This Summer, Take Audiobooks With You! Shueisha Launches 'Natsuoto' Campaign to Promote the Joy of Listening to Books – Free Original Short Stories and 30-Minute Audiobook Trials Available!

Shueisha Co., Ltd. announces the launch of 'Natsuoto,' its first audiobook campaign, themed 'This Summer, Take Audiobooks With You.' From June 16 (Tue), 2026, to August 28 (Fri), 2026, the campaign will offer free access to content that enables audiences to experience 'reading through listening,' transforming everyday moments into reading time.

● Four original short stories by popular authors, each around 10 minutes long, available for free. Narrated by voice actor Tomokazu Sugita!

● 30-minute free trial access to popular Shueisha audiobooks, including 'Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Novelization' and 'Groundmen.'

● Summer audiobook recommendations categorized by playback duration: 3–5 hours, 5–10 hours, and over 10 hours.

All content can be enjoyed via the 'Natsuoto' special website on Shueisha's OTO Content website.

Shueisha 'Natsuoto' Special Website: https://oto.shueisha.co.jp/special/natsuoto2026/

Campaign Period: June 16 (Tue), 2026 – August 28 (Fri), 2026

'Listening to Books' Experiences Available During the 'Natsuoto' Campaign

Original short stories by Michi Ichihoshi, Masahiro Imamura, Rio Shimamoto, and Tsume Kiri-O, themed '10 Minutes That Change Something.' Narrated by voice actor Tomokazu Sugita! All available for free.

Michi Ichihoshi – 'I know.'

[10 Minutes That Change Your View on Marriage] I lost my phone and can't meet my girlfriend. In this crisis, what I discovered was...

Michi Ichihoshi (Ichihoshi Michi)

Born in Osaka Prefecture. Made her debut in 2007 with 'Snow, Like the Scent of Apples.' Won the Yoshikawa Eiji New Writer Prize in 2022 for 'Small Worlds,' the Shima Kiyoshi Prize for Love Literature in 2024 for 'Stay Where the Light Is,' and the Naoki Prize the same year for 'Tsumidemic.'

Masahiro Imamura – 'Doppelgänger'

[10 Minutes That Change the Scale] On my way home from school, I encountered... A chilling urban legend of midsummer.

Masahiro Imamura (Imamura Masahiro)

Born in Nagasaki Prefecture. Debuted in 2017 by winning the Ayukawa Tetsuya Award for 'The Murders in the Rue Morgue.' The novel achieved a domestic mystery ranking 'Grand Slam' and placed third in the Booksellers' Award, earning widespread acclaim. Other works include 'Dispel.'

Rio Shimamoto – 'Cute Things Aren't Scary'

[10 Minutes That Change the World] When I woke up this morning, I had turned into a sloth plush toy!?

Rio Shimamoto (Shimamoto Rio)

Born in Tokyo. Won an honorable mention in the Shukan Shosetsu新人文学賞 in 2001 with 'Silhouette,' the Nozawa Bunsho New Writer Prize in 2003 for 'Little by Little,' the Shima Kiyoshi Prize for Love Literature in 2015 for 'Red,' and the Naoki Prize in 2018 for 'First Love.'

Tsume Kiri-O – 'We Will Make an Emergency Stop'

[10 Minutes That Change Your Fate] I'm claustrophobic, and even at 30, I'm afraid of trains. This is how I solved it.

Tsume Kiri-O (Tsume Kiri-O)

Born in Kagawa Prefecture. Debuted in 2018 with 'Especially on Nights When You Want to Die,' which later became a popular TV drama. Other works include essays 'I Liked All the Girls in My Class' and 'Skincare at 3 a.m.,' and the novel 'Love Is Falling Apart.'

