Popular Podcast 'Futabasha Colorful Podcast' to Launch Revamped Series on July 5 with Guest Riku Onda!

The popular podcast 'Futabasha Colorful Podcast,' operated by Futabasha Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Masaharu Azisawa), will undergo a major revamp starting with the episode released on Sunday, July 5, 2026, at 12:00 PM. Novelist Keiya Iwai will take over as the new host, and the program will be reborn under the new title 'Words That Cannot Be Written'.

The guest for this landmark first episode of the revamped series is novelist Riku Onda, whom Iwai cites as a major influence. The first episode will be released at 12:00 PM on July 5, and over four consecutive episodes (updated every Sunday), the two will engage in a deep, two-hour exploration of Onda's personal insights and creative journey.

Highlights of the first episode:

- Why does Iwai refer to Onda as his 'role model as a writer'?

- The candid truth Onda accidentally revealed about her mindset when beginning to write

- The surprising action Onda took when transitioning from a part-time to a full-time writer

- A rare reverse Q&A: Onda asks Iwai questions!

Program Overview and Release Schedule

Item

Details

Program Name

'Futabasha Colorful Podcast'

New Host

Keiya Iwai (Novelist)

First Revamped Episode Release

July 5, 2026 (Sunday) at 12:00 PM (subsequent episodes released every Sunday at 12:00 PM)

Guest: Riku Onda

Distribution Platforms

Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music

Operator

Futabasha Co., Ltd.

【Riku Onda Profile】

Born in 1964 in Miyagi Prefecture. Made her literary debut in 1992 with 'Rokubanme no Sayoko'. In 2005, she won the 26th Yoshikawa Eiji Literary Newcomer Award and the 2nd Bookstore Award for 'Yoru no Pikunikku' (Night's Picnic). In 2006, she received the 59th Mystery Writers of Japan Award for 'Eugenia'. In 2007, she won the 20th Yamamoto Shūgorō Prize for 'Nakaniwa no Dekigoto' (An Incident in the Courtyard). In 2017, she received the 156th Naoki Prize and the 14th Bookstore Award for 'Mitsubachi to Enrai' (The Bees and the Thunder).

【Keiya Iwai Profile】

Born in 1987 in Osaka Prefecture. Debuted in 2018 after winning the 9th Yasei Jidai Frontier Literature Award with 'Eien ni Tsuite no Shōmei' (Proof of Eternity). His works, including 'Kanzen Naru Shirō' (Perfect Silver, 2023) and 'Ware wa Kumonosu' (I Am Kumonosu, 2024), have been finalists for the Yamamoto Shūgorō Prize and the Naoki Prize, respectively. 'Saigo no Kanteinin' (The Last Appraiser) and 'Yokohama Neighbors' have been adapted into visual media. He also serves as the cultural segment host for the evening edition of the podcast 'News Connet'.