[Reprint Confirmed on Release Day!] Film Art Inc.'s New Literary Series "First Archives" First Volume, Iora Ogiyo's 'Kanojo no Karooto' Receives Huge Response, Reprint Decided on Release Day!
Film Art Inc.'s new literary series "First Archives" launched its first volume, 'Kanojo no Karooto' by Iora Ogiyo, which received an overwhelming response and was confirmed for a reprint on its release day. This series aims to unearth and publish overlooked masterpieces, garnering significant attention from writers and literary critics.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 27, 2026 at 19:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 27, 2026 at 10:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 27, 2026 at 10:40 (8 min after Collected)
The new literary series "First Archives" features Saori Kuramoto, Yusei Takiguchi, and Ryohei Machiya as selectors, publishing works that deserve to be reread from literary magazines and books that have become difficult to obtain.
In literature, it is not uncommon for works that generated a significant response upon their announcement to pass through time without ever being widely read as a single volume.
First Archives is an endeavor to preserve such works for the first time as books, handing them down as a record of literature.
The commemorative first volume released in this series is Iora Ogiyo's 'Kanojo no Karooto.' This book includes two stories: "Kanojo no Karooto" (published in 'Subaru,' July 2010 issue) and "Eunuch's Lesson" (published in 'Bungakukai,' December 2013 issue). Due to the long-awaited publication of this masterpiece novel, which many had hoped would be released as a standalone book, it received a tremendous response from many novelists, booksellers, and readers even before its release, and a reprint has now been decided.
■Comment from Selector, Ryohei Machiya, on the Reprint Decision
"I knew it would sell, but I never imagined such an immediate sell-out. While 'Japanese literature' is doing well overseas thanks to the efforts of translators, there are almost no Japanese works that satisfy the demand of readers who prefer foreign novels. Perhaps Iora Ogiyo has perfectly filled that void."
──Ryohei Machiya (Writer)
■Recommendation Comments
"'Kanojo no Karooto' is a work that, in a broad sense, acts as a catalyst, encouraging not only novel writing but also 'writing' itself. I sincerely hope this work will be read more widely and inspire many people."
──Masaya Chiba (Philosopher/Writer / Commentary in this book)
Full commentary by Masaya Chiba
"To be able to hand this text, which excited me then and excites me freshly now, to new readers who might not even have known the author's name, is nothing short of a miracle or good fortune."
──Amiko Kounan (Book Critic / Commentary in this book)
Full commentary by Amiko Kounan
■As a bonus, a booklet containing an original short story by the author!
For those who purchase the book at some bookstores and online shops, a special booklet containing an original short story titled "Heya" (Room) by the author will be included as a bonus.
Bonus: Booklet with original short story by the author
Online Shop
■Commemorative Publication Event
Reading Iora Ogiyo Now ―― 'Kanojo no Karooto' (Film Art Inc.) Publication Commemoration
Talk event with Iora Ogiyo and Ryohei Machiya
[Date] May 17, 2026 (Sunday) Doors open at 13:40, Event starts at 14:00
[Venue] Kinokuniya Bookstore Shinjuku Main Store, 9th Floor Event Space
*Archive footage will be available for sale on the Film Art Inc. website at a later date.
[Participation Fee] Ticket system, 1,500 yen
Event details website: https://store.kinokuniya.co.jp/event/1775529270/
Ticket reservation: https://peatix.com/event/4963540
■Book Contents and Bibliographic Information
The title story "Kanojo no Karooto" tells of a female announcer who lost her hearing, requesting a new burial niche for herself, and how her somewhat disjointed interactions with the protagonist quietly encroach upon his daily life.
"Eunuch's Lesson" involves a young man who struggles with reading but is devoted to literature, getting caught up in a surreal adventure surrounding a certain "treasure."
These two stories, which shocked and amazed readers upon their original publication, are included, offering the pleasure of reading every single line.