Narrating these four works: Voice actor Tomokazu Sugita

Tomokazu Sugita (Sugita Tomokazu)

From Saitama Prefecture. Affiliated with AGRS. Notable anime roles include Sakata Gintoki in 'Gintama,' Joseph Joestar in 'JoJo's Bizarre Adventure,' and Sakamoto Tarou in 'SAKAMOTO DAYS.' Also active in foreign dubbing and narration.

Additionally, enjoy 30-minute free trials of numerous popular Shueisha audiobooks!

※ Trial length may vary slightly around 30 minutes depending on the title. ※ Titles listed in gojūon order.

Title

Author

Narrator

'Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Novelization – Tanjiro and Nezuko, The Beginning of Their Fate' (Shueisha Mirai Bunko)

※ The radical in 'Nezuko' is officially written as 'Ne.'

Original Work / Written by Koyoharu Gotouge / Akika Matsuda

Tomoya Ito, Yasuhiko Honshoji, Ryosuke Kanemoto, Sakiyo Omoki

'The Mystery of the Curry Immigrants' (Shueisha Shinsho)

Hiroyuki Murohashi

Yuki Nakamura

'Groundmen' (Shueisha Bunko)

Kou Shinsou

Kengo Nishigami, Shou Hayami, and others

'Why Can't I Read Books When I'm Working?' (Shueisha Shinsho)

Kaho Miyake

Ayu Seto

'The Season of Books and Keys' (Shueisha Bunko)

Hiroshi Yonezawa

Shunosuke Isaka, Ryunosuke Watanuki, Naho Shimoda

'Sewing Machine and Goldfish' (Shueisha Bunko)

Mimi Nagai

Mari Yokoo

'Loveka Quietly Holds a Bow'

Mio Adan

Soma Saito, Takehito Koyasu

Others

'I Want to See You'

Kanako Nishi

Manami Yasuda

On the 'Natsuoto' special website, we also recommend summer audiobooks categorized by playback duration for those who want to enjoy more audiobooks: 【3–5 hours】【5–10 hours】【Over 10 hours】.

'Natsuoto' Campaign Posters Unveiled at JR Tokyo Station and Yamanote Line!

Posters promoting the campaign theme 'This Summer, Take Audiobooks With You' will be displayed on the outer-platform doors of the Yamanote Line at JR Tokyo Station, featuring the original short stories and popular titles available for 30-minute free trials during the campaign period.

【Advertisement Details】

Location: Yamanote Line outer loop platform inside ticket gates, JR Tokyo Station

Display Period: June 16 (Tue), 2026 – July 1 (Wed), 2026

※ Please refrain from asking station staff.

※ When viewing the ads, please be mindful of safety and avoid obstructing other passengers.

※ As the station is a public space, please be considerate of others and follow mobile phone etiquette.

'Natsuoto' Special Feature in 'Shousetsu Subaru' July Issue (On Sale June 17)!

In addition to introducing the 'Natsuoto' special website, the July issue of 'Shousetsu Subaru' will include the full text of the original short stories by the four popular authors mentioned above. By reading both, you can enjoy reading with both your ears and your eyes.

Publication: 'Shousetsu Subaru' July Issue

Release Date: June 17, 2026 (Wed)

Price: ¥1,100 (including 10% tax)

Published by Shueisha

More details: https://syousetsu-subaru.shueisha.co.jp/

Shueisha aims to create a society where everyone can access books, expanding reading options. We believe more people should have the chance to encounter books. That's why, in addition to print and digital books, we're investing in 'audiobooks'—books you can enjoy with your ears. Please also check out 'Shueisha OTO (Oto) Content,' our website where you can browse and search audiobooks from Shueisha. Find the perfect 'book to listen to' based on your favorite genre or your mood of the day.

About 'Shueisha OTO Content'

Under the concept 'Weaving Words (KOTOBA) into Sound (OTO),' we propose a new way to enjoy books—not just with your eyes, but with your ears too.

We will continue our efforts to broaden access to books in more accessible formats.

Official X: @shueisha_oto

Official Instagram: @otocontents

Official TikTok: @shueisha_oto