Toyo Shibata facts for kids
Toyo Shibata (born June 26, 1911 – died January 20, 2013) was an amazing Japanese poet. She became famous for her first collection of poems, called Kujikenaide, which means "Don't lose heart." This book was published in 2009 and sold a huge number of copies – 1.58 million! To give you an idea, selling just 10,000 poetry books in Japan is usually considered a big success.
Her book was so popular that it even reached the top of Japan's Oricon bestseller chart, which tracks the most popular books and music.
How Toyo Shibata Became a Poet
Toyo Shibata started writing poetry when she was 92 years old! Before that, her favorite hobby was classical Japanese dance. But she had to stop dancing because of back pain.
Her son, Kenichi, suggested she try writing poems instead. So, she started writing, and that's how her incredible journey as a poet began.
The Success of Kujikenaide
When Kujikenaide was first published, Toyo Shibata paid for it herself. This is called "self-publishing." But because it became so popular, a big publisher named Asuka Shinsha decided to print it again in 2010. They even added new artwork to the book. Her first book had 42 poems in it.
Later Life and Legacy
By 2011, Toyo Shibata was still busy writing poems for a second collection. She lived by herself in the suburbs of Tokyo and was a widow.
Her story was so inspiring that a TV show about her was made and shown in December 2010.
Toyo Shibata passed away on January 20, 2013, when she was 101 years old. She died in a nursing home in Utsunomiya, a city north of Tokyo. Her poems continue to inspire many people to "not lose heart."
