[New Release by Michi Ichihō] Short Story Collection 'Tasubun, Koishii' — Make You Cry 6 Times, Grow Kinder 7 Times — Released Today, June 17 (Wed)!

(Left) Limited-edition clear bookmark (Right) Michi Ichihō, 'Tasubun, Koishii,' published by Shinchosha

'Small Worlds' (2022), 'Stay Where the Light Is' (2023), 'If It's Love, Affection, or Kindness' (2025) — Michi Ichihō, a perennial favorite for the Booksellers Award and one of Japan’s most anticipated authors, releases her latest short story collection, 'Tasubun, Koishii,' today, June 17, 2026! This is a short story collection that will make you cry six times and grow kinder seven times.

To survive in this unstable and absurd world — everyone has an "irreplaceable presence." A beloved pet, an ex-wife, a dependable younger partner, a missing sister… Whether they're by your side or not doesn't matter. These six exquisite stories portray what only that one person could see and what we need to keep living.

"Finally, someone wrote about that indescribable heaviness I couldn’t share with anyone," "I know I’m flawed as a person, but I kind of get it," "I’ve never read a story like this" — heartfelt reactions are pouring in! A comforting book ("omamori-bon") from the master of short stories, winner of the Yoshikawa Eiji New Writer Award for 'Small Worlds' and the Naoki Prize for 'Tsumidemic,' helping you discover your own hope.

Exclusive in-store gifts revealed!

● Clear Bookmark
An adorable clear bookmark featuring a cat!

● Free pamphlet containing the special short story 'Spring Funeral'

Get the full experience at your local bookstore!

List of participating stores:

※ Distribution ends once supplies run out.
※ Please refrain from contacting stores or Shinchosha regarding gift availability.

※ The list of stores is partial. Some unlisted stores may also offer the gifts.

※ The same stores distribute both the clear bookmark and the pamphlet with the short story.

One story available for preview!

Ahead of release, we present "It’ll Make You Cry, Seriously."

On the morning of your trip with your girlfriend, your nephew, who lives far away, shows up searching for his mother who went missing three years ago…? A deeply moving story portraying a family bond unlike any other. Be sure to read it!

Preview here!

E-book version and preview available here!

This article is based on pre-publication data. Content may differ slightly from the final printed edition. Thank you for your understanding.

■ Book Description

An ex-wife’s ghost, an imaginary pet, a missing sister… "Things that aren’t there" save me. Six hopeful stories depicting the "irreplaceable presence" we need to survive in this absurd world.

"Empire Line": You meet her at a mixer. She’s a "cat-first" person. When you finally get to meet her beloved cat…

"Passing the Moon": Marriage, childbirth, menstruation. At 48, will Kazuko’s door of life quietly close forever?

"We Are Calm": Two people who dislike strong flavors and intense emotions — what are they hiding in their freezer?

"You": After spending most of your married life on a solo work assignment, you return home before retirement. Wait — did you get plastic surgery on your eyes?

"It’ll Make You Cry, Seriously": On the morning of your trip with your girlfriend, your nephew comes to tell you he saw his missing mother on TV.

"Probably Feels That Way": An elderly great-aunt living in a care facility suddenly can’t stop whistling. When you accompany her on a temporary visit home —

■ Author Introduction: Michi Ichihō (Ichihō Michi)

Born in Osaka Prefecture. Debuted in 2007 (Heisei 19) with "Snow, Like the Scent of Apples." Awarded the Yoshikawa Eiji New Writer Prize in 2022 (Reiwa 4) for 'Small Worlds,' the Shima Kiyoshi Prize for Love Literature in 2024 for 'Stay Where the Light Is,' and the Naoki Prize for 'Tsumidemic.' Other works include 'Fleeting Mosaic,' 'If It's Love, Affection, or Kindness,' and 'After You.'

■ Book Details

[Title] Tasubun, Koishii

[Author] Michi Ichihō

[Release Date] June 17, 2026

[Format] Hardback, B6 size

[Price] 1,870 yen (tax included)

[ISBN] 978-4-10-356951-0

[URL] https://www.shinchosha.co.jp/book/356951/