Ellie Omiya and MONGOL800's Kiyosaku's Collaborative Picture Book 'Anata ni' Released Today; Kiyosaku's Comment on the Production Arrives

Rittor Music Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director and President: Daisuke Matsumoto), which handles music-related media business within the Impress Group, released 'Uta no Hondana Anata ni' on April 23, 2026.

This book is the latest work in the 'Uta no Hondana' series, which has garnered attention as a project to reconstruct lyrics as picture books. It is composed of paintings by Ellie Omiya, who was active in various fields as a writer, painter, and scriptwriter, and the lyrics of 'Anata ni,' a representative song by MONGOL800's Kiyosaku, with whom she had a deep friendship, celebrating its 25th anniversary this year since its release in 2001.

Ellie Omiya, who demonstrated her talents in many areas and passed away on April 23, 2025, was said to have poured particular passion into painting and art production in her later years. Kiyosaku of MONGOL800 selected from her many works featuring 'flowers,' which she often chose as motifs due to her love of nature, and the two's collaborations, which they had performed numerous times during her lifetime, have been realized once again.

Upon its release, a comment from MONGOL800's Kiyosaku, who wrote the lyrics for 'Anata ni,' has arrived.

● Kiyosaku's Comment

First, thank you for inviting me to this wonderful and heartfelt project.

Ellie-san, who ran through 'now' lightly and exhilaratingly, just like a 'living comedy'.

I wonder if she's finally taking a breather.

Or is she still bustling around?

While imagining such things, I'm living the continuation of the comedy Ellie-san left behind.

This picture book,

I'm glad that our new work together is complete.

Because we still had so many sessions left to do.

It was just so much fun.

Let's play again.

Kiyosaku (MONGOL800 / UKULELE GYPSY)

■ Bibliographic Information

Title: Uta no Hondana Anata ni

Lyrics: Kiyosaku

Illustrations: Ellie Omiya

Price: 2,200 yen (2,000 yen + 10% tax)

Specifications: 7-inch size (174mm x 174mm) / 32 pages

Release: April 23, 2026

ISBN: 978-4-8456-4427-8

Publisher: Rittor Music

Product Information Page: https://www.rittor-music.co.jp/product/detail/3126317107/

■ PROFILE

Ellie Omiya

Born in Osaka in 1975, graduated from the University of Tokyo Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences. Engaged in various genres of activities as a writer, stage director/producer, drama/film director, video producer, and radio personality. Starting with 'Ikiru Conte' in 2008, she published numerous essays and dialogue collections, and from 2012, she began interactive exhibitions where visitors participate to complete works by conveying images and words. Also started painting in 2012. In addition to numerous solo exhibitions, she created public art, performed live painting at music events, and also produced installations, ceramic works, and fusuma paintings. Passed away in 2025.

http://ellie-office.com/

Photography: Junji Moroi (credit required)

Kiyosaku (MONGOL800 / UKULELE GYPSY)

Vocals & bass for the Okinawan three-piece band MONGOL800. Responsible for lyrics and composition. His natural words and messages wishing for peace, originating from Okinawa where he was born, raised, and lives, resonate with many people and receive strong support. As a solo artist, he provides songs to other artists, participates in collaborations, and produces. With a flexible style that is not bound by frameworks, he is expanding his musical activities.

http://www.mongol800.jp/

■ What is 'Uta no Hondana'?

'Uta no Hondana' is a project that reconstructs timeless beloved songs as picture books. Focusing on the lyrics of songs, popular illustrators visualize their world through their own filters.

[Rittor Music Co., Ltd.] https://www.rittor-music.co.jp/

In addition to publishing specialized magazines for players and creators of musical instruments and music production, such as 'Guitar Magazine' and 'Sound & Recording Magazine,' and instrumental instruction books, they also develop music-related media and content businesses such as electronic publishing and distribution of videos and sound sources. They also operate the multi-purpose space 'Ochanomizu RITTOR BASE' and popular web services such as 'Digimart,' Japan's largest instrument marketplace, and 'T-OD,' an on-demand T-shirt sales site.

[Impress Group] https://www.impressholdings.com/

Media group with Impress Holdings Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Yuki Tsukamoto) as its holding company. Focuses on 'IT,' 'Music,' 'Design,' 'Mountains/Nature.'