About the serial novel series "The Kalavinka's Child Heads West" *Last updated: July 1, 2026

● About "The Kalavinka's Child Heads West"

The "The Kalavinka's Child Heads West" series is a buddy adventure travel novel about a giant man who was once a Japanese envoy to Tang China and a Kalavinka* girl, walking through Asia during the Tang Dynasty (mid-9th century) aiming for the "sacred peak at the edge of the west."
In addition to participating in the note Creative Awards 2025 Fantasy Novel category, it is also being serialized in parallel on Kakuyomu.

* A half-human, half-bird creature said to live in the Pure Land. It is said to have a beautiful voice.


This work was a short piece submitted to the contest "Gyakufunsha Novel Awards 2023", where participants write only the first 800 characters of a novel and compete on that content. Originally an incomplete work that ended at just 800 characters, after it made it to the second round of selection and received a great response from everyone, I wrote a "complete version" and have continued to serialize it since then.

● Story Synopsis

Kalavinka. A half-human, half-bird creature with a beautiful voice, said to live in the Pure Land.

The time is the mid-9th century. Yoshitsugu Kashihara, a giant man standing seven and a half shaku (approx. 225cm) tall who was once a Japanese envoy to Tang China, carries Oto, a Kalavinka girl who had stowed away on the envoy ship, on his shoulder, and treads the deserts of Tang China toward the Western Regions. He does this to fulfill Oto's wish, as she was summoned by a mysterious song and begged to "go west."

Yoshitsugu, carrying the sense of loss from the death of his beloved daughter, and Oto, who bears wings that cannot fly, walk the endless journey together as if to fill each other's voids. While visiting various lands and repeating encounters and partings with people, the two aim for the sacred peak (Chomolungma) that towers in the distance to the west...

● About the writing order and the chronology of the story

This work takes the form of a series of short stories, depicting different lands in each episode. The writing order (posting order) does not match the chronology within the story.
First, please read the first episode "The Kalavinka's Child Heads West" (posted in December 2023, revised in July 2025), and then I would appreciate it if you could read along in the order of writing (posting order). For details, please refer to the "List of Works" below.
Also, the chronology of the work and the lands where it is set are as follows. I would be even happier if you could enjoy it while looking at a world map.

● List of works and episode synopses (Last updated: July 1, 2026)

・ "The Kalavinka's Child Heads West"

After leaving Dunhuang, the two, who were wandering in the western desert of Mingsha Mountain, are attacked by bandits. They easily fend off the bandits with their respective powers, and after crossing a sturdy checkpoint, Oto finally learns the source of the song that was calling her.

・ "The Kalavinka's Child's Longing"

The two stop by the Mogao Caves, a cave temple where many Buddha statues and paintings (murals) are enshrined. While spending a moment of peace, they see the figure of a Kalavinka dancing in the heavens depicted in a mural.

・ "The Kalavinka's Child and the Tombstone"

Heading south toward the great city of Lhasa to find a foothold for their journey toward the white mountains towering in the southwest, the two encounter a pitiful corpse whose flesh has been completely devoured by beasts. For the corpse, whose identity and name are unknown, the two offer at least a gesture of memorial.

・"The Child of the Kalavinka and the Traveler" (1-6)

Not long after building a grave marker for the corpse, the two care for a young man who had collapsed on the road. The young man says he set out on a journey to pursue the man who killed his father. Eventually, upon learning that the man he was seeking was the very corpse they had just buried, the two struggle with their inner conflict.

・"The Prayer of the Child of the Kalavinka"

Having arrived in Lhasa, the two pray for the safety of their continuing journey at a prayer wheel, a Buddhist implement said to grant merit simply by being spun.

・"The Child of the Kalavinka and the Musician" (1-6)

Deep in the Longmen Mountains near Luoyang, Oto hears a strange melody similar to that of a koto.
The hermit she meets after following the sound was a Japanese envoy to Tang China who crossed over fifty years ago as an Onjoshō (musician). Through their conversation with the old man, Yoshitsugu's past is gradually unraveled.

・"The Child of the Kalavinka Crosses the Shore" (1-8, currently serializing)

To continue their journey south, the two attempt to cross the Yarlung Tsangpo River, which runs east to west across the plateau. However, the path is by no means smooth. With the suspension bridge they were relying on collapsed and unable to swim across, the two arrive at the home of a young fisherman, a rarity on the plateau.

(Updates will be irregular from here on)