Iwate Television Co., Ltd. Iwate, the Land of Literature 2025 Lecture by Akiko Abe, author of the Bookstore Award-winning work “Kafune,” to be held on Saturday, November 15th at Kioxia Aina (Iwate Prefectural Citizens’ Information Exchange Center

【Iwate Television Co., Ltd.】 【Land of Literature Iwate 2025】 Lecture by Akiko Abe, author of the Bookstore Award-winning work “Kafune,” to be held on Saturday, November 15th at Kioxia Aina (Iwate Prefectural Citizens’ Information Exchange Center)! ​
Iwate Television Co., Ltd. Press Release: September 26, 2025 [Iwate, the Land of Literature 2025] A lecture by Akiko Abe, author of the 2025 Bookstore Award-winning novel “Kafune,” will be held on Saturday, November 15th at Kioxia Aina (Iwate Prefectural Citizens’ Information Exchange Center)! A lecture by Akiko Abe, whose 2025 Bookstore Award-winning novel “Kafune” has generated a great deal of buzz, will be held! We are currently recruiting participants via a dedicated form and reply postcards. Iwate Prefecture is working to create opportunities for its residents to develop an interest in literature and a desire to engage in creative activities as part of the “Iwate Literature Land Promotion Project.” For the eighth time, we will be hosting a lecture by author Akiko Abe (from Iwate Prefecture), whose novel “Kafune” was selected for the 2025 Bookstore Award.
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■Event overview Date and Time: Saturday, November 15, 2025, 1:30 PM – 3:15 PM (Doors open at 1:00 PM) Venue: Kioxia Aina (Iwate Prefectural Citizens’ Information Exchange Center) 7th Floor, Aina Hall 〒020-0045 1-7-1 Moriokaeki Nishidori, Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture Contents: 1:30 PM – 2:15 PM Lecture [Featured by] Akiko Abe [Moderator] Iwate TV Announcer 2:30 PM – 3:15 PM Crosstalk [Featured by] Akiko Abe, editors, etc. Capacity: 300 people *If there are a large number of applicants, a lottery will be held. Organized by Iwate Prefecture If you would like to attend, please apply using the dedicated form or by postcard. The application deadline is Tuesday, October 21st. *If you use a postcard, the postmark date will be valid. ・Special form: https://www.tvi.jp/bungakunokuni/form/ ・If you are using a postcard, please fill out the necessary information and send it to the secretariat. ≪Required Information≫ 1. Name 2. Age 3. Postal Code 4. Address 5. Phone Number 6. Number of seats desired (up to 3 seats per postcard) 7. Question you would like to ask Akiko Abe (optional) 8. (For high school students) Name of school and grade ≪Address≫ 2-10 Uchimaru, Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture, 020-0023 To: Iwate Television “Land of Literature Iwate 2025 Secretariat” ■Akiko Abe Profile Born in Hanamaki City, Iwate Prefecture, and currently living in Iwate Prefecture. Made her debut in 2008 with “Rooftop Boys” (submitted under the title “Forever”). She won the 17th Roman Award. His works include “To You, Who Are Farther Away Than Anywhere Else,” “For the Future When I Meet You Again,” “Para Star (Side Hyakka),” “Para Star (Side Takara),” “Annular Solar Eclipse,” and “Colorful.” “Kafune” won the 8th Miraiya Novel Award, the 1st Have You Read That Book? Award, and the 2025 Booksellers’ Award.
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https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/142480/14/142480-14-9e107d8c341b9e3fa239804c5d6c5548-1825×2700.jpg ■ “Iwate Academy: Land of Literature” to be held! With the cooperation of authors with ties to Iwate, we are hosting the “Iwate Academy: Land of Literature” with the aim of improving the skills and motivation of students in the prefecture who are interested in writing novels. This year, the first part of the “Iwate Juku” will be streamed online (archived). More details will be posted on our website in the future. 【Iwate Juku Event Overview】 Date and Time: Two sessions between December 2025 and February 2026 Eligible Participants: High school literary club members, as well as high school and university students with an interest in literature and writing How to participate: We will use an online distribution system (Zoom, etc.). How to apply: Please apply using the dedicated form on our website.
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https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/142480/14/142480-14-b56a01500429381258735fb3fdecafb9-1908×2700.png Click here for the official website of “Iwate, the Land of Literature” ​ For more information, please visit the official website of “Iwate, the Land of Literature.” ■What is Iwate, the Land of Literature? Iwate Prefecture has produced many outstanding writers, including Ishikawa Takuboku and Miyazawa Kenji. In recent years, Mayu Numata, who has ties to the prefecture, won the 157th Akutagawa Prize for her novel “Kageura,” and Chisako Wakatake, a native of the prefecture, won the 158th Akutagawa Prize for her novel “Oraora de Hitori Igumo.” Additionally, Iwate natives Rein Kudo’s “Voice of the Icicle” was nominated for the 165th Akutagawa Prize, Chito Kosagawa’s “Coronation of the Monkey” was nominated for the 170th Akutagawa Prize, and Yuko Yuzuki’s “The Fugitive Goes North” was nominated for the 173rd Naoki Prize. The prefecture’s rich literary heritage continues to this day, shaping a regional culture worthy of being called “Iwate, the Land of Literature.” Furthermore, Iwate high schools have consistently placed highly in the top ranks of the National High School Literary Competition, and talented young people are active on the national stage. To further develop Iwate as a “Land of Literature” with such a rich literary heritage, Iwate Prefecture is working to create opportunities for its residents to develop an interest in literature and a desire to engage in creative activities through the “Iwate, the Land of Literature Promotion Project.”