Popular Podcast "Futabasha Colorful Podcast" to Undergo Major Renewal on July 5 (Sun)! Author Keiichi Iwai Appointed as New Navigator

[Futabasha Co., Ltd.] (Head Office: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, President and Representative Director: Masaharu Azisawa) is pleased to announce that its popular podcast program, "Futabasha Colorful Podcast," will undergo a major renewal of its content starting with the episode released on July 5, 2026 (Sun) at 12:00 PM.

We are delighted to welcome Keiichi Iwai, a rising author who has produced numerous talked-about works, as the new navigator (host).

Key Points of the Renewal

1 Author Keiichi Iwai Appointed as New Navigator!

Keiichi Iwai, a novelist known for works such as "The Last Appraiser" and "Yokohama Neighbors," will appear as the podcast host. With a writer's unique perspective and deep insight, he will draw out the true feelings of guests and the behind-the-scenes stories of their creative processes.

2 New Format Delving Deeply from Guests' "Life Stories" to "New Work Writing Secrets"

Each month, we will invite one distinguished guest to a space for candid conversation.

From their past journey (life story) to the secrets of writing new works that can only be told now, we will deliver in-depth talks that can only be heard here. The highlight is unraveling the charm of one guest thoroughly over one month (4 episodes).

3 Sundays at Noon is "Podcast Time." New Distribution Schedule

Following the renewal, new episodes will be updated every Sunday at noon (12:00 PM). We will deliver content perfect for relaxing on weekends or accompanying your commute to school or work.

Noteworthy First Guest is "That Famous Novelist"! Announcement the Day Before

The memorable first episode of the renewal on July 5 (Sun) will feature a "famous novelist" known to everyone.

The identity of this intriguing guest will be announced on July 4 (Sat), the day before the broadcast, via Futabasha's official literary SNS, press releases, and other channels. Please look forward to guessing who will appear as Iwai's conversation partner.

Program Overview & Distribution Schedule

Item

Details

Program Name

"Futabasha Colorful Podcast"

New Navigator

Keiichi Iwai (Author)

Renewal First Broadcast

July 5, 2026 (Sun) 12:00 PM (Updates every Sunday at 12:00 PM thereafter)

Distribution Platforms

Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music

Operator

Futabasha Co., Ltd.

【Profile of Keiichi Iwai】

Born in Osaka Prefecture in 1987. Debuted in 2018 with "Proof of Eternity," winning the 9th Da Vinci Frontier Literary Award. His works include the nominated "Complete Silver" for the Yamamoto Shugoro Prize in 2023 and "Ware wa Kumagusu" for the Naoki Prize in 2024. Many of his works have been adapted for film and television, including "The Last Appraiser" and "Yokohama Neighbors." He also serves as a personality for the evening edition of the culture section of the podcast program "News Connect."

【Comment from Keiichi Iwai】

I believe literature and podcasts are similar. Both are made of "words," and the listener is given space for imagination and thought. While they may not be suited for efficiently capturing attention, they can deeply resonate over time.

I enjoy talking with people, perhaps because conversation is very similar to writing a novel. I look forward to conversing with various people through the privileged role of navigator.

Photography by Ryo Usami