Long-Awaited! Kiriko Nananan's Timeless Masterpieces Debut as E-books! Three Titles to Start Distribution on April 27, with More to Follow!
Tokyo News Service will begin distributing the e-book versions of Kiriko Nananan's representative works, including 'strawberry shortcakes', starting April 27. This marks the start of a digital release for a total of 12 works.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 27, 2026 at 19:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 27, 2026 at 10:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 28, 2026 at 02:53 (16h 21m after Collected)
Tokyo News Service Ltd., publisher of 'TV Guide' magazine, will begin distributing the digital editions of Kiriko Nananan's 'strawberry shortcakes,' 'Candy is Red,' and 'Kiriko Nananan Work Commentary Collection' starting Monday, April 27. They will be available for purchase at various e-book stores.
Manga artist Kiriko Nananan, who passed away in 2024, was beloved for her ability to capture the universal emotions and subtle psychological nuances of men and women living in the city through painful yet gentle and deep perspectives, depicted with beautiful line drawings. Her track record of scooping up scenes from daily life and creating works engraved in readers' hearts remains in their memories today. In 2026, many of her works will be delivered to readers once again as long-awaited electronic editions.
The distribution schedule includes all 12 works: nine previously published titles released as new editions in 2020, plus three titles that were first compiled into books that same year: 'Kiriko Nananan Work Commentary Collection,' 'Kiriko Nananan Uncollected Works Vol. 1,' and 'Kiriko Nananan Uncollected Works Vol. 2.'
The first batch starting April 27 consists of 'strawberry shortcakes,' 'Candy is Red,' and 'Kiriko Nananan Work Commentary Collection.' Future releases will sequentially include titles like 'blue' and 'Pumpkin and Mayonnaise' (both adapted into films), as well as 'Water.', 'Painful Love,' 'Short Stories,' 'Haruchin 1,' and 'Haruchin 2.'
Among the initial releases, 'strawberry shortcakes' is a signature work that Nananan herself described as the reason she became a manga artist and positioned as her alter ego; it was also adapted into a film in 2006. 'Candy is Red' is a late-career short story collection featuring 18 stories that realistically reflect the way of life through romance. 'Kiriko Nananan Work Commentary Collection' is a must-have for fans, where the author herself provides detailed explanations of the foreshadowing and her feelings at the time for eight of her compiled books.
Please take this opportunity to purchase and enjoy the world drawn by Kiriko Nananan once again.
'strawberry shortcakes'
Nananan stated that she became a manga artist specifically to draw 'strawberry shortcakes' and called it her alter ego. In the 2006 film adaptation, Nananan herself played the character Toko, and her nude scenes became a topic of interest as precious footage. The story weaves together the daily lives of four female friends living in the city, carrying complex life backgrounds. Their equanimous feelings and painful, delicate ways of life are depicted as they seek love and friendship amidst emptiness, suffering, dependence, and despair.
Toko, an illustrator with an eating disorder.
Chihiro, an office worker seeking a place to belong.
Satoko, a part-timer waiting for love to arrive.
Akio, an escort who hides her job to see the man she loves.
Even as they spend days in confusion about the meaning of life, hurt, and resembling sorrow or resignation, there are moments when they lightly ascend the stairs of their respective lives. It's not that anything changes dramatically, but something makes them realize that the continuation of ordinary days is happiness... Something very important that no one can put into words. This masterpiece is a gem of a long-form girl's story that Nananan depicted fully.
'Candy is Red.'
Nananan once stated that this book was her personal favorite among her works. It is a work where she fully depicted realistic romantic situations with full throttle, living as a 'cool woman' rather than just 'cute' or 'pretty.' What is a man? What is a woman? What do they feel, and why do they keep seeking love? These 18 stories intensely depict the eternal and unchanging emotions of men and women, such as the agony of love, loneliness, dependence, expectation, and despair. It is a valuable late-career short story collection where one can realistically feel Nananan's way of living through love.
Manga artist Kiriko Nananan, who passed away in 2024, was beloved for her ability to capture the universal emotions and subtle psychological nuances of men and women living in the city through painful yet gentle and deep perspectives, depicted with beautiful line drawings. Her track record of scooping up scenes from daily life and creating works engraved in readers' hearts remains in their memories today. In 2026, many of her works will be delivered to readers once again as long-awaited electronic editions.
The distribution schedule includes all 12 works: nine previously published titles released as new editions in 2020, plus three titles that were first compiled into books that same year: 'Kiriko Nananan Work Commentary Collection,' 'Kiriko Nananan Uncollected Works Vol. 1,' and 'Kiriko Nananan Uncollected Works Vol. 2.'
The first batch starting April 27 consists of 'strawberry shortcakes,' 'Candy is Red,' and 'Kiriko Nananan Work Commentary Collection.' Future releases will sequentially include titles like 'blue' and 'Pumpkin and Mayonnaise' (both adapted into films), as well as 'Water.', 'Painful Love,' 'Short Stories,' 'Haruchin 1,' and 'Haruchin 2.'
Among the initial releases, 'strawberry shortcakes' is a signature work that Nananan herself described as the reason she became a manga artist and positioned as her alter ego; it was also adapted into a film in 2006. 'Candy is Red' is a late-career short story collection featuring 18 stories that realistically reflect the way of life through romance. 'Kiriko Nananan Work Commentary Collection' is a must-have for fans, where the author herself provides detailed explanations of the foreshadowing and her feelings at the time for eight of her compiled books.
Please take this opportunity to purchase and enjoy the world drawn by Kiriko Nananan once again.
'strawberry shortcakes'
Nananan stated that she became a manga artist specifically to draw 'strawberry shortcakes' and called it her alter ego. In the 2006 film adaptation, Nananan herself played the character Toko, and her nude scenes became a topic of interest as precious footage. The story weaves together the daily lives of four female friends living in the city, carrying complex life backgrounds. Their equanimous feelings and painful, delicate ways of life are depicted as they seek love and friendship amidst emptiness, suffering, dependence, and despair.
Toko, an illustrator with an eating disorder.
Chihiro, an office worker seeking a place to belong.
Satoko, a part-timer waiting for love to arrive.
Akio, an escort who hides her job to see the man she loves.
Even as they spend days in confusion about the meaning of life, hurt, and resembling sorrow or resignation, there are moments when they lightly ascend the stairs of their respective lives. It's not that anything changes dramatically, but something makes them realize that the continuation of ordinary days is happiness... Something very important that no one can put into words. This masterpiece is a gem of a long-form girl's story that Nananan depicted fully.
'Candy is Red.'
Nananan once stated that this book was her personal favorite among her works. It is a work where she fully depicted realistic romantic situations with full throttle, living as a 'cool woman' rather than just 'cute' or 'pretty.' What is a man? What is a woman? What do they feel, and why do they keep seeking love? These 18 stories intensely depict the eternal and unchanging emotions of men and women, such as the agony of love, loneliness, dependence, expectation, and despair. It is a valuable late-career short story collection where one can realistically feel Nananan's way of living through love.