A New Experiential Book, 'The 0th Book,' Makes Reading More Accessible and Enjoyable! Enjoy a Unique Story by Maiyo Seo with Special Features!

Responding to the question, 'I want to read, but what should I read? How should I read it?' 'The 0th Book' was created. It features a new short story, 'Now, My 70 Pages,' by Maiyo Seo. This is a story about a junior high school student named Ikumi and his sister. Various features have been incorporated to overcome the hurdles of reading, such as small text in paperback books, difficult kanji, and too many characters to keep track of.

▪ Starts with Large Print!

'The 0th Book' begins with extra-large print, gradually decreasing to the standard size of a Shinchosha Bunko paperback over the course of one chapter. By the time you realize it, you'll be reading small print smoothly!

▪ Dates in Subheadings!?

Time can be difficult to follow with just text, but 'The 0th Book' makes it easy! Dates are included in the subheadings, allowing you to read without getting lost.

▪ Includes Cute Illustrations!

Yomumu, the new character from Shinchosha Bunko who debuted this summer, offers suggestions to make reading more enjoyable. Be sure to turn the pages and find them!

* The print version of 'The 0th Book' is distributed to junior high and high schools nationwide and is not available in bookstores. * Due to high demand, all planned distributions have concluded. We hope you will enjoy the free e-book version.

E-book available here!

【Comment from Maiyo Seo】

Amidst the ongoing challenging circumstances surrounding books, the idea to 'first and foremost, make people love books' and 'increase the number of people who read books' came to me two years ago. Since then, Maiyo Seo and Shinchosha have had numerous discussions.

Reading is simply fun. I want people to experience books more casually. I want to do something that serves as a gateway to books. After much deliberation and trial-and-error, 'The 0th Book' was completed.

Open this book. It's packed with exciting features and is an incredibly fun read that you can breeze through.

For the story, I returned to my roots and wrote a sequel to my debut work, 'The Egg's Womb.' (Of course, I intended for it to be enjoyable even for those who haven't read 'The Egg's Womb.')

It was a very liberating writing experience to spend time with characters who have grown a little. Reading and writing novels are indeed fun!

Books can sometimes be your companion and open new doors for you. They possess various other powers.

But, first and foremost, they are casual and enjoyable.

When you close this book, if you think, 'What should I read next?', we would be overjoyed.

【Synopsis of 'Now, My 70 Pages'】

Ikumi Asai, a third-year junior high student, is in the midst of a rebellious phase. He gets irritated by trivial matters, suddenly loses motivation, and finds his sister Ikuko bothersome. However, with his last junior high tournament just two weeks away, he begins to consider giving it his all for once— A fresh, heartwarming story of a summer that makes family and friends dear.

About the Author: Maiyo Seo (Seo Maiko)

Born in Osaka Prefecture in 1974. Graduated from Otani Women's University with a degree in Japanese Literature. In 2001, she won the Botchan Literary Prize Grand Prize for 'The Egg's Womb' and made her debut as an author the following year with the novel 'The Egg's Womb.' In '05, she received the Yoshikawa Eiji Prize for New Writers for 'Happy Dining Table,' the Tsubota Joji Prize for Literature in '08 for 'Tomura Hanten: 100 Explosions of Youth,' and the Booksellers Award in '19 for 'And the Baton Was Passed.' Other works include 'Heaven is Still Far Away' and 'Just a Little More, A Little More.' Her latest work, 'The Beginning Soup, Summer Jelly,' is scheduled for release on July 29, 2026.

About the Book

Responding to the question, 'I want to read, but what should I read? How should I read it?' 'The 0th Book' was created to convey the joy of reading.

As you turn the pages, you'll find large print! Cute illustrations! And even a break space! It's packed with hints for enjoying reading. The included story, 'Now, My 70 Pages,' is a newly written novel by Maiyo Seo, telling the story of junior high student Ikumi and his sister Ikuko. It also includes a 'Recommended Book Introduction' to help you choose your next read based on your mood! In addition to free distribution to junior high and high schools nationwide, the e-book version is available for free download at various e-book retailers.

Book Data

【Title】The 0th Book: Now, My 70 Pages

【Author】Maiyo Seo

【Release Date】2026/6/22

【URL】https://ebook.shinchosha.co.jp/book/E066991/