Picture-book illustrator Chihiro Iwasaki (1918-1974) is famous in Japan for her warm and gentle portraits of children. Her illustrations were popular in textbooks and magazines, and she often contributed to books for schools and to health-education publications for prospective mothers. She is also remembered for her children's books.

The driving force behind Iwasaki's tender depiction of kids was her strong desire to see a world of peace and happiness in which all children would be safe. As the Great East Japan Earthquake passes its first anniversary, this exhibition takes Iwasaki's ideal to heart and showcases roughly 130 of her works with the aim of uplifting visitors and spreading a little joy; till May 5.

Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art; (078) 262 0901; 1-1-1, Wakihama Kaigan-dori, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo; Iwaya Station, Hanshin Electric Railway; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. ¥ 1,000. Closed Mon. www.artm.pref.hyogo.jp.