The first and eponymous book was published in 1967,[1] and was followed by five others: 11 Piki no Neko to Ahōdori (11ぴきのねことあほうどり) (1972),[3]11 Piki no Neko to Buta (11ぴきのねことぶた) (1976),[4]11 Piki no Neko Fukuro no Naka (11ぴきのねこ ふくろのなか) (1982),[5]11 Piki no Neko to Henna Neko (11ぴきのねことへんなねこ) (1989),[6] and 11 Piki no Neko Doronko (11ぴきのねこ どろんこ) (1996).[7] In the year the last one was published, Koguma released a box set containing the six books.[8]
Additionally, an emaki book, 11 Piki no Neko Marathon Taikai (11ぴきのねこ マラソン大会, 11 Piki no Neko Marason Taikai), was released in 1992 and re-released in 2011;[9][10] a karuta book was released in 1994;[11] and three post card books were released in 1986, 1998, and 2001 by Koguma.[12][13][14]
Reception
The first book received the Sankei Children's Book Award a year after its release.[15] In 1973 11 Piki no Neko to Ahōdori was awarded the Bungeishunjū Manga Award.[16] In 1985 11 Piki no Neko Marathon Taikai won a special mention at the BolognaRagazzi Awards.[17] The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) requested the Children and Young Adults Section of the Japan Library Association to select ten books "which have been read by many children over many years" in Japan. In 2013, IFLA published a book titled The World Through Picture Books and included the first book from the series as the fourth most important picture book of Japan.[1]
Adaptations
Group TAC adapted the two first book of the series into anime films: the first was released on July 19, 1980, and the second on August 27, 1986.[18] The first one was directed by Shiro Fujimoto and the second by Tameo Ogawa, while Yoshitake Suzuki wrote the screenplay for both versions.[19][20]Hiromi Go and Tōru Furuya dubbed the main role for the first and the second film respectively.[21][22] Both films were dubbed into German and released by Taurus Video.[23][24]
^Sakamoto, Mamiko (January 2013). "『11ぴきのネコ』劇中歌と原典の関係—選曲の問題を考えるために—" [The Relationship between Songs within the Play of "Ju-ippiki no Neko" and the Original Book and Script: For the Purpose of Selecting Songs to Perform] (PDF). 富山大学人間発達科学研究実践総合センター紀要 教育実践研究 (in Japanese) (7). University of Toyama: 93–102. Archived(PDF) from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved May 3, 2015.