Elementary Schoolers' Favorite "Little Ballerina" 4th Tutu Contest, Grand Prize and Winning Entries Announced!
Gakken Co., Ltd., a group company of Gakken Holdings, announced the Grand Prize and winning entries for the "4th Tutu Contest" of its children's book series "Little Ballerina" on April 28, 2026. The Grand Prize went to "Tokimeki Happy Tutu," with 11 other entries also receiving awards, boosting the popular series that has surpassed 190,000 cumulative copies.
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## Press Release Information
Title: Elementary Schoolers' Favorite "Little Ballerina" 4th Tutu Contest, Grand Prize and Winning Entries Announced!
Gakken Co., Ltd. (Shinagawa, Tokyo / Representative Director and President: Tatsuya Nanjo), a group company of Gakken Holdings Co., Ltd. (Shinagawa, Tokyo / Representative Director and President: Hiroaki Miyahara), held the "4th Tutu Contest" for its children's book series "Little Ballerina" starting in June 2025, and announced the Grand Prize and winning entries on April 28, 2026.
In the highly popular children's book series "Little Ballerina" among elementary school students, the "4th Tutu Contest" was held, inviting participants to freely design and submit tutus.
The Grand Prize and winning entries were selected through a rigorous process by the editorial department, author Junko Kudo, and illustrator Mae Sasaki.
The Grand Prize was awarded to "Tokimeki Happy Tutu," inspired by the excitement of entering the world of stories through reading and a swan symbolizing happiness. Additionally, 11 unique and ingeniously designed pieces were selected as winning entries, including costumes adorned with natural motifs like the moon, and those inspired by friendship and wishes.
A list of the award-winning works is available on the website.
■ About the "Little Ballerina" Series
This story features Coco, a 10-year-old girl who loves ballet. The story unfolds around themes of friendship and dreams. Currently, volumes 1-5 and 3 special editions, a total of 8 books, are on sale and well-received.
This popular series has surpassed 190,000 cumulative copies in print.
■ Introduction to Some Series Titles
■ "Little Ballerina Vol. 1: A Dream Ballet School!"
Written by: Junko Kudo, Illustrated by: Mae Sasaki, Supervised by: Kumiko Murayama
Ballet illustration diagrams by: Yuka Sato
Price: 1,210 yen (tax included)
Target age: Elementary school students (2nd grade and above)
Specifications: B6 modified, hardcover, 166 pages, some color pages
ISBN: 978-4-05-205214-9
Publisher: Gakken Co., Ltd.
For details and purchase of this book, please check Gakken Publishing website, Amazon, Rakuten Books, Seven Net, Kindle, etc.
■ "Little Ballerina: Three Sparkling Stories!"
Written by: Junko Kudo, Illustrated by: Mae Sasaki, Supervised by: Kumiko Murayama
Ballet illustration diagrams by: Yuka Sato
Price: 1,320 yen (tax included)
Target age: Elementary school students (2nd grade and above)
Specifications: B6 modified, hardcover, 164 pages, some color pages
ISBN: 978-4-05-205702-1
Publisher: Gakken Co., Ltd.
For details and purchase of this book, please check Gakken Publishing website, Amazon, Rakuten Books, Seven Net, Kindle, etc.
■ Gakken Co., Ltd. (Gakken Inc.)
- Representative Director and President: Tatsuya Nanjo
- Date of establishment: January 13, 2009 (Trade name changed on October 1, 2022)
- Capital: 50 million yen
- Location: 2-11-8 Nishi-Gotanda, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 141-8416
- Business activities: Publishing and content business, global business, medical and nursing publishing content business, business for kindergartens and schools, classroom-related business, EC and online business, advertising business.
■ Gakken Holdings Co., Ltd. (GAKKEN HOLDINGS CO., LTD.)
