990, winning the Grand Award for new illustrators that year, and has since created over 60 picture books and illustrated more than 200 others. In 2005, he became the first Japanese recipient of the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award for his contributions to children's and young adult literature.