[Magazine House Co., Ltd.] 《Highly praised by Naoko Yamazaki!》 The latest volume of Minami Qta’s “Ball and Chain” is now on sale! The story of two queer people trying to rediscover their true selves.
Magazine House, Inc. Press release: October 3, 2025 To Members of the Press 《Highly praised by Naoko Yamazaki!》 The latest volume of Minami Qta’s “Ball and Chain” is now on sale! The story of two queer people trying to rediscover their true selves. 《Publication-related Event》Gender and life start “here” — Yamazaki Naokora and Minami Qta talk at the publication event “Is Gender Created in Everyday Life?!” to be held on October 13th Magazine House Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Shuichi Tetsuo) released the fourth volume of Minami Qta’s latest work, “Ball and Chain,” at bookstores and online bookstores nationwide today, Friday, October 3rd. Image
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“discomfort” felt towards living a “normal” life, including marriage, sex, and family. It was ranked third in the women’s edition of Takarajimasha’s “This Manga is Amazing! 2025,” making it one of the most talked-about works right now. Preview Image
URL: https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/30125/565/30125-565-870feee039643b7d67767f0ec586cde0-1000×1368.jpg 《Aya》 After 20 years of marriage, she began to question her life as a wife and went to a divorce counseling center. With the encouragement of the like-minded people she met there, she began working part-time to achieve financial independence.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/30125/565/30125-565-56a3dfce2714afcef21f5942be69d802-1000×1375.jpg 《Keito》 After breaking up with his male fiancé, Keito decided to be with Haruka, a gay hairdresser. Encouraged by Haruka’s question, “Why don’t you enter (a boxing match)?”, Keito began to take boxing seriously. Rediscovering the “identity” that had previously felt “uncomfortable.” And so the two of them… Volume 4 depicts Aya steadily preparing for divorce, and Keito, who has pledged his future to his same-sex partner. As the seasons change from winter to spring, Aya receives various blessings. Novelist Naoko Yamazaki recommends this book, saying, “No matter how old you are, you can start a new life. No matter how old you become aware of your gender, this is where your life begins. Reading this book fills me with hope, and it even makes me feel light.” The book also includes a special contribution at the end, “Gender is Created in Everyday Life.” This is a book that will resonate with readers in their own lives.
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https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/30125/565/30125-565-db92a300c2a2d869f219aeb603652d1d-1000×1419.jpg Publication Commemorative Event A publication commemorative talk event will be held at Junkudo Ikebukuro Main Store on Monday, October 13th. Participants will be manga artist Minami Qta and novelist Yamazaki Naocola, who has written a recommendation for the work. The theme is “Is gender created in everyday life?!” In addition to attending in person, you can also watch the event online. Learn
more 《Speaker introduction》
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/30125/565/30125-565-41aedd0db673986db153d8c060e27a6f-982×1024.jpg Minami Qta Manga artist. Born in Shimane Prefecture in 1969. He made his debut as a manga artist in 1992 with Wani Magazine. His works include “Hirake Koma!” (8 volumes), “Hirake Koma! Return” (2 volumes, both published by Kodansha), “My Girlfriend” (2 volumes, published by Futabasha), “Goodnight” (2 volumes currently on sale), “Sukunahikona” (4 volumes), and “Goodbye Midori-chan” (1 volume, all published by Shodensha), among many others. His latest serialized work is “Ball and Chain” (Magazine House).
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/30125/565/30125-565-711dfb74b8662b9dcbf036758f8c608a-1000×1333.jpg Nao Cola Yamazaki Writer. My goal is to “write sentences that no one else can write, in words that anyone can understand.” I write about everyday social issues. I have published several books of essays and novels. My hobby is child-rearing. Gender undisclosed. I am a big fan of Minami Qta, and I love his early short stories, romance stories, child-rearing stories, essay-like works, and of course “Ball and Chain.” ■Bibliographic information
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/30125/565/30125-565-1586ce959c87f3357ba952d11b7936e7-904×1282.jpg Title: Ball and Chain 4 Author: Minami Qta Release date: Friday, October 3, 2025 Price: ¥1,320 (tax included) Specifications: A5 paperback, 160 pages ISBN: 978-4-8387-3352-1 : Magazine House Co., Ltd. URL: https://magazineworld.jp/books/paper/3352
