Climbing Poles

Could this be a school playground during recess? There’s a boy clearly climbing with ease, a girl wearing a look of determination grasping the pole with both hands and legs, and another boy who has discarded his shoes and is desperately hanging on. Looking at their movements and expressions, we can easily imagine each child’s personality and physical ability. According to her editor at the time, Chihiro offered commentary when while painting this illustration, saying, “This child is going to fall off,” and “This child is only hanging on by a thread.” This illustration was included in Elementary School Social Studies: Taro and Hanako, a textbook for first-grade elementary students. As its content was not subject to screening, it was a relatively freely produced supplementary reader aimed at helping students enjoyably learn about the local community. Chihiro was responsible for all of the illustrations that appeared in the book as well as the text, the layout, and even the printing, resulting in a work that was, in many respects, very much like one of her picture books.