[Kodansha] Why 'Japanese Constitution for Children' is Gaining Attention [Unusual Continuous Reprints of a 20-Year-Old Picture Book]

'Inoue Hisashi's Japanese Constitution for Children' has seen a rapid surge in orders at online bookstores since the inauguration of the second Takaichi cabinet in February 2026. Subsequently, unusual consecutive reprints were decided for March and April, and the book is beginning to appear on bookstore shelves.

Cocreco, a web media platform for parenting and reading operated by the Children's Book Publishing Department of Kodansha Ltd., announced the publication of an article at 12:00 PM on Thursday, April 23, 2026. Approaching Constitution Memorial Day on May 3, the article features interviews with bookstores and stakeholders about 'Inoue Hisashi's Japanese Constitution for Children,' which is gaining attention 20 years after its release.

See details of the cocreco article

Kodansha cocreco article screen

'Inoue Hisashi's Japanese Constitution for Children' (Written by Hisashi Inoue, Illustrated by Chihiro Iwasaki, Published by Kodansha) experienced a rapid increase in orders at online bookstores after the second Takaichi cabinet was formed in February 2026. Following this, unprecedented consecutive reprints were decided for March and April, and copies are starting to line bookstore shelves.

The article distributed by Kodansha cocreco on Thursday, April 23, 2026, includes photos of storefronts in Tokyo and interview comments from bookstore staff. It also features comments from Yuri Inoue, Hisashi Inoue's wife, who supported him in his later years and watched the birth of this book closely.

[Background and Sales of the Unusual Reprint and Buzz Surrounding a 20-Year-Old Picture Book]

News about 'constitutional revision' is often seen on TV. Have you ever been asked by your child, 'What does this mean?' and found yourself at a loss for an answer?

Currently, as the dispatch of the Self-Defense Forces and the lifting of the ban on weapons exports are being debated, movements surrounding constitutional revision are rapidly heating up. Nationwide, protests advocating 'opposition to constitutional revision' by young people holding penlights are spreading, and interest in the constitution is rising across society as an issue 'concerning our own future.'

Regarding the background of the reprint, sales, and why 'Inoue Hisashi's Japanese Constitution for Children' is drawing attention, the head of the editorial department that publishes this book states:

"'Inoue Hisashi's Japanese Constitution for Children' sells stably every year to the extent that it can be called a long-seller. However, in February of this year, when the new cabinet was formed following a dissolution election, sales were 15 times higher than the previous month. In March, it sold three times as much as the exceptionally strong February, showing that it is exactly the book people are seeking right now.

When you place yourself in the SNS space, you feel forced to immediately choose between 'protect the constitution' or 'revise the constitution.' But I think this means there are many people who want to know the root of the issue—'Well, what exactly is the constitution?'—and want to convey that to their children.

When you want to understand something you haven't thought about before, children's books gently unravel it from the very roots. That is why, although they rarely become instantaneous bestsellers, there are many long-sellers whose significance does not fade even after many years.

I feel reminded once again that it is the duty of us publishers to cast a fresh light on such books."

(Taichiro Katayose, Director of the Early Childhood & Educational Books Publishing Department, Kodansha)

See details of the cocreco article

Reporting on the background of the buzz around 'Inoue Hisashi's Japanese Constitution for Children.' Introducing the book's content and reading videos.
Along with photos of bookstores in Tokyo and interview comments from bookstore staff, it includes comments from Yuri Inoue, who supported Hisashi Inoue in his later years and witnessed the creation of this book.

'The Shape of This Country (Preamble)': Words conveyed by Hisashi Inoue

'Inoue Hisashi's Japanese Constitution for Children' (Written by Hisashi Inoue, Illustrated by Chihiro Iwasaki, Published by Kodansha)

The author of 'Inoue Hisashi's Japanese Constitution for Children,' Hisashi Inoue, is one of Japan's leading post-war writers. He left behind many theatrical works themed around war.

The book was published in 2006 as a picture book that conveys the contents of the constitution by 'translating' the 'Preamble' and 'Article 9,' which express the spirit of the pacifist constitution, into words that children can understand.

From 'The Shape of This Country (Preamble)'

All the people cannot gather in one place
to have a discussion,
and even if they could,
it would be too noisy to understand anything.

Therefore, we the people
chose 'representatives' through a decided method,
sent them to the Diet,
and decided to have them discuss thoroughly
how to make our future
a better one.

If we, with people from other countries
in the world who share the same hopes,
discuss with all our hearts
and join forces,
then surely there will be no need for war.

We have firmly
made that resolve.

Furthermore, in 'About Article 9,' where Mr. Inoue expresses his own thoughts on the constitution, he calls out to readers like this:

"Since Article 9 was created, stating we will never go to war again,
the Japanese state as a country has not killed people from other countries,
nor manufactured weapons to sell to other countries...