Over 170,000 copies sold! 'The 'That Might Be a Crime' Picture Book' is a viral hit, reaching #1 on Yahoo! News and causing a stir on TBS's 'THE TIME,'
A book released in September 2025 by Kin-no-Hoshi Co., Ltd., 'The 'That Might Be a Crime' Picture Book,' has sold over 170,000 copies. After being featured on the TBS program 'THE TIME,' on April 6th, it topped the Yahoo! News access rankings and has become a hot topic among parents for the new school term, being called 'the one book they most want their children to read right now.'
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 15, 2026 at 20:10
- 🔍 Collected: April 15, 2026 at 11:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 15, 2026 at 14:57 (3h 25m after Collected)
Kin-no-Hoshi Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Taito-ku, Tokyo) has announced that its book 'The 'That Might Be a Crime' Picture Book' (total for both library and handy editions), released in September 2025, has sold over 170,000 copies. After being featured on the TBS program 'THE TIME,' on April 6th, it soared to number one in the Yahoo! News access rankings, creating an explosive response among parents of children starting the new school year, who are calling it 'the one book they most want their children to read right now.'
Over 170,000 copies sold! 'The 'That Might Be a Crime' Picture Book'
■ A 'harmless prank' could actually be a crime!?
'Spitting on the road,' 'hiding a friend's eraser,' 'posting someone else's photo on social media without permission'... Did you know that actions that are an 'extension of everyday life' for children could actually be against the law?
This book introduces 50 actions that children are likely to do in a 'picture book' format. Along with the surprise of 'Is this really a crime?', it uses humorous illustrations to clearly explain basic legal knowledge and why those actions are wrong.
On Monday, April 6, 2026, when the book was featured on TBS Television's 'THE TIME,', it spread instantly on social media. On April 8, an article from 'TBS NEWS DIG' reached number one overall in the Yahoo! News access rankings. In response to this, it reached number one on Amazon's overall book ranking on April 10.
■ Reader Feedback: A hot topic on social media, with parents and children saying, 'We were shocked!'
On social media, mainly Instagram, comments of empathy and surprise are pouring in from parents and children who have actually read the book.
'Not for scolding,' but 'knowledge to protect yourself.'
'It sparked a conversation between me and my child that laws aren't scary, but are 'knowledge to protect yourself.' I reflected on how I used to just say 'don't do that' without being able to properly explain the reason why. It's a book that even adults can't stop saying, 'Wow, really!?' to.'
Kids are hooked on the relatable 'elementary school moments'!
'Elementary schoolers will definitely love this! My second-grade son was completely hooked, grinning as he read it all in one go. Taking a sip from a friend's drink at a drink bar, posting photos on social media without permission... it's full of relatable topics, and I recommend it as a new way to teach traffic rules and life rules.'
'Surprising truths' that even adults don't know.
'It's easy for children to read, and even adults are surprised, thinking, 'This was a crime too?!' It covered various things you should know before becoming an adult, like being careful where you pick up stones, and the 'dueling offense' that can result from common fights between boys.'
A book that addresses the anxieties of starting a new life and preparing for school.
'My daughter is starting elementary school in April. I was worried she might be tempted by friends to do something she shouldn't, but this book is easy to understand with its illustrations, and with furigana over the kanji, even lower-grade students can read it. It's a fun way to engage with stuffy laws, and my senior-kindergarten daughter loves it.'
■ 'The 'That Might Be a Crime' Picture Book' has been featured in numerous media outlets!
'TBS 'Shin-ya Ueda's Sunday Q' (2026/4/12)'
'Me-tele 'Dodesuka!' (2026/4/10)'
'TBS 'N-Sta' (2026/4/9)'
'TBS 'THE TIME,' (2026/4/6)'
'Asahi Broadcasting Corporation Television 'Ohayo Asahi desu' (2026/2/25)'
'Asahi Broadcasting Corporation Television 'news okaeri' (2025/10/24)'
'The 'That Might Be a Crime' Picture Book'
https://amzn.asia/d/01Cec4Sc
Supervised by Yosuke Kojima / Illustrated by Azuki Daruma
Price: 1,540 yen (1,400 yen + tax)
19 x 14.8cm / 128 pages / First edition September 2025
ISBN: 978-4-323-07217-3
✣✣ Town Section ✣✣
A ball went into someone's yard... let's get it! / Let's make this abandoned house our secret base / Found money! I'll take it~ / I can get rich if I copy money! / I'm a middle schooler, but let's ride the train with a child's fare, and more.
