Today, October 6th, 2022, the sad news was announced that 山脇百合子 Yuriko Yamawaki had passed away on September 29th, 2022. She was 80 years old.

Yamawaki provided the art for numerous children's books, including the picture book series ぐりとぐら (guri to gura | Guri and Gura) and the picture book そらいろのたね (sorairo no tane | The Sky-Colored Seed).

Among them, the Guri and Gura series, created with her sister and picture book author 中川李枝子 Rieko Nakagawa, has been cherished around the world since it was first published in 1963 then subsequently translated in several languages.

The stories, following the adventures of a pair of twin anthropomorphic field mice, Guri and Gura, are familiar to most people raised in Japanese-speaking families, many of whom have fond memories of reading the books as children and once again, with their children and grandchildren.

In 2013, Yamawaki and Nakagawa jointly received the Kikuchi Kan Prize which honors individuals and organizations that have made significant achievements in the field of culture.

Yamawaki has brought smiles to many people's faces through her gentle brush.

On social media, people who grew up reading those books have been leaving comments expressing their condolences for Yamawaki's passing as well as their gratitude for her wonderful work.

Her illustrations will surely remain for generations to come, entertaining children throughout their early years.

May she rest in peace.