Digital Ehon Award Interview Series, Vol. 6

“Are Picture Books Best Suited for E-Books?”

We spoke with Tsuguhiko Kadokawa, Chairman of Kadokawa Group Holdings, who has created and continues to create globally renowned works such as *The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya* and *Sergeant Keroro*.

　“Aren’t picture books the best fit for e-books?” Mr. Kadokawa asks. He says that when the iPad was released, he intuitively felt that it was best suited for Digital Ehon. Until now, it has been said that computers aren’t well-suited for Japanese people, including children.This is because they have no habit of typing on a typewriter. Consequently, it was said that Japan was falling behind in the information age. However, when the iPad appeared, children began using it by touch as if it were the most natural thing in the world. The term “touch revolution” was coined. That touch revolution completely transformed the lives of the Japanese. There was no longer any reason for them to lag behind Westerners.Although IT innovation began in the United States, it has already become part of the Japanese DNA. This is true for children as well. In the past, parents would give their children a TV to watch, but looking at today’s parents, they’re giving them tablets. It’s no longer “Go watch some TV,” but rather, “Go watch something on your tablet.”Children are digital natives, but their parents are also part of the digital generation. We are undergoing a revolutionary shift into a new era. “Children’s experiences are shifting from what they saw on TV to what they see on tablets. It has been 60 years since the birth of television. History is now on the verge of a major transformation.”

　He also points out the ripple effects on the field of education. “When civilization and culture become mainstream, education tends to be neglected, while entertainment gains prominence. During the era of high birth rates, the education industry was booming, but now it’s facing tough times. In its place, entertainment has become more abundant.“However, with the advent of tablets, I have a hunch that education will once again become important—while incorporating elements of entertainment. In fact, a world is already emerging where school backpacks are disappearing, replaced by a single iPad.” He expressed a desire to rethink education from the perspective of entertainment.“This doesn’t mean that tablets will replace traditional education. It means that digital technology will serve as a catalyst for a new era of education.”

Of course, there are things we need to be careful about. Television was a public broadcasting service and a licensed business. Everyone adhered to ethical standards in producing content. However, with tablets, there are no filters.Society seeps directly into children’s lives. That’s why we must improve both the literacy of content providers and that of users.

“Isn’t the Digital Ehon Award contributing significantly to the learning of content providers?” he asked. “It’s been a few years since the iPad debuted. I was surprised to see works like this already emerging.Rather than simply digitizing picture books, the mindset of creating ‘Digital Ehon’ is what’s important. I believe Digital Ehon forms the foundation of e-books.”
He points out that the term “e-book” itself is becoming outdated in today’s era. “The term ‘e-book’ was coined around the time CD-ROMs were introduced. Nowadays, e-books are on the internet—in other words, they’re ‘web books.’ Yet we still call them ‘e-books’ instead of ‘web books,’ don’t we?Publishers already understand that simply replacing printed paper books with digital versions won’t work. Digital offers possibilities that printed media could never provide. Publishers must change. That’s why the seemingly simple theme of ‘Digital Ehon’ is actually forcing publishers to face up to this reality.”

　The methods of expression differ completely between print and digital. He suggests that picture book authors will likely split into two camps going forward. Print picture books exist in a two-dimensional world, while Digital Ehon exists in a three-dimensional world. While there is a category of pop-up books in print where illustrations leap out when you open the page, this is a given in Digital Ehon.Those who want to express themselves in 2D will stick with paper, while those who want to express themselves in 3D will turn to digital. In the world of paper, it used to be enough to have the ability to draw and the writing skills to craft a story. With digital, additional technical skills are required. Of course, the bar for expression will be raised, but if creators are digital natives, they likely won’t even perceive that bar as high.The range of creative possibilities is expanding, and new types of creators are emerging.
“It means that 3D is becoming a new element in how they express themselves. We can no longer confine a generation for whom this is the norm to 2D. However, of course, support is needed to help them master the technology. We need to provide the technology continuously and lower the barriers to entry. As a publisher, we must support this effort.”

　There was a time when it was said that e-books weren’t gaining traction because publishers wanted to preserve print, but it seems publishers actually want to embrace e-books. However, since formats used to vary widely across devices, the cost of compatibility prevented them from taking that first step. Since formats have been standardized, e-books have been spreading rapidly.In fact, there are now authors for whom e-book royalties account for half of their income. I’m hopeful that the market will expand even further as people from the younger generation achieve the “American Dream” in the field of Digital Ehon.

　“Everyone working hard in the Digital Ehon industry is a comrade. I hope the industry continues to grow steadily. I’ll do everything I can to support it. There may be hardships now, but once you break through them, the world will change in an instant. Let’s keep pushing forward until then,” he said, offering a powerful message.