Aomori based poet and illustrator self-published book ‘Where are my ears?’ about experiencing hearing loss in Japan

December 13 2021

By Barrier Free Japan

AOMORI – Reiji Oba (56), a poet and illustrator living in Hachinohe City, Aomori Prefecture, has self~published a picture book titled “Where are my ears?“ In the book, Oda describes worries and wishes after experiencing hearing loss due to a childhood illness. Oba says, “I want more people to read this picture book and be kind to the world.”

Oba recalls: “When I became deaf, I was troubled by why I couldn’t hear and wondered where my ears had gone. The difficulty of communication, the loneliness and alienation that comes from not being able to hear.” Oba wanted to create a picture book to help children in a similar situation, and to let children and adults without disabilities know what it is like to be deaf. Oba wrote the story and drew the pictures, and published the book in Japanese and English on 12 November.

”I hope that one day, with the development of medicine and science, we will be able to hear again, and that we will be able to overcome the difficulties we face in life”, says Oba.

The Japanese edition of “Where’s My Ear? is available at major bookstores in Hachinohe City and at the Narita Main Store in Aomori City. The English version is available in seven countries, including the UK, the US and France, through the internet mail order service Amazon.com.