[Title] Kanojo no Karooto
[Author] Iora Ogiyo
[Release Date] April 25, 2026
[Format] Shiso-ban, paperback
[Pages] 236 pages
[Price] 2,000 yen + tax
[Cover Design] Kensaku Kato (LABORATORIES)
[Product Page] https://www.filmart.co.jp/books/978-4-8459-2529-2/
First Archives Special Site
■Author Profile
Iora Ogiyo (born 1983)
Debuted in 2006 with "Koen," winning the 43rd Bungei Prize.
Her works include 'Koen,' 'Tokyo Shakkei,' and 'Pin the Cat no Yuubi na Hanran.'
In literature, it is not uncommon for works that generated a significant response upon their announcement to pass through time without ever being widely read as a single volume.
First Archives is an endeavor to preserve such works for the first time as books, handing them down as a record of literature.
The commemorative first volume released in this series is Iora Ogiyo's 'Kanojo no Karooto.' This book includes two stories: "Kanojo no Karooto" (published in 'Subaru,' July 2010 issue) and "Eunuch's Lesson" (published in 'Bungakukai,' December 2013 issue). Due to the long-awaited publication of this masterpiece novel, which many had hoped would be released as a standalone book, it received a tremendous response from many novelists, booksellers, and readers even before its release, and a reprint has now been decided.
■Comment from Selector, Ryohei Machiya, on the Reprint Decision
"I knew it would sell, but I never imagined such an immediate sell-out. While 'Japanese literature' is doing well overseas thanks to the efforts of translators, there are almost no Japanese works that satisfy the demand of readers who prefer foreign novels. Perhaps Iora Ogiyo has perfectly filled that void."
──Ryohei Machiya (Writer)
■Recommendation Comments
"'Kanojo no Karooto' is a work that, in a broad sense, acts as a catalyst, encouraging not only novel writing but also 'writing' itself. I sincerely hope this work will be read more widely and inspire many people."
──Masaya Chiba (Philosopher/Writer / Commentary in this book)
Full commentary by Masaya Chiba
"To be able to hand this text, which excited me then and excites me freshly now, to new readers who might not even have known the author's name, is nothing short of a miracle or good fortune."
──Amiko Kounan (Book Critic / Commentary in this book)
Full commentary by Amiko Kounan
■As a bonus, a booklet containing an original short story by the author!
For those who purchase the book at some bookstores and online shops, a special booklet containing an original short story titled "Heya" (Room) by the author will be included as a bonus.
Bonus: Booklet with original short story by the author
Online Shop
■Commemorative Publication Event
Reading Iora Ogiyo Now ―― 'Kanojo no Karooto' (Film Art Inc.) Publication Commemoration
Talk event with Iora Ogiyo and Ryohei Machiya
[Date] May 17, 2026 (Sunday) Doors open at 13:40, Event starts at 14:00
[Venue] Kinokuniya Bookstore Shinjuku Main Store, 9th Floor Event Space
*Archive footage will be available for sale on the Film Art Inc. website at a later date.
[Participation Fee] Ticket system, 1,500 yen
Event details website: https://store.kinokuniya.co.jp/event/1775529270/
Ticket reservation: https://peatix.com/event/4963540
■Book Contents and Bibliographic Information
The title story "Kanojo no Karooto" tells of a female announcer who lost her hearing, requesting a new burial niche for herself, and how her somewhat disjointed interactions with the protagonist quietly encroach upon his daily life.
"Eunuch's Lesson" involves a young man who struggles with reading but is devoted to literature, getting caught up in a surreal adventure surrounding a certain "treasure."
These two stories, which shocked and amazed readers upon their original publication, are included, offering the pleasure of reading every single line.
[Title] Kanojo no Karooto
[Author] Iora Ogiyo
[Release Date] April 25, 2026
[Format] Shiso-ban, paperback
[Pages] 236 pages
[Price] 2,000 yen + tax
[Cover Design] Kensaku Kato (LABORATORIES)
[Product Page] https://www.filmart.co.jp/books/978-4-8459-2529-2/
First Archives Special Site
■Author Profile
Iora Ogiyo (born 1983)
Debuted in 2006 with "Koen," winning the 43rd Bungei Prize.
Her works include 'Koen,' 'Tokyo Shakkei,' and 'Pin the Cat no Yuubi na Hanran.'