It has been 60 years since my mother came to Sapporo from Tokyo, carrying her instrument, to join a newly formed orchestra. With concerts keeping her busy and me often left at home, what supported my loneliness was Hokkaido’s great nature and books. When I came home from school, the places where I spent my time were the library, or the forests and rivers. To my young self, both the great outdoors and the library were like a vast universe that continued on and on, no matter how far I ventured deeper and deeper.
These days, through advanced technology, we have become good at living without going through painful experiences. We can obtain the information we want without effort, and we have learned ways to get through our days somehow, even without especially exercising our intellect or imagination. In times like these, libraries—which provide essential nourishment for living without losing the human capacity to think—will remain places we must protect. Hokkaido’s great nature and books were the foundation that supported me in childhood, and I owe them so much. Becoming the honorary director of “Children’s Book Forest Sapporo – Hokkaido University” is, for me, a way to repay that debt, and I would like to devote myself to sharing with many people the life-filled energy that lies within books.
About Children’s Book Forest Sapporo/Hokkaido University
Nestled in the lush grounds of Hokkaido University, “Children’s Book Forest Sapporo – Hokkaido University” stands in harmony with towering trees.
It is a place to encounter books and “open up knowledge.”
Step inside, and you’ll find yourself in a “forest of books” spreading across the entire wall.
Books gathered across ages, genres, and countries open the door to worlds you have yet to see.
Look out the window, and you’ll see the beautiful seasons of Hokkaido University unfolding before you.
The rich nature you feel with all five senses gently stimulates children’s sensibilities.
Encounters with cutting-edge research unique to a university, and with university students who are already walking a step into the future, also broaden children’s horizons.
A place to engage in dialogue with books, nature, and people.
Within those rich interactions, they open up their own possibilities.
Children’s intellectual curiosity will be nurtured ever deeper and wider.
Open Up Knowledge for Children
Concept
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Through encounters with books, nurture curiosity about the world and
imagination and creativity -
This facility aims to be a space where children who read and children who don’t usually read can naturally pick up books, follow their curiosity, and enjoy special time and experiences.
It will also be a place where children can encounter books they will still find compelling as they grow up and become adults. To that end, we will collect books across ages, genres, and countries, creating many opportunities to discover a wide variety of books. Such encounters with books help people touch worlds they have never seen, broaden their interests and knowledge, encourage personal growth, and foster imagination and creativity.
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Connect with diverse knowledge and people,
and deepen learning -
This facility will be created within Hokkaido University, a place of learning. In a historic learning environment where world-leading, cutting-edge research is conducted, we will create connections to a wide range of knowledge so that children can experience the joy and depth of learning and research. Through collaboration with the university, the university library, and various research facilities, as well as mechanisms that connect children with the university, we will create learning opportunities unique to a library established in this setting.
In addition, a university is a place where not only diverse knowledge and information, but also people with different backgrounds and areas of expertise, come together. Simply interacting with such people can become an opportunity for children’s growth. By engaging with people such as undergraduate and graduate students—who are closer to children than adults are—this will help children and university students deepen their learning together.
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In an inspiring space and rich nature,
immerse yourself in reading -
In addition to an appealing architectural design that lets you truly experience a forest of books, with walls lined entirely with bookshelves, this facility is also surrounded by rich nature. The power of the environment and place—something you can feel with all five senses—enriches children’s sensibilities and imagination.
Not only through diverse reading spaces indoors, but also by enjoying books outdoors while feeling nature and through nature-based experiences, we will create a sense of connection between inside and outside the facility. This will help children experience the joy of reading in an unstructured way and lead them to immerse themselves in the next book.
A Message from Tadao Ando
Message from Honorary Director of the Main Building
Mari Yamazaki
A Message from Director Konno
About the Logo Design
The logo for “Children’s Book Forest Sapporo – Hokkaido University” combines lilac, poplar, ginkgo, and snow crystals—evoking the “four seasons” of Sapporo and Hokkaido University—with a “book,” the foundation of Children’s Book Forest.
How Children’s Book Forest Sapporo – Hokkaido University Came to Be
(History)
History
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2022
Reiwa 4
- Tadao Ando proposed to the National University Corporation Hokkaido University,
that he would like to design, build, and donate a children’s library facility, “Children’s Book Forest.”
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2023
November 7, Reiwa 5
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Because Children’s Book Forest is intended to foster children’s creativity and spirit of inquiry, contribute to developing the people who will carry the future, and help address the issue of children turning away from reading during their school years, Sapporo City decided to participate in operating the facility and signed a basic agreement regarding “(tentative name) Children’s Book Forest” with Ando Tadao Architect Associates (hereinafter “Ando Tadao Architect Associates”) and the National University Corporation Hokkaido University (hereinafter “Hokkaido University”).
This basic agreement stipulates, among other things, that Ando Tadao Architect Associates will design and build “(tentative name) Children’s Book Forest” and donate it to Hokkaido University; that Hokkaido University will own and manage the building; and that Sapporo City and Hokkaido University will operate the facility with the aim of making it a place where children can freely interact with books and, by reading books across many fields, discover the joy of reading, nurture emotional richness, creativity, and curiosity, and gain nourishment for growth.
