BL Shuppan

BL Shuppan (ビーエル出版株式会社, BL出版) is a Japanese publishing house specializing in children's literature — picture books, fairy tales and translated foreign children's books — headquartered in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture. It also sells educational toys. The company traces its origins to 1970, when it began publishing educational picture books as the publishing division of Bookloan Co., Ltd. (ブックローン株式会社). In 1974 it was spun off as Bookloan Publishing Co., Ltd. (ブックローン出版株式会社), an affiliated publishing company, and began publishing Japanese-language editions of foreign children's books and distributing educational toys from overseas manufacturers. In 1980 it started general commercial distribution of children's books, and in 1985 its own titles won their first award — the 32nd Sankei Children's Book Award for the "Dakkun Asobou yo" series. That same year it began publishing winners of children's literature prizes, including the grand-prize picture-book winner of the Nissan Children's Storybook and Picture Book Grand Prix. In 1990 it launched "Pee Boo," a picture-book information magazine. In 1997 the company changed its name from Bookloan Publishing Co., Ltd. to BL Shuppan Co., Ltd. (ビーエル出版株式会社). Its books have since won numerous children's literature awards, including the Japan Picture Book Award and the Nankichi Niimi Children's Literature Award. On August 5, 2024, the company marked its 50th anniversary. Its catalogue includes Japanese translations of the "Elmer the Elephant" series, the "Toot and Puddle" series, the "Konezumi Miko" series and the "Caroline and Her Eight Friends" series, as well as the "Noh Picture Book" series and the "Wani-kun" series. BL Shuppan cooperates with the Nissan Children's Storybook and Picture Book Grand Prix, established by Nissan Motor in 1984: the grand-prize winners in the story and picture-book categories are published by the company and donated by Nissan to libraries and kindergartens around Japan.

BL Shuppan's history begins in 1970, when Bookloan Co., Ltd. (ブックローン株式会社) started publishing educational picture books through its publishing division. In 1974 the publishing operation was spun off as Bookloan Publishing Co., Ltd. (ブックローン出版株式会社), an affiliated publishing company of Bookloan, and it began publishing Japanese-language editions of foreign children's books while also selling educational toys made by overseas manufacturers. In 1980 the company began general commercial distribution of children's books, moving beyond its earlier role. In 1985 its own published titles won their first award: the "Dakkun Asobou yo" series received the 32nd Sankei Children's Book Award. That same year the company began publishing winners of children's literature prizes, starting with the grand-prize picture-book winner of the Nissan Children's Storybook and Picture Book Grand Prix. In 1990 it launched "Pee Boo," a magazine providing information about picture books. In 1997 the company changed its name from Bookloan Publishing Co., Ltd. to BL Shuppan Co., Ltd. (ビーエル出版株式会社). Over the following decades its books won numerous children's literature awards, including the Japan Picture Book Award and the Nankichi Niimi Children's Literature Award. On August 5, 2024, the company celebrated its 50th anniversary. BL Shuppan continues to publish translated foreign children's books and original Japanese children's books, and it cooperates with the Nissan Children's Storybook and Picture Book Grand Prix, established by Nissan Motor in 1984, publishing the grand-prize winners in the story and picture-book categories, which Nissan donates to libraries and kindergartens across Japan.

• 2024

  Marks its 50th anniversary on August 5.

• 1997

  Renamed from Bookloan Publishing Co., Ltd. to BL Shuppan Co., Ltd. (ビーエル出版株式会社).

• 1990

  Launches "Pee Boo," a picture-book information magazine.

• 1985

  First award for an in-house title: "Dakkun Asobou yo" series wins the 32nd Sankei Children's Book Award; begins publishing children's literature prize winners.

• 1980

  Begins general commercial distribution of children's books.

• 1974

  Spun off as Bookloan Publishing Co., Ltd. (ブックローン出版株式会社); begins publishing Japanese editions of foreign children's books and selling educational toys.

• 1970

  Begins publishing educational picture books as the publishing division of Bookloan Co., Ltd.

A specialist children's-book publisher known for translated foreign picture books, award-winning children's literature and educational toys.

• ぞうのエルマー (Elmer the Elephant) series (Japanese translation)

• トゥートとパドル (Toot and Puddle) series (Japanese translation)

• こねずみミコ (Konezumi Miko) series (Japanese translation)

• カロリーヌとゆかいな8ひき (Caroline and Her Eight Friends) series (Japanese translation)

• 能の絵本 (Noh Picture Book) series

• ワニくん (Wani-kun) series

1. 1BL出版TOPblg.co.jp
2. 2BL出版 - Wikipediaja.wikipedia.org
3. 3BL Shuppan - Wikidatawikidata.org