Novels I couldn't help but buy because I loved their cover designs [Part 1]

When I go to a bookstore, I find myself reaching for books with beautiful cover designs.

Of course, there are also books I love for the stories themselves that I want to reread again and again.

But often, the initial spark is the cover, the texture of the paper, or the color of the spine.

This time, I would like to look back, little by little, at the books I picked up because I was drawn to their designs in that way.

Most of these are books I have already read, so I will write not only about the design but also about what I liked after reading them.

1. "Cocoa on Thursdays" by Michiko Aoyama

The first one I want to mention is "Cocoa on Thursdays" by Michiko Aoyama.

I loved it so much that I bought both the hardcover and the paperback editions.

It features a miniature photograph by Tatsuya Tanaka on the jacket, which left an impression on me from the moment I first saw it.

But after finishing this book, looking at the cover again makes me love it even more.

The characters from the linked short stories are perfectly represented, and it was a joy to realize that the design was truly made for this story.

I also love the story itself very much.

It is a novel that feels like it gently acknowledges your daily efforts, telling you "you did a great job," and I think it is a book that stays close to a tired heart.

It is interesting that the title includes the color "cocoa," and it is often the first book I want to recommend when someone asks for a suggestion.

Another thing I love about this book is that the chapter that makes me cry changes every time I read it.

There are other books by Michiko Aoyama that feature cover art by Tatsuya Tanaka, but this one was truly magnificent.

It feels as though the novel was born from the illustration, and that the story and the illustration resonate with each other; I think such a collaboration is quite rare.

2. "Sankaku" by Akane Chihaya

The second book is "Sankaku" by Akane Chihaya.

This is a book I would definitely recommend reading while accompanied by a salted rice ball.

The cover design uses cute illustrations of food, which caught my eye immediately.

I don't usually find myself drawn to cover designs that feature food as the main subject, but the food drawn by Shuku Nishi was an exception.

It's somewhat realistic yet gentle, with a beauty that makes you want to gaze at it like a work of art.

Even the drawing of a carrot on this book makes me think, "How lovely."

The titles of each chapter are also all food-related.

The story is about men and women who are on the verge of a love triangle, depicting a relationship that begins because their tastes in food align.

The depiction of life in a Kyoto townhouse and the "food" that weaves into it is so charming that it's almost dangerous to read when you're hungry.

This was the first work by Akane Chihaya I ever read, and from there, I branched out to "Gyoshin," "Tomei na Yoru no Kaori," "Akai Tsuki no Kaori," and "Nemurenai Yoru no Tame ni."

It is a book that drew me into the world of Akane Chihaya, where the care taken in meals and the complex, hard-to-resolve nature of human relationships coexist.

The texture of the cover also has a sense of luxury, making me happy just to own it as a book.

3. "Kaze to Tomoni Yutorinu" by Ryo Asai

The third book is "Kaze to Tomoni Yutorinu" by Ryo Asai.

A substantial-feeling jacket with stylish decorative lettering.

Both the front and back are designed with meticulous care, and I thought it was amazing how even the price tag blends in as if it were part of the jacket.

…But the content was so hilarious that you couldn't imagine it from such an elegant appearance.

To someone who hasn't read it, it might look like I'm reading a very stylish book, but in reality, I'm on the verge of bursting into laughter over and over again.

I think that gap is also part of the charm of this book's cover design.

From the very beginning, the humor typical of Ryo Asai is in full swing, and while reading, I couldn't help but report to my husband, 'Hey, this book is just too funny!'

Including the time spent holding back chuckles while reading, it's an unforgettable reading experience.

I hadn't read the previous essay collection, but I went out and bought it as soon as I finished this one.

To those who are going to read it, I just want to say that it might be a little dangerous to read on public transportation.

4. 'Like a Lonely Star' by Haruna Ikezawa

The fourth book is 'Like a Lonely Star' by Haruna Ikezawa.

I had seen it at bookstores several times, but at first, I thought it was a book like an encyclopedia.

I had thought it was beautiful but hadn't picked it up, but after watching a video where Haruna Ikezawa introduced a collection of books, I learned that this was a collection of short SF stories, which immediately piqued my interest and led me to buy it.

The shape of the cover is particularly striking.

The jacket itself is designed to be slightly shorter than the book body, and I feel like I've never seen a binding like this before.

The illustration of the mushroom is also very impressive, and just from the binding, it made me feel that this wouldn't be an ordinary short story collection.

As for the content, the first and third stories left a particularly strong impression on me.

With stories like a world where symbiosis with mushrooms has become the norm, or a woman who cannot lose weight no matter what she does, the settings are a bit eccentric yet somehow relatable, possessing the momentum unique to short SF stories.

I think this is a book that is easy to get into, even for those who feel that 'SF requires a bit of effort.'

5. "Tropical" by Tomihiko Morimi

The fifth book is "Tropical" by Tomihiko Morimi.

It's a thick book, but I liked it so much that I even bought the paperback version.

This cover design is also expressed through Tatsuya Tanaka's miniatures, and I think it fits the labyrinthine worldview of the work perfectly.

In the story, the protagonist searches for the true nature of "Tropical," a book that can never be finished.

Moreover, the protagonist is set as Tomihiko Morimi himself.

It was already interesting at that point, and I was drawn in from the very beginning.

I think the charm of this work lies in the feeling of not knowing where reality ends and the story-within-a-story begins.

While reading it, I felt as if I had wandered into a maze myself.

Rather than being scary, it's a comfortable feeling, making it a book I want to read in the summer.

The miniature world on the cover design also suited the work perfectly and was truly wonderful.

6. "Tsutaya" by Yaguruma Yatsu

The sixth book is "Tsutaya" by Yaguruma Yatsu.

I found this book while looking for novels with cover art by Rokunana-shitsu.

The detail in the illustration is truly intricate and beautiful, and I bought it because I was drawn to the jacket.

However, once I read it, I realized it was more than just that.

I was often moved by Juzaburo Tsutaya's work ethic, and it was very educational to learn about the person who created what could be considered the prototype of publishing.

This book sparked my interest in the ukiyo-e artists and figures of the Edo period who appear in the story, and I became hooked on historical novels for a while.

I think it's a book that any book lover would find quite engrossing.

By the end, I couldn't stop the tears.

The cover design, featuring Yoshiwara and night cherry blossoms, is also truly beautiful.

Part 1 Summary

In this first part, I started by looking back at six books I have already read.

For books with wonderful cover designs, that alone is reason enough to pick them up.

But once I actually read them, I am reminded again that the beauty of the cover can intertwine with the lingering impression of the story, making me love them even more.

I will introduce the rest in the second part.

For the second half, I plan to cover everything from series that lighten the heart to Korean sci-fi, classic fantasy, and even books I haven't read yet but bought 'entirely for the cover'.

This content is also available in video format

The content introduced here is currently available on YouTube.
Since the video mainly features the hardcover editions, I would be happy if you could enjoy the texture and feel of the cover designs there as well.