Complete Digital Collection of Tsutomu Mizukami, a Representative Showa Author Who Depicted Human Nature with an Unwavering Gaze, to Be Released Sequentially from April 30!!

Shogakukan Inc. (Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo) will begin sequentially distributing a complete digital collection (23 volumes) encompassing all works by Tsutomu Mizukami, a representative Showa-era author renowned for his mystery novels and pure literature, starting April 30, 2026.

● One volume compiles works equivalent to 10-20 paperbacks

All of Mizukami's more than 300 published titles – including autobiographical works depicting his impoverished life, mystery novels driven by indignation towards society rather than mere mystery, pure literary works based on his thoughts on his mother and hometown and his experiences as a trainee monk, essays broadly covering topics from romance to social contradictions, and biographies, travelogues, and plays – are archived by genre. Each volume will contain works equivalent to 10-20 paperbacks.

Four cutting-edge experts will provide detailed commentaries in rotation, allowing for a deeper understanding of the works' backgrounds.

● Introduction of newly discovered unpublished works!

It was announced in the "Yomiuri Shimbun" (April 3, 2026) that manuscripts not included in published books had been discovered.

These include "Shosetsu Tanaka Hidemitsu," which focuses on the author Hidemitsu Tanaka, who was close to Mizukami; "Fune," set in his hometown of Wakasa; and two children's stories, "Fuyu no Piero-san" and "Riku o Hashiru Fune." These four works will, of course, also be included in the digital collection. Original manuscripts will also be available for viewing.

In addition, each volume comes with fan-coveted bonuses such as first edition covers and original handwritten manuscripts!

● Tsutomu Mizukami, once again

Born March 8, 1919 (Taisho 8) – Died September 8, 2004 (Heisei 16).

Born in Fukui Prefecture. Separated from his mother at age nine, he entered monastic life at a Zen temple in Kyoto, but left after graduating from junior high. After dropping out of the Japanese literature department at Ritsumeikan University, he worked as a site supervisor in Manchuria, for a newspaper company and publishing house in Tokyo, and as a substitute teacher in his hometown. After the war, he started a publishing company with friends, but financial difficulties soon led to its dissolution. In 1954 (Showa 29), he was involved with "Tokyo Fashion Newspaper," but the venture failed due to economic recession, and he began working as a traveling salesman for clothing fabrics. Inspired by Seicho Matsumoto's "Ten to Sen" which he read during this time, he began writing mystery novels.

Thereafter, he established his position as a popular author with works such as "Umi no Kiba," which drew material from Minamata disease, and "Kamo no Tera," which won the Naoki Prize. He then became active in a wide range of fields including pure literature, biographies, travelogues, historical novels, essays, and plays. He also cared for the socially vulnerable, such as people with disabilities and those facing discrimination.

Other major works include "Gobancho Yugiroro," "Kiga Kaikyo," and "Kinkaku Enjo." He received numerous literary awards, including the Naoki Prize ("Kamo no Tera"), the Kikuchi Kan Prize ("Uno Koji Den"), and the Tanizaki Junichiro Prize ("Ikkyu").

He passed away in 2004 at his home in Kitamimaki-mura, Nagano Prefecture (present-day Tomi City). September 8, the day of his death, is called "Kigan-ki" (Return of the Wild Geese Memorial Day) after his Naoki Prize-winning work.

● Overview of this complete collection

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"Tsutomu Mizukami Digital Collection"

Volume 1 to be released April 30, 2026

Subsequent volumes released monthly on the last day of each month, total 23 volumes planned

Price: 4,000 yen + tax per volume

■ Detailed commentary for understanding the works' backgrounds

■ Each volume includes bonuses such as first edition covers and original handwritten manuscripts

Shogakukan

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"Tsutomu Mizukami Digital Collection" Special Site

https://shosetsu-maru.com/mizukamitsutomu

Target devices: E-book exclusive readers, smartphones, tablet devices, PCs

Sales sites: Major e-bookstores

● Works included in each volume

[Tsutomu Mizukami Digital Collection 1]
The Era of Novels 1 "Kiri to Kage" and "Umi no Kiba"

"Kiri to Kage," "Umi no Kiba," "Su no E," "Hi no Fue," "Tsume," "Utsubo no Kyoshu," "Akai Kesa," "Mimi," "Gin no Kawa," "Kuroi Sei," "Shiranui Kai Engan"

Released April 30, 2026

https://www.shogakukan.co.jp/digital/09D176040000d0000000

[Tsutomu Mizukami Digital Collection 2]
The Era of Novels 2 "Kyomei no Kusari" and "Kan no Hana"

"Kyomei no Kusari," "Kumo no Mura nite," "Kurokabe," "Kan no Hana," "No no Bohyo," "Wakasa-wan no Sangeki," "Shi no Ryūiki," "Shi no Ishi," "Hana no Bohyo," "Mushi no Utage"

[Tsutomu Mizukami Digital Collection 3]
The Era of Novels 3 "Umi no Sosai" and "Kiga Kaikyo"

"Umi no Sosai," "Orient no To," "Me," "Aoi Jikken-shitsu," "Bara Kaikō," "Kuhaku no Karte," "Kiga Kaikyo," "Momoku," "Shikazan-kei," "Akai Tōdai"

[Tsutomu Mizukami Digital Collection 4]
The Era of Essays/Criticisms 1 "Nihon no Kabe" and "Kinkaku to Minamata"

"Kokuhaku – Waga Onnagokoro Henreki," "Nihon no Kabe," "Kumo Koi no Ki – Kanashimi no Jinseiron," "Kari Kaeru," "Ren'ai to Jinsei no 45 Sho," "Watashi no Kofukuron," "Ushinawareyuku Mono no Ki," "Ushinawareta Kokoro," "Ippiki no Hitsuji," "Shiawase no Kokoro no Kakehashi," "Waga Kashoku," "Kinkaku to Minamata," "Ikiru to Iu Koto," "Watashi no Naka no Tera," "Onnagokoro Fukei," "Waga Kusaki Ki," "Kusagusa no Kokoro"

[Tsutomu Mizukami Digital Collection 5]
The Era of Novels 4 "Sara no Mon" and "Kareno no Hito"

"Sara no Mon," "Ryuyo no Hana," "Fubuki no Kuhaku," "Umi no Bohyo," "Tsuru no Kuru Machi," "Suna no Monsho," "Kohoku no Onna," "Kekkai," "Kareno no Hito"