Release of 'Great Eruption Survival' / Teaching children preparation for Mt. Fuji eruptions and 'actions to protect lives'

Asahi Shimbun Publications will release 'Great Eruption Survival' on May 20, 2026, the latest volume in the 'Science Manga Survival' series, which has surpassed 15.5 million copies in cumulative sales. The theme this time is 'volcanic eruption,' one of the most familiar natural disasters in Japan. Through the story, readers can learn about the mechanisms of eruptions, the horrors of volcanic disasters, and actions to take to protect lives. The first-edition bonus is the 'Survival! Finger Ray Light.' It is a special edition that projects the characters Dia, Mare, and Kuri when attached to a finger and lit.

The setting for 'Great Eruption Survival' is a volcano.

Japan is one of the world's leading volcanic nations, home to 111 active volcanoes, and has repeatedly suffered damage from eruptions since ancient times. Mt. Fuji has also erupted 10 times in recorded history. With the Cabinet Office releasing a video in March 2026 titled 'Countermeasures for Large-Scale Mt. Fuji Eruptions and Wide-Area Ashfall,' the importance of preparation for a Mt. Fuji eruption has been pointed out once again.

'Great Eruption Survival' was produced with the goal of helping children acquire correct knowledge about disasters such as volcanic ash, volcanic rocks, lava flows, and pyroclastic flows resulting from volcanic eruptions, including Mt. Fuji. It not only teaches the mechanisms of volcanoes and eruptions but also incorporates plenty of disaster prevention information, such as 'how to act if an eruption occurs while climbing' and 'what is needed to protect lives.'

Dia, Mare, and Kuri join a 'Children's Volcano Tour' to climb a volcano at 'Eruption Alert Level 1,' aiming for the summit while enjoying the volcano's blessings of spring water and superb views. However, the moment they arrive at the summit, the mountain erupts. While attacked one after another by volcanic ash, volcanic rocks, lava flows, and pyroclastic flows, the three aim to descend using the knowledge they learned beforehand and their own survival skills. It is a book that fosters the 'power to survive disasters' while enjoying a heart-pounding adventure.

The first-edition bonus is the 'Survival! Finger Ray Light,' which you can play with by putting it on your finger. When you turn on the light and face the wall, the figures of Dia, Mare, and Kuri are projected. It is a special bonus only for the first edition that can be played with in the dark.

A Receipt Campaign with a total of 1.55 million yen in prizes is also underway.

A receipt campaign commemorating the 15.5 million cumulative sales of the 'Science Manga Survival' series is currently ongoing. Applications are open to anyone who has a receipt showing the simultaneous purchase of two books from the 'Science Manga Survival' series and its derived products at participating bookstores between April 21 (Tue) and August 31 (Mon), 2026. Winners will be chosen by lottery to receive a 1,000 yen Book Card NEXT net gift. The total prize pool is 1.55 million yen.

Applications can be made by uploading a photo of the receipt via the dedicated Google Form or via email.