Taro Gomi, born on August 20, 1945, in Tokyo, is one of Japan's most renowned picture book authors, currently aged 78. He made his debut as a picture book author in 1973 with "Michi" published by Fukuinkan Shoten. Since then, he has created over 400 picture books, appealing to a wide range of readers from children to adults. Some of his most famous works include "The Runaway Goldfish" (1982), which sold approximately 3.3 million copies, "Everyone Poops" (1981), and "Monkey and Me" (1980). Gomi's innovative approach has significantly transformed the concept of picture books, particularly through his unique method of integrating text and illustrations. His works are known for their diverse themes, such as goldfish, poop, and language, and for challenging conventional ideas with fresh perspectives. Gomi has received numerous awards, including the 25th Sankei Children's Publishing Culture Award in 1978 for "Who Ate It?", the Bologna International Children's Book Fair Award in 1981 for "Spring of the Calf", the 22nd Robou no Ishi Literary Award in 2000 for "Occasional Boy", and the 50th Kodansha Picture Book Award in 2019 for "The Desk is a Desk". Besides being a picture book author, Gomi is also an essayist and lyricist, continuously influencing Japanese children's literature with his multifaceted talents. His journey to becoming a picture book author was marked by a series of coincidences and a natural progression, starting at the age of 27 after exploring various creative fields such as music, theater, and design. Initially working as an industrial designer, he found himself struggling with technical drawings and began creating picture book-like illustrations at night, which eventually led to his first publication. Gomi describes his path to becoming a picture book author as a process of finding what felt right for him, ultimately viewing his work as a form of play that naturally evolved into a successful career.