- Representative Director and President: Hiroaki Miyahara
- Date of establishment: March 31, 1947
- Capital: 19,817 million yen
- Sales: 199.1 billion yen, Consolidated subsidiaries: 82 companies (as of September 2025)
Listed on the Prime Market of the Tokyo Stock Exchange (Securities Code: 9470)
- Location: 〒141-8
Title: Elementary Schoolers' Favorite "Little Ballerina" 4th Tutu Contest, Grand Prize and Winning Entries Announced!
Gakken Co., Ltd. (Shinagawa, Tokyo / Representative Director and President: Tatsuya Nanjo), a group company of Gakken Holdings Co., Ltd. (Shinagawa, Tokyo / Representative Director and President: Hiroaki Miyahara), held the "4th Tutu Contest" for its children's book series "Little Ballerina" starting in June 2025, and announced the Grand Prize and winning entries on April 28, 2026.
In the highly popular children's book series "Little Ballerina" among elementary school students, the "4th Tutu Contest" was held, inviting participants to freely design and submit tutus.
The Grand Prize and winning entries were selected through a rigorous process by the editorial department, author Junko Kudo, and illustrator Mae Sasaki.
The Grand Prize was awarded to "Tokimeki Happy Tutu," inspired by the excitement of entering the world of stories through reading and a swan symbolizing happiness. Additionally, 11 unique and ingeniously designed pieces were selected as winning entries, including costumes adorned with natural motifs like the moon, and those inspired by friendship and wishes.
A list of the award-winning works is available on the website.
■ About the "Little Ballerina" Series
This story features Coco, a 10-year-old girl who loves ballet. The story unfolds around themes of friendship and dreams. Currently, volumes 1-5 and 3 special editions, a total of 8 books, are on sale and well-received.
This popular series has surpassed 190,000 cumulative copies in print.
■ Introduction to Some Series Titles
■ "Little Ballerina Vol. 1: A Dream Ballet School!"
Written by: Junko Kudo, Illustrated by: Mae Sasaki, Supervised by: Kumiko Murayama
Ballet illustration diagrams by: Yuka Sato
Price: 1,210 yen (tax included)
Target age: Elementary school students (2nd grade and above)
Specifications: B6 modified, hardcover, 166 pages, some color pages
ISBN: 978-4-05-205214-9
Publisher: Gakken Co., Ltd.
For details and purchase of this book, please check Gakken Publishing website, Amazon, Rakuten Books, Seven Net, Kindle, etc.
■ "Little Ballerina: Three Sparkling Stories!"
Written by: Junko Kudo, Illustrated by: Mae Sasaki, Supervised by: Kumiko Murayama
Ballet illustration diagrams by: Yuka Sato
Price: 1,320 yen (tax included)
Target age: Elementary school students (2nd grade and above)
Specifications: B6 modified, hardcover, 164 pages, some color pages
ISBN: 978-4-05-205702-1
Publisher: Gakken Co., Ltd.
For details and purchase of this book, please check Gakken Publishing website, Amazon, Rakuten Books, Seven Net, Kindle, etc.
■ Gakken Co., Ltd. (Gakken Inc.)
- Representative Director and President: Tatsuya Nanjo
- Date of establishment: January 13, 2009 (Trade name changed on October 1, 2022)
- Capital: 50 million yen
- Location: 2-11-8 Nishi-Gotanda, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 141-8416
- Business activities: Publishing and content business, global business, medical and nursing publishing content business, business for kindergartens and schools, classroom-related business, EC and online business, advertising business.
■ Gakken Holdings Co., Ltd. (GAKKEN HOLDINGS CO., LTD.)
- Representative Director and President: Hiroaki Miyahara
- Date of establishment: March 31, 1947
- Capital: 19,817 million yen
- Sales: 199.1 billion yen, Consolidated subsidiaries: 82 companies (as of September 2025)
Listed on the Prime Market of the Tokyo Stock Exchange (Securities Code: 9470)
- Location: 〒141-8