U-NEXT Publishes Agriculture & Family Novel by Naoki Prize Winner Akiko Kawasaki

U-NEXT, a video streaming service operated by U-NEXT HOLDINGS, will release "Tonari no Hata wa Aoao to" by Naoki Prize-winning author Akiko Kawasaki at bookstores nationwide on June 5, 2026. Set in Tokachi, Hokkaido, the novel realistically depicts modern agricultural challenges like climate change, successor shortages, and labor disputes. The story follows Shuji, a family farmer anxious about the future, and Kazuki, an ambitious son-in-law dealing with family conflicts. Amidst these personal struggles, a sensational barricade incident occurs at a successful local mega-farm. Rather than envying their neighbors, the characters quietly cultivate their own soil and move forward. Kawasaki, a former dairy farmer, brings deep authenticity to this agriculture and family drama. The book has 224 pages and is priced at 1,980 yen.