Introducing the "Summer Paperback Fair 2025" by Publisher

Good evening! I am Toshio Tsukuda, a poet who delivers "heart charms" to make your heart feel a little lighter.

We have had such a streak of summer days that I wonder where the rainy season went. Speaking of summer, the "Summer Paperback Fair" is held at bookstores every year. While the Shincho Bunko fair starts on July 1st, it seems that KADOKAWA and Shueisha have already begun theirs.

So, in this post, I will provide some early information on the "Summer Paperback Fair" from major publishers, along with some books that caught my eye. I hope you can find your "one book for summer." (I am participating in the Amazon Associates Program.)

Kadokawa Bunko

Kadokawa Bunko changes its theme every year to show us the joy of reading. This year, titled "Bestsellers from Back Then: Masterpieces that Colored the Era," the lineup features bestsellers from the 1970s to the 2020s.

Of course, in addition to standard genres like "Human Drama!," "Scary Books!," and "Mystery & Suspense," the lineup also includes novels based on works by director Mamoru Hosoda, known for the film "Summer Wars," which I'm sure fans will be happy to see.

A work that caught my eye is "Sailor Suit and Machine Gun" (by Jiro Akagawa), which I picked up thinking, "Oh, how nostalgic!" Izumi Hoshi, a cute high school girl whose father has just been killed, ends up succeeding as the boss of the Medaka-gumi, a shabby yakuza group with only four members... It was made into a film starring Hiroko Yakushimaru and has been adapted for the screen many times since.

Speaking of Kadokawa Bunko, there are the special covers in collaboration with "Bungo Stray Dogs." This year, Osamu Dazai's first collection of works, "Bannen" (Late Years), and Sakunosuke Oda's autobiographical novel, "Seishun no Gyakusetsu" (The Paradox of Youth), feature covers of the two characters from the "Dark Era." Of course, a total of eight works, including "The D-Slope Murder Case" (by Ranpo Edogawa) and "Kechirachimatta Kanashimi ni... Nakahara Chuya Shishu" (To the Sorrow That Has Been Soiled... Chuya Nakahara Poetry Collection) (by Chuya Nakahara), are appearing with collaboration covers.

And speaking of Kadokawa Bunko in the summer, there is one more thing. Special Japanese-pattern covers from the popular hand towel specialty store "Kamawanu" are also available. A total of six works, including "The Restaurant of Many Orders" (by Kenji Miyazawa), "Kokoro" (by Natsume Soseki), and "Pocket ni Meigen wo" (Quotes in Your Pocket) (by Shuji Terayama), are appearing with special covers.

A giveaway campaign is also underway where you can win luxurious prizes, including an original Kadokawa Bunko tote bag, by collecting and applying with the entry tickets attached to the obi strips of eligible books.

Shueisha Bunko

Shueisha Bunko's Natsuichi 2025 plays on the name of their paperback character "Yomanya" with categories like "Yomanya (Read) Books That Are Being Adapted," "Yomanya Books That Move the Heart," "Yomanya Books That Make Your Palms Sweat," "Yomanya Books That Make Your Heart Flutter," and "Yomanya Books to Immerse Yourself In."

A work that caught my eye is "Ai ja nai nara kore wa nani" (If It's Not Love, Then What Is This?) (by Yuki Shasendo), a shocking collection of love stories depicting the twisted love of those driven mad by romance. This is interesting.

Speaking of Natsuichi, there are the special bookmarks limited to that year. In 2025, you can get one "Yomanya Clear Bookmark" for every eligible paperback you buy. There are four types in total, so I definitely want to buy four books at a physical bookstore to complete the set.

By the way, this year's special cover is for Hiroshi Ogiwara's "Umi no Mieru Rihatsuten" (The Barbershop with a View of the Sea). Illustrator Noritake, who designed Yomanya, has done a wonderful job.

Also, Shueisha Bunko is running a special project titled "Yomanya Channel," where popular voice actors read books aloud. It was popular last year, too. The works being read are: "Hayabusa Shobodan" (by Jun Ikeido), "Chizu to Kobushi" (by Satoshi Ogawa), "Socho Shihatsu no Satsufukei" (by Yugo Aosaki), "Shiori to Uso no Kisetsu" (by Honobu Yonezawa), "Sono Tobira wo Tataku Oto" (by Maiko Seo), and "Ginga Hotel no Isoro: Mata Niji ga Kakaru Hi ni" (by Sanae Hoshio), for a total of six works.

These readings are divided into first and second parts, and it seems you can listen to the second part by scanning the 2D code in the book you purchased. Since some books at online bookstores might not have the 2D code, it seems better to buy them at a physical bookstore. Also, there is a lottery to win posters signed by the voice actors.

Shincho Bunko

And finally, there is Shincho Bunko, whose fair starts on July 1st. Since the fair hasn't started yet, there is little information available, but I will introduce what I know.

First, what has been decided is the stained-glass bookmark that you can get when you buy at a physical bookstore, which is popular every year. Looking at the website, there are six types in total, so I want to complete this set as well.

And the lineup for this summer's limited-edition special covers was announced on June 20th. There are 8 titles in total: "The Temple of the Golden Pavilion" (by Yukio Mishima), "The Restaurant of Many Orders" (by Kenji Miyazawa), "The Woman in the Dunes" (by Kobo Abe), "Welcome to Earth" (by Shinichi Hoshi), "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" (by L. Frank Baum), "No Longer Human" (by Osamu Dazai), "Kokoro" (by Natsume Soseki), and "Lolita" (by Vladimir Nabokov).

What is your favorite paperback book? I would be very happy if you could let me know in the comments.

Thank you for reading until the end.

I am always encouraged by your likes, follows, and tips.
Thank you so much!

I have published an article of nearly 7,500 characters on the special project for the 100 Shinchosha Paperbacks!

[I also write articles like this]

#33DayWritingChallenge