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2024
December, Reiwa 6
- Sapporo City began soliciting donations to operate the facility over the long term as a place for the learning and growth of children who will carry the future.
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2025
February, Reiwa 7
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Based on the basic agreement regarding “(tentative name) Children’s Book Forest,” Sapporo City formulated the “(tentative name) Children’s Book Forest” Basic Policy to define the direction for operating the facility.
In formulating this Basic Policy, a public comment period was held from December 24, Reiwa 6 to January 28, Reiwa 7 to solicit opinions from residents on the draft “(tentative name) Children’s Book Forest” Basic Policy.
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2025
March, Reiwa 7
- Construction work began on the facility.
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2025
May 9, Reiwa 7
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Sapporo City, Ando Tadao Architect Associates, and Hokkaido University held a presentation of the completion image for “(tentative name) Children’s Book Forest.”
They announced that the completion image and the official name were planned to be “Children’s Book Forest Sapporo – Hokkaido University.”
Tadao Ando spoke about his thoughts and hopes for the library, saying things such as, “I made it a form that lives together with nature,” and “I want them to read books and strengthen their hearts and their ability to live.”
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2025
June 10, Reiwa 7
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An ordinance partially revising the Sapporo City Library Ordinance,
was passed on June 10 at the 2nd regular meeting of the Sapporo City Council in Reiwa 7.
The facility name was decided as “Children’s Book Forest Sapporo – Hokkaido University.”
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2025
From August, Reiwa 7
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Based on the Local Autonomy Act (Act No. 67 of 1947) and the Sapporo City Ordinance on Procedures for Designated Administrators of Public Facilities (Ordinance No. 33 of 2003), applications were invited for a designated administrator to manage and operate Children’s Book Forest Sapporo – Hokkaido University.
The designated administrator for the period from April 1, Reiwa 8 to March 31, Reiwa 13 was decided as,
the SamaLit, TRC Joint Operating Group.
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2025
October 1, Reiwa 7
- Until December 9, Sapporo City solicited donated books for Children’s Book Forest Sapporo – Hokkaido University. Of the donated books, approximately 4,000 volumes were added to the collection.
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2025
December 1, Reiwa 7
- Until February 28, Reiwa 8, Sapporo City carried out crowdfunding using the hometown tax donation system (furusato nozei).
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2026
January 30, Reiwa 8
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Sapporo City and Hokkaido University held a ceremony to present the letter of appointment for Honorary Director of Children’s Book Forest Sapporo – Hokkaido University. Mayor Akimoto handed the letter of appointment to manga artist, writer, and painter Mari Yamazaki.
Ms. Yamazaki shared her aspirations, saying, “The library was an important place that supported me as a foundation when I was a child, so I’m truly happy to receive the offer to become honorary director,” and “As honorary director, as I interact with children, I want to convey in my own words how books can help, why they are interesting, and how they connect with Hokkaido’s nature.”
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2026
March 31, Reiwa 8
- The building was handed over from Ando Tadao Architect Associates to Hokkaido University.
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2026
August 1, Reiwa 8
- Opened as the 6th “Children’s Book Forest” facility nationwide.
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Design, construction, and donation: Ando Tadao Architect Associates
Honorary Director: Mari Yamazaki (manga artist, writer, and painter)
Director: Hiroko Konno
Facility ownership and management: Hokkaido University
Operations: Sapporo City and Hokkaido University
Designated administrator: SamaLit, TRC Joint Operating Group
Lead organization / operations: Sapporo Manga Library Utilization Community Development Organization (SamaLit), a general incorporated association
Consortium member / operations: Toshokan Ryutsu Center Co., Ltd. (TRC)
Creative direction:
BACH Co., Ltd. Representative Director / Book Director: Yoshitaka Haba
- *The Children’s Book Forest project is being carried out jointly by Sapporo City, Ando Tadao Architect Associates, and Hokkaido University. The building is donated by Ando Tadao Architect Associates, and Sapporo City and Hokkaido University jointly operate it.
On the Opening of
“Children’s Book Forest Sapporo – Hokkaido University”
On August 1, 2026, “Children’s Book Forest Sapporo – Hokkaido University” was born in a place wrapped in the murmuring of the Sakushukotoni River and abundant trees, not far from Hokkaido University’s main gate.
It is the only “Book Forest” in Sapporo with elementary and junior high school students as its main focus, created from architect Tadao Ando’s wish to build “a library where children can spread the wings of imagination and creativity within an academia that nurtures great ambition and courage to take flight from the northern land.”
Step inside, and you’ll see bookshelves like a great tree stretching up toward the sky. Pick up a book and turn the pages while feeling the greenery outside the window, and you may find yourself losing track of time. Here, you can read freely at the base of the forest of books or in its little nooks, or take a favorite book and head out into the greenery spread across the campus.
Starting with “Living in Hokkaido” at the entrance, the shelves are divided into 14 major themes that lead to stories, art, the world, and possibilities for the future. From picture books to specialized books, carefully selected from a unique perspective, they stand side by side without boundaries—always waiting for you.
We sincerely hope that many people will visit this forest of books and spend time with books to their heart’s content.