Atsuko Otuka – Author, writer/photographer –
Born in Wakayama City, Japan, 1960
Majored in English at Sophia University in Tokyo
Became a freelance photojournalist in 1986
Changed her focus onto non-fiction book writing since 1992
Has been working as a program consultant at Shimane Asahi Rehabilitation Program Center since 2005, and has served on several committees for the Ministry of Justice
Places and Subjects Coverd.
1986 – 1987
Communist insurgency in the Philippines
1988 – 1990
Palestinian Uprising in West Bank and Gaza
1989
Destruction of tropical rain forest in Malaysia
Tiananmen Square massacre in Beijing, China
1990 – 1991
Gulf War
1991
Kurdish Refugees in Northern Iraq
1992
Riots in Los Angeles
1995
Hanshin Great Earthquake
1992 – 2001
Women with HIV/AIDS
1996 – 1998
Service Dog Training Program at the Washington Corrections Center for Women
1997 – 1998
Final year of an elderly woman
2000 – 2002
Dolphin assisted therapy for children
Organic farming program at the San Francisco County Jail
2000 – present
Healing gardens at medical facilities, Service dog training program at the juvenile facility in California, Art in health care
2004
The work of child-life specialists in Miami Chidren’s Hospital
Green Chimneys, NY, a treatment facility that applies the power of nature into healing of emotionally injured children
2005
Community Garden Project aiming at building peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina
2006
Research on Community Gardens and City Farms in London, UK
2007 – 2008
Mine detection dog training in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Research on innovative US programs aimed at helping youth at risk
Animal Assisted Therapy/Activities at pediatric ward of a hospital in Japan
2009 – 2012
Demining effort in Cambodia with mine detection dogs, Service dog training program at a juvenile facility in California, Therapeutic farm for abused children in California
2013 – 2014
Community gardens for social inclusion and horticultural therapy at a jail in NY
Dog training program at a Japanese juvenile facility
2015 –
Sustainability in Prisons Project in Washington State.; a private-government initiative to bring science, environmental education and nature into prisons
Books Published
Photographic books
-Harp Seal Pups I & II, (NESCO, 1990 & 1992)
Photo essay
-Gift of Life, (Iwanami Shoten, 1997)
-Lessons in Saying Goodbye, (Kodansha,2003)
Children’s books
-Service Dog Tasha, (Shogakukan INC, 1999)
-Goodbye, Grandma Erma, (Shogakukan INC, 2000)
-Thank you, Fonzie, (Shogakukan INC, 2002)
-Planting Seeds of Peace, (Iwasaki Publishing Co.,Ltd., 2006)
-Let’s Play, Fendi (Shogakukan INC, 2007)
-Mine Detection Dogs (Kodansha Ltd., Publishers, 2009)
-Dogs Come to My Hospital (Iwasaki Publishing Co., Ltd., 2009)
-Mine Detection Dogs at Work (Kodansha Ltd., Publishers, 2011)
-Girls who Raise Service Dogs – Dog Program That Opens Hardened Heart
(Kodansha Ltd., Publishers, 2012)
-Kitty遯ｶ蜀ｱ Journey from Fukushima(Shogakukan INC, 2012)
-I want to be gentle – Stories of Children at Forget Me Not Farm(Iwasaki Publishing Co., Ltd., 2012)
Books
-Dogs Gave Me the Strength to Live, (Iwanami Shoten, 1999)
-A Garden That Grows People, (Iwanami Shoten, 2002)
-This is the Happiest Time in my Life,(shogakukan INC, 2004)
-Letting Go and Simplifying Your Life, (Iwanami Shoten Publisiers, 2005)
-When Injured Birds Fly – Stories of Children at Green Chimneys,
(Iwasaki Publishing Co., Ltd., 2005)
-Raising Guide Dog Puppies in Prison (Iwanami Shoten Publishers, 2015)
-Dogs and Cats Gave Me the Strength to Live (Iwanami Shoten Publishers, 2016)
-Children with Cancer Who Taught Me about Life (Kadokawa Publishing Co,2016)
Awards
Taiyo Award for Photography, second place, for a photo essay on a woman living with HIV/AIDS, 1998
Kodansha Award for the Best Children’s Book of the Year, for Goodbye, Grandma Erma, 2001
Shogakukan Award for Best Children’s Book of the Year, for Goodbye, Grandma Erma, 2001
Kenbuchi Children’s Book Award, for Goodbye, Grandma Erma, 2001
[Page top]