Publisher holds poll for children’s favorite book

January 7, 2018

Tokyo- A Japanese publisher of children's literature is currently holding a poll in which elementary school students can cast votes for their favorite book.

In the voting campaign by Tokyo-based Poplar Publishing Co., students are able to pick any book that is sold in Japan. Some 600 schools have already applied to have their students participate in the election.

Votes are accepted until Feb. 16 through Poplar's website, https://www.poplar.co.jp/company/kodomonohon/, or postcards that are distributed at bookstores and other locations.

The vote results are scheduled to be announced on May 5, which is Children's Day in Japan.

The idea of carrying out a book vote for children was proposed by Dai Okamoto, a 26-year-old Poplar employee, as a commemorative project for the 70th anniversary of the company's founding.

Okamoto made the proposal to create a children's version of the Honya-taisho, a popular Japanese literary prize chosen by bookstore employees.

In Poplar, Okamoto mainly engages in editing educational cartoons. Jiji Press