In-person Event: Making the Most of the Bologna Book Fair

Jun 20, 2025

Tokyo Women's Plaza 150-0001 Tokyo, Shibuya, Jingumae, 5 Chome−53−67

Three of our members will talk about what the Bologna Book Fair has to offer.

Have you ever thought about attending the Bologna Book Fair? Considered submitting your illustrations to the prestigious Illustrators Exhibition? Maybe you'd like to learn more about the translation opportunities, the writers, publishers and all that jazz?

Join us in person and find out what it's really like. Three of our very talented SCBWI Japan members who attended this year's fair are bursting to share their experiences with us.

Aya Watanabe

Aya Watanabe is a picture book author and illustrator. She has worked in the children’s content industry for over twenty years, and has also created illustrations for events, festivals, advertising, and magazines. Selected for the Bologna Children’s Book Fair Illustrators Exhibition (2017) Selected for The Unpublished Picturebook Showcase (Frankfurt Book Fair, 2019) http://www.aw-illustrations.com

Dionnie Takahashi

Dionnie Takahashi is a passionate author-illustrator who thrives on creating imaginative, adventurous, and often silly stories that spark joy and laughter. She works primarily in digital media and constantly explores new ways to enhance her storytelling and illustration skills. Dionnie holds a BA (Hons) in Multimedia Art (Animation) from Birmingham City University and is also qualified to teach English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) to young learners. She lives in Japan with her husband, two teens, and a pair of rescued sibling cats. When she’s not making books, Dionnie enjoys gardening, napping, collecting picture books, and watching comedies. You can find more of Dionnie's illustrations on her IG https://www.instagram.com/blackcabbit/ Or

Miyako Araki

Beginning to build experience as a graphic novel translator, Miyako Araki holds a Master of Arts degree in Media Studies from Goldsmiths, University of London. While working as a company employee and raising two children, she carves out time to run LITOBOOKS, an initiative dedicated to sharing unique books through small press publishing. In 2019, as part of the official Setouchi International Art Festival program, she co-organized the Setouchi Art Book Festival under the unit name SABFmakers.