[Bungeishunju Ltd.] The only Japanese author to be selected for the National Book Award longlist! Akutagawa Prize-winning novel
“Hunchback” (by Ichikawa Sao) is now available from Bungeishunju Bunko.
Bungei Shunju Co., Ltd. Press release: September 26, 2025 To Members of the Press The only Japanese author to be selected for the National Book Award longlist! His Akutagawa Prize-winning novel, “Hunchback” (by Ichikawa Sao), is now available from Bunshun Bunko. Bungeishunju Ltd. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Shigeyuki Iikubo) will release “Hunchback” (Bunshun Bunko) by Saori Ichikawa on October 7th. My body has been broken in order to live. –This book, a powerful portrayal of the body by a severely disabled person, has made a significant contribution to the barrier-free reading community and generated significant social attention after winning the Akutagawa Prize. It has also been translated into 25 countries and regions, and the English translation is the only work by a Japanese author to be selected for the National Book Award in Translated Literature longlist. It is truly a book that has changed the times.
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university, writes humble kotatsu articles and donates all of the income, posts 18 timeline novels on a website, and tweets on her tiny account, “In my next life, I want to be a high-class prostitute.” One day, she discovers that Tanaka, a male helper at the group home, knows about her account… ■Characteristics of the paperback version 〇The number of ruby characters has been significantly increased. 〇The correspondence between the author and Yuki Arai (Professor, Faculty of Letters, Nishogakusha University, literary scholar, and writer), author of “Rin to shite tomoru,” who the author cites as a major influence in writing this work, entitled “I Want to Become an Alien to the World” (Bungaku Kai, August 2023 issue), became a hot topic. This time, a new letter has been added as a special appendix, and the full text is included at the end of the issue. Ichikawa: Even if we rack our brains and try every possible means to erase, neutralize, or eliminate the image of people with disabilities, the word “foreign” suits our struggles. Will this sense of foreignness that haunts people with disabilities ever disappear? Arai: To make invisible exclusion visible, the existence of “foreign bodies” is essential. (Omitted) To begin with, there’s also the aspect that people who are excluded from able-bodied society as “foreign bodies” are labeled with the word “disabled.” ■Comment from Ichikawa Sao The words woven by the protagonist Shakuha in his small room have apparently been released across the ocean and read by people in over 20 countries, stirring the hearts of many. This story of incredible explosive power has finally been published in paperback, making it easier for everyone to get their hands on. If such a compact book can cause a major event in your heart, don’t you think it’s great value for money? Now is the time to experience the impact of “Hunchback” while keeping up with the rest of the world!
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/43732/773/43732-773-c373bd1dc2013eb7bb3fdf8be4f714ce-1800×2700.jpg Sao Ichikawa Sao Ichikawa Born in 1979. Graduated from the Department of Human Environmental Sciences, e-School, School of Human Sciences, Waseda University. She suffers from symptomatic scoliosis due to congenital myopathy, a muscle disorder, and uses a ventilator and an electric wheelchair. In 2023, she won the 128th Bungakukai Newcomer Award for “Hunchback” and the 169th Akutagawa Prize for the same work. Her latest work is “A Girl’s Spine” (published by Bungeishunju). ■To commemorate the release of the paperback edition, the first 8,000 characters of “Hunchback” are available for special viewing. https://books.bunshun.jp/articles/-/10319 ■Bibliographic Information Title: “Hunchback” Author: Sao Ichikawa Format: Paperback Paperback release date: October 7, 2025 Regular price: 660 yen (tax included) ISBN: 978-4-16-792425-6 Bibliography URL:
https://books.bunshun.jp/ud/book/num/9784167924256 ■Click here for the bibliographical site for the new book “Girls’ Spine”!
https://books.bunshun.jp/ud/book/num/9784163920214