Picture Book 'How Vegetables and Fruits Changed' Out June 4: Ancient Apples Were 2cm Wide

Key facts

  • Picture Book 'How Vegetables and Fruits Changed' Out June 4: Ancient Apples Were 2cm Wide
  • Kodansha releases a picture book on June 4, 2026, comparing the ancient and modern forms of 14 crops, such as 2cm-wide apples, supervised by NARO. Written by Akina Horikawa, it costs 2,200 yen.
  • Source: PR Times
  • Date: June 5, 2026

Direct answer

Kodansha releases a picture book on June 4, 2026, comparing the ancient and modern forms of 14 crops, such as 2cm-wide apples, supervised by NARO. Written by Akina Horikawa, it costs 2,200 yen.

Citation
Picture Book 'How Vegetables and Fruits Changed' Out June 4: Ancient Apples Were 2cm Wide (June 5, 2026), PR Times
Source
PR Times
Date
June 5, 2026
Kodansha releases a picture book on June 4, 2026, comparing the ancient and modern forms of 14 crops, such as 2cm-wide apples, supervised by NARO. Written by Akina Horikawa, it costs 2,200 yen.
businessNQ 85/100出典：PR Times

📋 Article Processing Timeline

  • 📰 Published: June 5, 2026 at 23:10
  • 🔍 Collected: June 5, 2026 at 14:20
  • 🤖 AI Analyzed: June 6, 2026 at 17:16 (26h 55m after Collected)
Kodansha will publish the picture book 'How Much They Changed! Vegetables and Fruits, Past and Present' on June 4, 2026, priced at 2,200 yen. Written by science writer Akina Horikawa, this educational book features 14 types of crops, illustrating how selective breeding over history has transformed their appearance, size, and flavor. For example, ancient apples were only 2cm in diameter, resembling sour cherries, while ancestral sweet potatoes looked like thin roots. Supervised by the National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO), the book offers accurate photos, trivia, and columns to foster children's interest in science and food education. It marks Horikawa's first picture book publication.

FAQ

What is the release date and price of this book?

It was released on June 4, 2026, and is priced at 2,200 yen (including tax).

What are specific examples of the past appearance of vegetables and fruits introduced in the book?

Ancient apples were only 2 cm in diameter, resembled cherries, and tasted sour, while the ancestors of sweet potatoes looked like thin, stringy roots.

How many types of crops are featured in this book, and what features do the pages have?

A total of 14 types of crops are featured, and every crop section includes a trivia snippet (mamechishiki).

Which organizations supervised and contributed to the creation of this book?

It was created with photo contributions and supervisory cooperation from numerous researchers, centered around the National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO).

Who is the author, Akina Horikawa?

She is a science writer from Niigata Prefecture. After working for a pesticide/seed manufacturer and as a science communicator at Miraikan, she went independent in 2016. This is her first picture book.

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