As Japan licks its wounds, we wanted to tell you about a stage adaptation of the Little Prince. Behind the adaptation is Kaze, one of Japan’s most famous acting troupes. To whet your appetite for the forthcoming interview with the…continue reading →
Search Results for: japan
The day it all began
For our last escapade in Japan, here are some of the highlights from the official opening of the Little Prince motorway service area in Yorii. A delightful musical introduction is followed by words from Olivier d’Agay, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s great-nephew and director of the Succession Saint-Exupéry-d’Agay estate, who sees in this new development a splendid expression of the Little Prince’s values. Following in the footsteps of the Hakone theme park, the Yorii service area is the second location in Japan dedicated entirely to the Little Prince.
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Little Prince Service Area
| The Little Prince Service Area is now open to the Japanese drivers. We have exclusive pictures from the different part of this unique place. Today, we introduce the Village to you, the main area where drivers can chill, have a drink, grab a bite and visit in a place inspired by the Villages in the south of France. |  |
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Yorii: the first photos
| A little while ago, we told you about a rather unusual motorway service area under construction in Japan. Mission accomplished: the Little Prince motorway service area at Yorii opened this week, and we have an exclusive for you – the very first photos of a stopping-off point for travellers that pays tribute to the Little Prince and to French culture. |  |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
An encyclopaedia for the Little Prince!
 |
No, it’s not a joke – simply the latest work from gifted academic Mino Hiroshi, already the author of an earlier work on the Little Prince in which he studied every word and phrase to decipher its hidden meaning.
Mino Hiroshi has also translated The Little Prince into Japanese. Now he has brought out an encyclopaedia (alas, in Japanese only) retracing the history of the Little Prince, from his birth to his impact, dissemination and various developments.
Discover his portrait. |
The Little Prince as seen by Zoé
 |
Often we show you illustrations by adult artists. Recently, however, we received this lovely watercolour from Zoé… aged 12! We learn from her blog that this is her very first watercolour. Thank you, Zoé, for painting the Little Prince and his rose. Zoé already has her own blog online, featuring snippets of her everyday life depicted in kawaii (“cute” in Japanese) manga style. Feel free to leave an encouraging comment for this budding young artist.
Visit her blog : blogkawaii.canalblog.com
Well done, Zoé! |
Super Mario, a fan of the Little Prince?
| You may well wonder when you take a look at the levels of Super Mario Galaxy 1 and 2. The famous plumber travels from planet to planet: planets as small as asteroid B612; planets that take no time to visit, rather like those in the story. Planets full of trees and flowers that constantly remind us of certain chapters from the book. |  |
 |
Super Mario is a video game hero who was created in Japan, and we know the Little Prince is firmly established in the country’s collective imagination (as witnessed by the Hakone museum and numerous editions of the book), so it is easy to imagine him having some influence, direct or indirect, on the game’s designer, Yoshiaki Koizumi. |
| For a better idea of the similarities between the game and the world of the Little Prince, take a look at the preview for Super Mario Galaxy 2. On the web, a number of players have mentioned the similarities, and journalists testing the game often draw comparisons between Mario’s adventurings and those of the Little Prince. |
|
|
The tale of a pop-up book
 |
Collectable, perfect gift, bookstore impulse buy… the giant pop-up book has proved a hit with the public. After a first edition running to 180,000 copies, including 30,000 for France, this charming book has now been reprinted in a further 200,000 copies.
The world loves the Little Prince pop-up book too, as shown by this selection of 15 front covers in languages ranging from Catalan to Korean by way of Modern Greek. Click here! |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
On the road with the Little Prince
 |
The Little Prince has more fans than it is possible to count in Japan. The book is a national success and has even been the subject of academic research, including a study by university professor Hiroshi Mino. The Little Prince is a true popular icon, on the same footing as the characters of Hayao Miyazaki, the director of animated feature films. He even has his own museum, not far from Mount Fuji, dedicated to the character himself and his author. |  |
 |
Next summer will see the opening of a new space bearing his name: the Little Prince motorway service area. Near the town of Yorii, this is a popular stopping-off point for passing motorists. There will be restaurant facilities where visitors can taste typical specialities from Provence and stretch their legs in a real garden planted with roses and lavender. |  |
The Little Prince service area is still under construction, but we will be keeping you posted on a project that offers a new take on motorway service areas.
The Little Prince manga-style
 |
As collectors will be aware, the Little Prince has already made his appearance in manga (Japanese cartoon strips). Today we invite you to take a look at two manga-style representations of the much-loved character, both found on Internet. Though both are very different in physical appearance from the familiar figure, it is obvious that the respective artists have grasped the relationship between the Little Prince and his rose, and the care he takes to protect her.
The drawing on the left is the work of Kazuya Minekura, creator of the Saiyuki series (well known to mangas fans); the second is a tribute by an illustrator who goes by the pseudonym of Nyotaro and about whom very little is known, apart from the fact that she lives in Thailand.
Find out more: Kazuya’s blog and Nyotaro’s Deviant Art web page. |
 |