Kyoko Matsuoka (March 12, 1935 – January 25, 2022; Japanese: 松岡享子, romanized: Matsuoka Kyōko) was a Japanese librarian, translator, and expert in children's literature. She is known for her own children's books, of which she wrote more than 200 in her lifetime, as well as translations of works for young readers, particularly her translation of the classic Paddington Bear series.[1][2]
After working at the Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore, Maryland, and the Osaka Municipal Central Library, she founded the Matsunomi Bunko, a private children's library.[3] When Matsunomi and three other libraries joined to form the Tokyo Children's Library in 1974, she became founding director of the organization.[3] She remained honorary chair of the library until her death in 2022.[4]
In 2021, she was designated a Person of Cultural Merit.[1][2]
- ^ a b "「くまのパディントン」翻訳 児童文学者の松岡享子さん死去". Sankei News (in Japanese). 2022-01-28. Retrieved 2022-12-13.
- ^ a b "2021年度の文化勲章受章者・功労者 主な業績". Nikkei (in Japanese). 2021-10-26. Retrieved 2022-12-13.
- ^ a b Takahashi, Kichiro (2006). "Bunko: A private children's library in Japan" (PDF). World Library and Information Congress.
- ^ "児童文学者の松岡享子さん死去 「くまのパディントン」翻訳". 秋田魁新報社 (in Japanese). 2022-01-28. Retrieved 2022-12-29.