The Japanese literary and art community is mourning the loss of Akiko Hayashi, a prolific author and illustrator who passed away on July 1 in Nagano Prefecture at the age of 81. Her death was attributed to pneumonia.
While Hayashi built an extensive portfolio of original picture books such as Good Evening Mr. Moon and Aki and the Fox, she is perhaps best remembered by anime enthusiasts for her work on Eiko Kadono's children's novel Kiki's Delivery Service. Her distinct visual style helped define the aesthetic of the source material that Studio Ghibli later adapted into its legendary 1989 feature film. That film, which maintains a strong 8.24 rating on MyAnimeList and ranks among the top 400 anime titles, remains a pillar of the studio's catalog.
Hayashi's career began in 1973 with the publication of Kamihihoki. Over the following decades, she became a celebrated figure in children's literature, lending her talents to beloved works like Yoriko Tsutsui's Miki's First Errand and Kyoko Matsuoka's There's a Hippo in My Bath!. Her contributions to the medium were recognized with several prestigious honors, including the fine art prize of the Sankei Children's Book Publishing Culture Award and the 2nd Ehon Nippon Award.
