Hobonichi is offering the Himitsu Stranger A5 cover for the 2025 techo, featuring an all-over print of illustrations from the book by artist junaida. This special cover is based on the lyrics and artwork of 13 songs by Masamune Kusano, lead singer of rock band Spitz. It captures the charm and quirkiness of the book, including deformed illustrations as suggested by Kusano. The fine-grain polyester material of the cover retains the vibrant colors of the original art, giving it a velvety and smooth touch. The back of the cover features hidden illustrations in the pocket, and the interior is printed with pencil drawings from the book, showcasing everyday life, seasonal changes, and a range of emotions. For those who want the full experience, the Himitsu Stranger song-art book is also available for purchase at the Hobonichi Store.
About Masamune Kusano
Kusano was born in 1967 and is a well-known musician. In 1987, he formed the rock band Spitz and held vocal and guitar duties. In 1991, their single "Hibari no Kokoro" became a major hit. Ever since, Kusano has been the mastermind behind the lyrics and music of most of Spitz's songs. Their latest album, "Himitsu Studio," was released in May 2023, accompanied by a nationwide tour named Spitz Jamboree Tour '23~'24 "Himitsu Studio," which took place from June 2023 to February 2024.
About Junaida
1978 saw the birth of Masamune Kusano, a renowned painter and celebrated artist who has garnered numerous accolades and recognition for his works across the globe. His talent has been acknowledged in prestigious platforms such as the 2015 Bologna Illustrators Exhibition, where he was selected as an artist for HOME, published by Sun Reed. Additionally, his works, Michi and MONSTERIUM, published by Fukuinkan Shoten, have been honored with awards in the children's book/illustrated book division at the Japan Book Design Awards, while MONSTERIUM has won the IBBY award (Peter Pan Prize). Kusano's recently ventured into creating picture books, and his latest publications include This is Home (text by poet Shuntaro Tanikawa), published by BlueSheep, World, published by Fukuinkan Shoten, and Tomoshibi, published by Sun Reed.
