KINOTORIKO, Toriko Kino
Born in Tokyo. Lived for 2 years in Melbourne, Australia in the childhood, then returned to Tokyo. Majored in English and American literature at university, studied graphic design through a correspondence course.
Works as an illustrator under the name of "Toriko Kino" (for advertisement, editorials, products, displays & wall paintings, etc.) , and as a picture-book author under the name of "KINOTORIKO".
The first solo exhibition was in 1990, entitled "Nonsense Innocence Science". Since then, the interface between science and literature has always been one of her main interests. In 2000, the book From Where We Came, and To Where We Go (texts by O. Sakura, PhD.) ; In 2002, If the Earth is a Glove of 100cm…… (texts by T. Nagai, PhD.) were published. Took charge of the planning & graphics (in accordance with Prof.Sakura), at one of the displays in the scientific museum in Kagoshima prefecture, opened in April, 2003. In 2011, the pocket version of From Where We Came…… was re-published by Chuko Bunko.
In 2001, started to use the name " KINOTORIKO", for the project to seek the possibilities of "the picture/visual books". For example, a book with all pages die-cut, of 3-meter rolled or 6-meter accordion-folded. In 2003 & 2004, the illustrations among these books were selected for Bologna Children's Book Fair and some of the works got into the collection of OPLA, the library of artist's books for children in Italy. They are also collected by some libraries and museums in France and Japan.
As the fruit of frequently visiting publishers in Europe is; first Tendre est la Mort published by Éditions Sarbacane(Paris, France). This book was awarded the "LibbyLit Prize 2009" as the best picture-book in French language in Belgium. Then, from the same publisher, Qui Suis-Je ? (who am I ? / I'm Puzzled) is released in January 2011. It's a book in which the main character is being "puzzled", and the readers can also play the puzzle. Quand petit Tomo dort (2017), La Nuit Ailleurs (2018) are published by Éditions Grandir, as limited, on-demand editions. Près de la Plage et Loin en Mer (both 2024), Chaperon et Loup (2025) are also from the same publisher (the name of the manufacturer has changed). Illustrations in these books are all laser-cut and pages are folded in accordion style.
In Japan, Honeybees and the Labyrinths of Flowers is published in March 2019, the activity book of maze & coloring also for education. This might be the developed version of Here I am! The A-mazing Little Creatures (2006). In October 2019, I'm PEKO-PEKO Hungry! is published, a book to introduce Japanese onomatopoeia with illustrations.