Release of 4 Titles Including 'Noriko Ibaragi Poetry Collection' (Iwanami Bunko) Featuring Special Covers by minä perhonen!

minä perhonen Special Cover Edition: "Noriko Ibaragi Poetry Collection" (Iwanami Bunko), "Jibun no Kanjusei Kurai" (Iwanami Gendai Bunko), "Saigetsu" (Iwanami Gendai Bunko), "Shi no Kokoro o Yomu" (Iwanami Junior Shinsho)

Noriko Ibaragi 100th Anniversary Special Site

With minä perhonen special covers

Four titles—"Noriko Ibaragi Poetry Collection" (Iwanami Bunko), "Shi no Kokoro o Yomu" (Iwanami Junior Shinsho), "Jibun no Kanjusei Kurai" and "Saigetsu" (Iwanami Gendai Bunko)—will feature special covers by minä perhonen.

Each cover is adorned with minä perhonen textiles. The textiles were selected to match the image of each book and to harmonize when the four books are placed together. The names, origins, and thoughts behind each textile are introduced on the cover flaps.

They will be sold wrapped over the regular covers.

Releasing in late May!

Available sequentially from Tuesday, May 26, 2026, at cooperating bookstores nationwide.

They are also scheduled to be available at minä perhonen Kyoto, Morioka, Kanazawa, Matsumoto, call (Aoyama), and elävä Ⅰ (Higashikanda).

Noriko Ibaragi and minä perhonen

Noriko Ibaragi candidly expressed the preciousness of being true to oneself and the importance of being honest with one's feelings through free and unconstrained words. She is also known for her dedication to dressmaking, choosing clothes and materials with a distinct aesthetic sense. Meanwhile, minä perhonen develops its brand under the theme of "special everyday clothes" with the hope that "everyone can be themselves." The idea for this tie-up emerged from the thought that there might be a common value underlying the expressions of both.

As seen in the textiles used for these special covers, natural objects such as trees, flowers, stones, and birds frequently appear as motifs in minä perhonen's textiles. This resonates with Noriko Ibaragi's works, which cherish everyday life through familiar nature like garden plants and flowers.

Four titles with minä perhonen special covers

① "Noriko Ibaragi Poetry Collection"

Textile description: "Small flowers gently swaying in soft colors. Light passes through translucent petals. They rejoice in blooming in this land and flutter in the wind." (From the minä perhonen official website)

The frustration and consequent dreams for the future of a young woman who spent her youth amidst the maelstrom of war. Assertive and logical poetry with clear, crisp words. Sometimes trembling with innocence, and sometimes raising its head with dignity. The essence of Noriko Ibaragi, the "eldest daughter of contemporary poetry," whose straightforward expressions encourage and inspire people. (Dialogue = Makoto Ooka, Commentary = Masayo Koike)

"Noriko Ibaragi Poetry Collection" Selected by Shuntaro Tanikawa (Iwanami Bunko)
Iwanami Bunko Green 195-1
398 pages
Published on March 14, 2014
ISBN 978-4-00-311951-8
Price: 880 yen (Base price 800 yen + 10% tax)
The special cover uses the minä perhonen textile "piha."

② "Jibun no Kanjusei Kurai"

Textile description: "Many breads baked in a kiln. Artisans facing the kiln and fire day after day, conversing with nature. The memory of bread infused with love permeates the kiln, continuing to mark the time today. To solidify the intention of 'continuing to create'." (From the minä perhonen official website)

The most famous poetry collection by the most popular poet. The immensely popular title poem sings about the importance of continuing to think for oneself and cultivating an independent intellect. Its highly message-driven words have resonated with many readers as a self-inquiry, admonishing the heart that tends to take the easy way out. A masterpiece of emotion that transcends the boundaries of contemporary poetry. (Commentary = Hiromi Ito)

"Jibun no Kanjusei Kurai" by Noriko Ibaragi (Iwanami Gendai Bunko)
Iwanami Gendai Bunko Bungei 368
124 pages
Published on April 15, 2025
ISBN 978-4-00-602368-3
Price: 770 yen (Base price 700 yen + 10% tax)
The special cover uses the minä perhonen textile "kivi."

③ "Saigetsu"

Textile description: "Camellias blooming in winter shining like floral lights in the cold wind seem to warm our hearts considerably. The hard buds open to reveal a profound floral form, and the beauty of the contrast with the strong leaves and the transience as they fall appear as if we are watching a single story." (From the minä perhonen official website)

Love poems dedicated to her late husband, written after his passing. Depicting the highly private, enclosed space of a married couple, a lingering breath of a woman, and eternal love that continues even after death. The poet who continued to appeal to the intellect of readers regarding the post-war way of life for women, for the first time after her death