Website for the English Translation of Ai Ota's 'October Children' Now Live!
The English translation of Ai Ota's short story 'October Children' has been completed and released on a dedicated website.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 22, 2026 at 17:00
- 🔍 Collected: May 22, 2026 at 08:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 22, 2026 at 08:40 (9 min after Collected)
Ai Ota, one of the most sought-after authors right now, with her book 'Criminal' set to be adapted for Amazon Prime in July! 'October Children' is a short story included in her first short story collection, 'The First Star is Like the Last Home' (published by Kobunsha). Since its publication in 2025, this story has been much talked about, and its English translation (by Karen Ann Takizawa) has been completed. It was released on Ota's special website starting May 22.
https://www.ai-ota-october.com/
Highly Acclaimed by Translator Motoyuki Kihara!
'First of all, "October Children" is magnificent. The story of twin siblings living in an unknown place perfectly captures the modern world. It offers a faint hope, like a prayer at the end of despair, gently presented in the ending. The final few pages can only be described as a poem.'
- The Path to Translation
'The First Star is Like the Last Home' was published in June 2025. Translator Motoyuki Kihara contributed a comment for the cover band. As noted above, Kihara, who particularly praised 'October Children,' suggested that it should be translated into other languages to be read by people around the world living in these times, sparking the English translation project. They requested Karen Ann Takizawa (Professor Emeritus at Hosei University) to translate it into English. With Kihara's cooperation, the translation was completed, and Ota launched a special website featuring both the English and Japanese versions. Future translations into other languages are also being considered.
- The Story of 'October Children'
That October, the twin brother and sister, 'I' and 'we,' were seven years old. On a Friday night, awakened from bed by a roaring sound that seemed to tear through the atmosphere, the two jumped up. 'Get ready in five minutes. We're leaving.' At their mother's words, they were headed to 'Surprise Camp,' but what they were headed to was the basement deep in the storage room...
https://www.ai-ota-october.com/
Highly Acclaimed by Translator Motoyuki Kihara!
'First of all, "October Children" is magnificent. The story of twin siblings living in an unknown place perfectly captures the modern world. It offers a faint hope, like a prayer at the end of despair, gently presented in the ending. The final few pages can only be described as a poem.'
- The Path to Translation
'The First Star is Like the Last Home' was published in June 2025. Translator Motoyuki Kihara contributed a comment for the cover band. As noted above, Kihara, who particularly praised 'October Children,' suggested that it should be translated into other languages to be read by people around the world living in these times, sparking the English translation project. They requested Karen Ann Takizawa (Professor Emeritus at Hosei University) to translate it into English. With Kihara's cooperation, the translation was completed, and Ota launched a special website featuring both the English and Japanese versions. Future translations into other languages are also being considered.
- The Story of 'October Children'
That October, the twin brother and sister, 'I' and 'we,' were seven years old. On a Friday night, awakened from bed by a roaring sound that seemed to tear through the atmosphere, the two jumped up. 'Get ready in five minutes. We're leaving.' At their mother's words, they were headed to 'Surprise Camp,' but what they were headed to was the basement deep in the storage room...
FAQ
「十月の子供たち」英訳版はどこで公開されていますか？
太田愛氏の特設ホームページ（https://www.ai-ota-october.com/）にて公開されています。
「十月の子供たち」はどの書籍に収録されていますか？
太田愛氏の初の短編集『最初の星は最後の家のようだ』（光文社刊）に収録されています。
「十月の子供たち」を英訳した翻訳者は誰ですか？
滝沢カレン・アン氏（法政大学名誉教授）が英訳を担当しました。
太田愛氏の小説で2026年7月にドラマ化予定の作品は何ですか？
『犯罪者』がAmazon Primeにてドラマ化される予定です。
本短編集にコメントを寄せた翻訳家は誰ですか？
翻訳家の金原瑞人氏がコメントを寄せ、本短編を絶賛しています。