Naoki Prize-nominated author Ashizawa Osamu’s latest book, “We’re Not Talking About Your Level,” goes on sale September 18th! “It’s so sad that he loves someone so weak.” The jealousy, envy, and contempt of two men whose youths have been consumed by

The latest book by Naoki Prize-nominated author Ashizawa Osamu, “We’re Not Talking About Your Level,” goes on sale September 18th! "Poor guy, you’re so weak yet you fall in love."The jealousy, envy, and contempt of two men whose youths were consumed by the same dream. ​
Kawade Shobo Shinsha Press release: August 29, 2025 To Members of the Press The latest book by Naoki Prize-nominated author Ashizawa Akira, “We’re Not Talking About Your Level,” goes on sale September 18th! "Poor guy, you love someone so weak. "The jealousy, envy, and contempt of two men whose youths have been consumed by the same dream. Publication commemorative events will be held at two
bookstores: Yaesu Book Center Keikyu Department Store Kamiooka Branch on September 27th and Omorido Bookstore (Shibuya) on October 5th!
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Kawade Shobo Shinsha Co., Ltd. (Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo / Representative Director: Masaru Onodera) will release Yo Ashizawa’s latest novel, “We’re Not Talking About Your Level” (1,815 yen including tax), on September 18, 2025. Ashizawa Akira was nominated for the Naoki Prize in 2020 and 2025 and is immensely popular among readers. Ashizawa’s latest work, “We’re Not Talking About Your Level,” is a novel depicting the intense, writhing passion between two 26-year-old men: a professional shogi player and a young lawyer with a University of Tokyo graduate. They once pursued the same dream but walked different paths. Now living in different arenas, one in the world of shogi and the other in the legal profession. Shiba and Oshima spent their childhood together in the Shogi Encouragement League. Shiba finally achieved his dream of becoming a professional Shogi player at the age of 20, but struggled with poor performance and began to crumble into loneliness. Meanwhile, Oshima gave up his dream at age 17, quit the Shogi Encouragement Association, and went on to study at the University of Tokyo. He passed the bar exam and became a lawyer. Though they parted ways, the two remain intensely aware of each other. The frustration of one who achieved his dreams and the obsession of one who lost them intersect violently and quietly, sharply digging into the reader’s emotions. Ashizawa stopped all other work in 2023 to write his latest book, “I’m Not Talking to You,” and after two years of revisions, it’s finally been published. This is the author’s masterpiece and is already being called his best work, so be sure to look forward to its release! ●Handwritten message from Akira Ashizawa!
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https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/12754/1013/12754-1013-8fd00baf35495d7b475d4e972fa3d042-1800×2700.jpg (C)︎Masaki Fujioka Writer Hiroshi Ashizawa Ashizawa Yo Born in Tokyo in 1984. She made her debut in 2012 with “Yosei Jidai Frontier Literature Award” (The Margin of Sin). The same work was adapted into a film in 2015. In 2018, he won the Shizuoka Bookstore Grand Prize for “Where There Is No Fire, There Is Smoke,” in 2022 he won the Shogi Pen Club Grand Prize Excellence Award for “God’s Bad Move,” and in 2023 he won the Mystery Writers of Japan Award for “Night Signpost.” His other works include “I Hope Nothing Bad Comes,” “I Don’t Want to Be Forgiven,” “I Don’t Wipe My Dirty Hands There,” and “Lies and Neighbors.” ●Publication celebration! Bookstore event to be held! 1. Akira Ashizawa Autograph Session *Registration begins at 10:00 AM on Friday, August 29th (first come, first served) Bookstore: Yaesu Book Center, Keikyu Department Store Kamiooka Branch Date and Time: Saturday, September 27, 2025, starting at 2:00 PM (scheduled end at 4:00 PM) Details: https://www.yaesu-book.co.jp/events/talk/26395/ 2. Talk Event & Autograph Session with Akira Ashizawa *Registration begins at 10:00 AM on Friday, August 29th (first come, first served) Bookstore: Taisei-do Bookstore (Shibuya) Date and Time: Sunday, October 5, 2025, starting at 2:00 PM (scheduled to end at 4:00 PM) Details: https://taiseido.co.jp/event20251005.html ●Great response from bookstore staff who read this book early! !! “I never thought I’d be reading this in my 50s, crying and with my heart pounding, while waiting at the hospital. It’s heartbreaking…” – Mitsuko
Tokaibayashi, Miyawaki Bookstore Harue Branch “This was the first time I’d read such a coming-of-age novel.” – Taeka Iwatani, Suharaya Beans Musashi-Urawa Branch “It was an impact that influenced my outlook on life.” – Eriko Yamada, Usagiya Yaita Branch “Even now, after finishing the book, I still can’t stop thinking about whether the reason I feel so distressed is because I feel like someone is looking into my soul, or because my most painful parts have been exposed.” – Tomoko Yoshihara, Kinokuniya Bookstore Ario Ootori Branch …and more! ●New publication information
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/12754/1013/12754-1013-2225d5f7b6e30be3207e8d323d43488c-1821×2700.jpg Title: We’re Not Talking About Your Level Author: Akira Ashizawa Specifications: 46-size / hardcover / 192 pages Release date: September 18, 2025 Price including tax: ¥1,815 (¥1,650 base price) ISBN: 978-4-309-03225-2 URL:
https://www.kawade.co.jp/np/isbn/9784309032252/ *The e-book will also be released on the same day. Please check with your local e-book store for details.