[Held on Saturday, July 11] Yamasaki’s Picture Book Exhibition 〜 Picture Books Created to Share, as Someone with Lived Experience, “Invisible Disabilities” and “The Struggles of Living”

It can be difficult to express and understand how you feel, whether you yourself or someone close to you, such as a family member, is living with an illness or struggling to get by.

You may also want to hear directly from someone who has been through it.

For anyone in this situation, we’d like to introduce the “Yamasaki-san Picture Book Exhibition,” held on July 11, 2026.

What is the “Yamasaki-san Picture Book Exhibition”?

The “Yamasaki-san Picture Book Exhibition” is a picture book exhibition held on July 11, 2026, at “iroiro,” a free space inside Kurashiki Ebisu Shopping Street in Kurashiki City.

The author, Yamasaki-san, is now 38 years old. At age 25, they suddenly developed a medical condition (Chiari malformation and higher brain dysfunction).
However, because it was an “invisible disability,” Yamasaki-san says that everyday life and work became difficult.

They decided to express how they felt at the time through picture books. As of 2026, they have completed six works, all of which will be available to read at the exhibition.

Yamasaki-san writes the text, while someone else creates the illustrations.

An interview with picture book author Yamasaki-san

We spoke with picture book author Yamasaki-san about the exhibition.

What was your intention in planning the exhibition?

Yamasaki-san

My main intention was to help people living with illness or struggling to get by, as well as those around them, feel even a little better through picture books.

I hope a wide range of people will read them—not just young children, but everyone from upper elementary school students through adults.

Why did you choose picture books as your medium?

Yamasaki-san

Rather than writing at length and in detail like a textbook, I thought picture books might be the best way to convey my feelings in a few short words.

What are the highlights of this exhibition, and are there any works you’d recommend to first-time readers?

Yamasaki-san

I think one of the highlights is that I’ll be at the venue and able to meet everyone in person.

I currently have six works in total.
For first-time readers, I recommend my first book, “Three Steps Forward, One Step Back,” and my second, “Just As I Am,” as an “entry point” to help them get to know what kind of person I am.

Could you tell us about how you create your works and what makes them distinctive?

Yamasaki-san

I write the text and ask someone else to create the illustrations.
Sometimes I reach out directly to artists whose illustrations I find on social media and ask them to collaborate, thinking their work might suit my writing. For my most recent work (the sixth book), I also used AI to create the illustrations.

The things I write about tend to be somewhat dark, but adding illustrations softens the expression. One distinctive feature is that the illustrations can spark people’s interest.

Finally, do you have a message for our readers?

Yamasaki-san

The exhibition will be held on July 11, from around 1:30 p.m. to around 5 p.m. I hope you’ll feel free to stop by.

Some parts of the picture books may be a little dark, but I’d be happy if you can relate to them or feel even a little better after reading them.

I hope to spend some relaxed time with everyone who comes. I look forward to seeing you.

From the Writer

What I felt while listening to Yamasaki-san during the interview was a “kind-hearted wish” for as many people as possible to understand disability, and to be able to help others in similar circumstances.

Of course, you can pick up and read the books, but if you have even a little interest, please go and meet Yamasaki-san.

Get handpicked articles from Kurashiki Tocotoco on LINE