[Book Cover Revealed!] Haruki Murakami's First Full-Length Novel in 3 Years, 'Kaho The Tale of KAHO', to be Released on July 3, 2026 (Friday)

Shinchosha Publishing Co., Ltd. is pleased to announce the simultaneous release of Haruki Murakami's latest full-length novel, 'Kaho The Tale of KAHO', in both hardcover and e-book formats on Friday, July 3, 2026. The hardcover edition will comprise 650 manuscript pages, a single volume of 352 pages. Pre-orders have already begun at bookstores nationwide and online retailers.

Prior to its release, we are unveiling the book cover. The front of the cover displays the title and author's name, with a silhouette of a mysterious animal, also seen in the promotional poster, floating beneath.

Front Cover

Hardcover with Obi - Front Hardcover with Obi - Back

ANTEATER Author: Uruhu Mehinako Photo: Rafael Costa © Coleção BEĨ

JAGUAR Author: Unknown Photo: Rafael Costa © Coleção BEĨ

This mysterious animal is the 'anteater' (arikui), which also appears in the story. Its identity is revealed in the photograph on the front of the obi (book band), which shows a chair shaped like an 'anteater', carved from a log by indigenous Brazilians. The back of the obi features a photograph of a chair shaped like a 'jaguar'. These are treated as works of art beyond mere practical items, and were exhibited in the 'Chairs of Indigenous Brazilians' exhibition that toured the Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum and the Saitama Prefectural Museum of Art from 2018 to 2019. Some of you may have seen the actual pieces. Now, what kind of story do you imagine from these two animals?

■ Synopsis

"Honestly, you're the ugliest thing I've ever seen."

Kaho, a 26-year-old picture book author, is suddenly told this by a man she's just met.

Not exceptionally beautiful or intelligent, but merely a little too curious, she is struck not so much by anger or shock, but by pure surprise.
— What is this man trying to tell me?
But then, a series of truly strange events begin to happen around her.

Chapter 1: Kaho and the Man on the Motorcycle
Chapter 2: The Anteater of Musashisakai

Chapter 3: Kaho and the Termite Queen

Chapter 4: Guardian Angel, Elephant Eggs, and Scarlett Johansson

■ Author Profile

Haruki Murakami (むらかみ・はるき)

Born in Kyoto City in 1949. Graduated from Waseda University's First Literary Department. Debuted in 1979 with 'Hear the Wind Sing' (Gunzo Newcomer's Literary Award). Major full-length novels include 'Pinball, 1973' (Nomura Literary Newcomer's Award), 'A Wild Sheep Chase' (Tanizaki Junichiro Award), 'Norwegian Wood', 'The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle' (Yomiuri Literary Prize), 'Sputnik Sweetheart', 'Kafka on the Shore', 'After Dark', '1Q84' (Mainichi Publishing Culture Award), 'Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage', 'Killing Commendatore', and 'The City and Its Uncertain Walls'. His works also include short story collections such as 'Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman', 'After the Quake', and 'Tokyo Tales', as well as essay collections and translations. He has received numerous awards, including the Franz Kafka Prize and the Frank O'Connor International Short Story Award in 2006, the Jerusalem Prize in 2009, the Catalonia International Prize in 2011, the Hans Christian Andersen Literature Award in 2016, the Prix Médicis étranger in 2022, and the Princess of Asturias Award for Literature in 2023.

Special Site: https://www.shinchosha.co.jp/special/kaho/
Haruki Murakami Shinchosha Official Website: https://www.shinchosha.co.jp/harukimurakami/

■ Book Data

[Title] Kaho The Tale of KAHO

[Author] Haruki Murakami

[Release Date] July 3, 2026

[Binding] Hardcover with dust jacket

[Price] 2,860 yen (tax included)

[ISBN] 978-4-10-353440-2

[URL] https://www.shinchosha.co.jp/special/kaho/