Today we’re thrilled to reveal the cover for picture book Tokyo Night Parade by J.P. Takahashi, illustrated by Minako Tomigahara! The jacket art is by Minako Tomigahara and the jacket design is by Dana Fritts. The book was edited by Mabel Hsu and will be released on October 10, 2023 by Katherine Tegen Books. Preorder it here, here, here, or here.
The night parade is about to begin. . .
The ground thunders in Tokyo. A gust of wind blows. The pitter-patter of paws and claws draws closer. The air is thick with swirling, swooping demons.
It’s Eka’s favorite evening of the year, the one night she refuses to miss. But it’s become harder to travel to Japan now that she’s living across the world in New York. Unsure of when she can return next to see her yokai friends, Eka tries to forgether that this could be her last parade for some time.
Instead, she’ll march, sing, dance, and screech until sunrise. Because on this night, there’s no time to waste—the night parade awaits.
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A word from the author:
It’s a delight to debut with a book that’s as personal to my experience as Tokyo Night Parade is—to write a Black Asian protagonist into the yōkai folklore I grew up with and continue to love into adulthood. Working with Tomi on this project has been the creative partnership of my dreams; under Mabel’s inspired editorial vision and Tomi’s masterful illustration, this remarkable team has brought the story of my heart vibrantly to life. I can’t wait to share it with readers. — J.P. Takahashi
A word from the illustrator:
I am truly honored to be a part of this wonderful story created by Jas, and collaborating with an amazing team. It was a very special and enjoyable time for me to be able to illustrate the yokais of the Hyakki yagyo, that I have loved since I was a child. I myself live far from my homeland of Japan, so I could really relate to the feelings of the main character, Eka. I hope readers enjoy this book as much as I do! — Minako Tomigahara
A word from the editor:
Tokyo Night Parade is a fantastical, beautifully unsettling, and utterly unique picture book. While we’ve been comping it as Spirited Away meets Where the Wild Things Are, J.P. and Tomi’s work also evokes something entirely their own—a story about the friendship between a young girl and her misunderstood yōkai creatures, existing in the small spaces where the physical and spiritual worlds intertwine. I have been deeply touched by this story and the way it subtly weaves in a tale familiar to many immigrant families: homesickness, a shifting center of home, and the bittersweet joy of reunion within the homeland. Of course, it ends with a lovely reminder to enjoy what we can while we can, and to dance as long as the night parade goes on. — Mabel Hsu
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Credit: H. WalkerJ.P. Takahashi was born in New York City and raised by a family of readers in the United States and Japan. She loves a good adventure, in real life and in her imagination—especially when it’s as scary as it is magical.