✣✣ Friends Section ✣✣
Make the manga I borrowed my own / Let's post a photo on social media / Let's hide their indoor shoes / It's the game I lent them, so I'll take it back, and more.
✣✣ School Section ✣✣
Let's leave a memory by graffitiing on a cultural property / Let's play a prank at the graduation ceremony / Let's just cheat! and more.
✣✣ Traffic Section ✣✣
The green light is flashing, so let's dash across! / Let's use travel time effectively by using my smartphone while walking / The bike light is out, but let's ride it anyway, and more.
Over 170,000 copies sold! 'The 'That Might Be a Crime' Picture Book'
■ A 'harmless prank' could actually be a crime!?
'Spitting on the road,' 'hiding a friend's eraser,' 'posting someone else's photo on social media without permission'... Did you know that actions that are an 'extension of everyday life' for children could actually be against the law?
This book introduces 50 actions that children are likely to do in a 'picture book' format. Along with the surprise of 'Is this really a crime?', it uses humorous illustrations to clearly explain basic legal knowledge and why those actions are wrong.
On Monday, April 6, 2026, when the book was featured on TBS Television's 'THE TIME,', it spread instantly on social media. On April 8, an article from 'TBS NEWS DIG' reached number one overall in the Yahoo! News access rankings. In response to this, it reached number one on Amazon's overall book ranking on April 10.
■ Reader Feedback: A hot topic on social media, with parents and children saying, 'We were shocked!'
On social media, mainly Instagram, comments of empathy and surprise are pouring in from parents and children who have actually read the book.
'Not for scolding,' but 'knowledge to protect yourself.'
'It sparked a conversation between me and my child that laws aren't scary, but are 'knowledge to protect yourself.' I reflected on how I used to just say 'don't do that' without being able to properly explain the reason why. It's a book that even adults can't stop saying, 'Wow, really!?' to.'
Kids are hooked on the relatable 'elementary school moments'!
'Elementary schoolers will definitely love this! My second-grade son was completely hooked, grinning as he read it all in one go. Taking a sip from a friend's drink at a drink bar, posting photos on social media without permission... it's full of relatable topics, and I recommend it as a new way to teach traffic rules and life rules.'
'Surprising truths' that even adults don't know.
'It's easy for children to read, and even adults are surprised, thinking, 'This was a crime too?!' It covered various things you should know before becoming an adult, like being careful where you pick up stones, and the 'dueling offense' that can result from common fights between boys.'
A book that addresses the anxieties of starting a new life and preparing for school.
'My daughter is starting elementary school in April. I was worried she might be tempted by friends to do something she shouldn't, but this book is easy to understand with its illustrations, and with furigana over the kanji, even lower-grade students can read it. It's a fun way to engage with stuffy laws, and my senior-kindergarten daughter loves it.'
■ 'The 'That Might Be a Crime' Picture Book' has been featured in numerous media outlets!
'TBS 'Shin-ya Ueda's Sunday Q' (2026/4/12)'
'Me-tele 'Dodesuka!' (2026/4/10)'
'TBS 'N-Sta' (2026/4/9)'
'TBS 'THE TIME,' (2026/4/6)'
'Asahi Broadcasting Corporation Television 'Ohayo Asahi desu' (2026/2/25)'
'Asahi Broadcasting Corporation Television 'news okaeri' (2025/10/24)'
'The 'That Might Be a Crime' Picture Book'
https://amzn.asia/d/01Cec4Sc
Supervised by Yosuke Kojima / Illustrated by Azuki Daruma
Price: 1,540 yen (1,400 yen + tax)
19 x 14.8cm / 128 pages / First edition September 2025
ISBN: 978-4-323-07217-3
✣✣ Town Section ✣✣
A ball went into someone's yard... let's get it! / Let's make this abandoned house our secret base / Found money! I'll take it~ / I can get rich if I copy money! / I'm a middle schooler, but let's ride the train with a child's fare, and more.
✣✣ Friends Section ✣✣
Make the manga I borrowed my own / Let's post a photo on social media / Let's hide their indoor shoes / It's the game I lent them, so I'll take it back, and more.
✣✣ School Section ✣✣
Let's leave a memory by graffitiing on a cultural property / Let's play a prank at the graduation ceremony / Let's just cheat! and more.
✣✣ Traffic Section ✣✣
The green light is flashing, so let's dash across! / Let's use travel time effectively by using my smartphone while walking / The bike light is out, but let's ride it anyway, and more.