Shueisha to Release 'Cobalt Playback Anthology Part 1' on April 16, Featuring All-New Stories from Popular Cobalt Bunko Series, and Reissue Saeko Himuro's 'Shoujo Shousetsuka wa Shinanai!'

On Thursday, May 28, 2026, Shueisha Cobalt Bunko will celebrate its 50th anniversary. It has been beloved as "the best friend of girls" at all times. Its DNA is inherited by the light literature label, Shueisha Orange Bunko, which will publish "Cobalt Playback Anthology Part 1" on Thursday, April 16. This anthology collects "completely new, all-original" short and medium-length stories from eight series that were immensely popular in the 90s and 00s under Cobalt Bunko. On the same day, Saeko Himuro's legendary masterpiece comedy novel, "Shoujo Shousetsuka wa Shinanai!" (A Girl Novelist Never Dies!), will be reissued.

■ A Miraculous Anthology of 8 Legendary Popular Series from Shueisha Cobalt Bunko

The eight works included in "Cobalt Playback Anthology Part 1" are a rich variety of popular genres, with romance, fantasy, adventure, school stories, paranormal tales, and plenty of laughter and tears! The lineup is truly substantial. Notably, some of the series were thought to never have new works published again, making this an undeniable must-have for fans. The cover illustration is by Asaki Touru, a popular illustrator who worked on numerous hit titles for Cobalt Bunko in the 90s and 00s. This time, she has brought to life a visualization of the "girl on horseback," the symbol of Shueisha Cobalt Bunko.

【Included Series and Titles *Authors listed in alphabetical order by last name】

・Yuko Aoki "Victorian Rose Taylor Gaiden: Ame no Mizuumi, Mori no Shiro"

・Yoko Enoki "Lidarois: Kimi o Omoite Tadoru Michi"

・Oyuki Konno "Maria-sama ga Miteru: JK Ganryujima"

・Tatsuki Shindo "Ryu-shi Kaden: ~Shiryujima Sowa~"

・Shinobu Suga "Ryuuketsu Megami-den: Yoake no Kobanashi"

・Kanan Norihara "Cho-Kirakira Boshi Hensokyoku"

・Tamako Maeda "Seiseki no Shito: Tsuki no Kakera ni Aisareru"

・Mio Wakagi "High School Aura Buster: Niki Monogatari"

【Author Profiles *Listed in alphabetical order by last name】

・Yuko Aoki

Won the 33rd Novel Taisho award in 2002 for "Boku no Zoomer". Debuted in 2003 with "Sword Soul: Harukana Shiroi Shiro no Hime". Her works include "Victorian Rose Taylor", "Kore wa Keihi de Ochimasen!", and "Haken Shain Asumi no Kakeibo".

・Yoko Enoki

Won the 16th Novel Taisho Readers' Award in 1990 for "Tokubetsu no Natsuyasumi". Debuted in 1991 with the "Lidarois Series 1: Toho no Majo". Her works include "Ryu to Mahotsukai", "Midori no Aruda", and "Umiberi Monogatari".

・Oyuki Konno

Won both the 21st Novel Taisho and Readers' Award in 1993 for "Yume no Miya: Ryu no Mita Yume", debuting with the same work. Her works include "Maria-sama ga Miteru" and "Oshaka-sama mo Miteru".

・Tatsuki Shindo

Won the 24th Novel Taisho award in 1994 for "Shun-o Meifu". Debuted in 1995 with "Ryu wa Madoromu". Her works include the "Shiryujima" series, "Slum Fish", "SO REAL", "Remayu no Kyuketsuki", and "Seitoin Gakuen Furoku".

・Shinobu Suga

Won the 23rd Novel Taisho Readers' Award in 1994 for "Wakusei Dowa", debuting with the same work. Her works include "Kill Zone", "Ryuuketsu Megami-den", "Fuyo Senri", and "Kakumei Zenya". Her essay collection "Suga no Sugasugashikunai Hanashi" (Shueisha) will also be published on Friday, April 24.

・Kanan Norihara

Debuted in 1992 with the novel "Kyuseishu ni Yoroshiku" (Hakusensha). Her works include the "Cho" and "Mao" series, as well as "Malta Sagy wa Tantei desu ka?".

・Tamako Maeda

Won an honorable mention at the 9th Cobalt Novel Award in 1987 for "Nemurihime no Mezameru Asa". Debuted in 1988 with "Uchu ni Fuku Kaze Shiroi Tori". Her works include "Hayo no Tsurugi", "Seiseki no Shito", and "Ten o Sasaeru Mono".

・Mio Wakagi

Won an honorable mention at the 13th Cobalt Novel Award in 1989 for "AGE". Debuted the same year with "High School Aura Buster: Tenshi wa Umaku Odorenai". Her works include "Glass Heart" and "XAZSA".

【Bibliographic Information】

Title: "Cobalt Playback Anthology Part 1"

Authors: Yuko Aoki, Yoko Enoki, Oyuki Konno, Tatsuki Shindo, Shinobu Suga, Kanan Norihara, Tamako Maeda, Mio Wakagi

Cover Art: Asaki Touru

Release Date: April 16, 2026

Pages: 416

Price: 990 yen (10% tax included)

ISBN: 978-4-08-680695-4

■ Talk Shows & Signing Events at the "Shueisha Cobalt Bunko 50th Anniversary" Event!

During Golden Week, at the "Shueisha Cobalt Bunko 50th Anniversary: The Power of Heart-throbbing Words Exhibition ~A Girl Novelist Never Dies!~" held at Seibu Shibuya (Shibuya, Tokyo), it has been decided that popular authors participating in this anthology will appear at talk shows and signing events. The schedule is as follows:

■ Saeko Himuro's Legendary Controversial Work 'Shoujo Shousetsuka wa Shinanai!' is Being Reissued!

Also on Thursday, April 16, Saeko Himuro's "Shoujo Shousetsuka wa Shinanai!" (originally published by Shueisha Cobalt Bunko in November 1983) will be reissued by Shueisha Orange Bunko. This hilarious comedy follows five "girl novelists" from the Showa era, led by "Sensei Ayako Himura," who, though unsuccessful, are full of energy and resort to unbelievable schemes that would be unthinkable in the Reiwa era, declaring they'll "do anything to sell."

This work, full of satirical spirit, humorously depicts the behind-the-scenes of the publishing industry and the true faces of authors. The catchphrase on the obi (paper band) of the first edition in 1983, "Ms. Himuro, is this possibly a true story?" became a hot topic. However, in the afterword, Ms. Himuro concluded, "To my merciful editor-in-chief, to my kind editor, this is fiction, right? From Saeko Himuro, who has no relation to Ayako Himura."

The commentary at the end of the reissued edition is written by Saori Kumi, who, along with Ms. Himuro, was hailed as one of the "Four Queens of Cobalt." Please pay attention to her anecdotes from that time, written in her characteristic "Saori Kumi style."

Yabesawako, who handled the cover illustration for this work, also created the retro-cute key visual for the "The Power of Heart-throbbing Words Exhibition ~A Girl Novelist Never Dies!~" starting April 29th at Seibu Shibuya.

Furthermore, the subtitle of this exhibition is taken directly from "Shoujo Shousetsuka wa Shinanai!", signifying that the Cobalt Bunko authors who followed Ms. Himuro have inherited the "girl novelist spirit" she established. The text used on the exhibition poster is Ms. Himuro's own handwriting, taken from the original manuscript of "Shoujo Shousetsuka wa Shinanai!", so please take note of that as well. It has also been decided that Ms. Himuro's original manuscripts will be displayed at the exhibition venue.

【Bibliographic Information】

Title: "Shoujo Shousetsuka wa Shinanai!"

Author: Saeko Himuro

Cover Art: Yabesawako

Release Date: April 16, 2026

Pages: 304

Price: 847 yen (tax included)

ISBN: 978-4-08-680696-1

【Saeko Himuro Profile】

Born in Iwamizawa, Hokkaido in 1957. Debuted as a writer after winning an honorable mention at the 10th Shosetsu Junior Seishun Shosetsu Shinjinsho for "Sayonara Arlequin" in 1977. From the 80s to the 90s, she was a leading author for Shueisha Cobalt Bunko, building an era. Her representative works include "Nante Suteki ni Japanesque", "Clara Hakusho", "Zakkyo Jidai", "Nagisa Boy", and "Umi ga Kikoeru". She passed away in 2008.

★ 'Cobalt Playback Anthology Part 1' & 'Shoujo Shousetsuka wa Shinanai!'

Cobalt Bunko 50th Anniversary Commemorative Titles Special Feature

https://orangebunko.shueisha.co.jp/feature/cobalt50th_specialbooks