“Being born on Earth, I’m so glad I could read Ōki‘s fiction. Really!” — Ichibo Michi (Naoki Prize-winning author)

“Ten years from now, a hundred years from now, the flavor of this story won’t change.” — Sakazaki Kaoru (Yoshikawa Eiji Prize for New Writers winner)

“Those who can see, can see. The world is twisted like this. Funny, and sad.” — Sugie Matsukoi (literary critic)

★ Recommended by Ichibo Michi (Naoki Prize-winning author), Sakazaki Kaoru (Yoshikawa Eiji Prize for New Writers winner), and Sugie Matsukoi (literary critic).
★ Author Ōki Fusako was born in Tokyo in 1988 and completed a master‘s course at Hosei University. She made her commercial debut in 2021 and has published in literary magazines including Bungakukai, SF Magazine, and Shōsetsu Subaru. In 2022, “Calf” was selected as an outstanding work in a literary magazine and reprinted in Bungakukai.
★ 13 short stories crossing literary fiction and science fiction. A Venusian coworker, a forgotten friend, an uncle troubled by a one-meter shoulder width—each story enters through a unique angle, capturing “a subtle unease within the everyday.” A bookseller says, “Even people who don’t usually read SF can enjoy it.” For readers who like Haruki Murakami-style magical realism or Shinichi Hoshi-style short SF.
★ Venusians, meteors, crocodiles, a bus running through space—Ōki Fusako‘s unique sensibility creates a short-story world both sad and warm.

Recommended by Ichibo Michi, Sakazaki Kaoru, and Sugie Matsukoi!
A striking debut collection from one of 2026’s most talked-about authors.

In a society advancing toward diversity, a Venusian named Mr. Kaneko is hired as a part-time employee at Supermarket Nakayama Ryuko Store. Store manager Sasamoto worries whether Mr. Kaneko can fit in... (“Mr. Kaneko”).
Pote Itō, son of a potato farmer who dreams of becoming a comedian, meets Tome Itō, daughter of a tomato farmer, in a fated encounter; they form a comedy duo called “Itō Farm,” but... (“Itō Farm”).
Everyone has forgotten Yocchan, who used to play with them at the temple. “I” try to find Yocchan, and the place I finally reach is... (“Yocchan Is a Good Kid”).
About an uncle troubled by his overly wide shoulders, his niece hears wildly imaginative stories from people... (“My Uncle Apparently Had a One-Meter Shoulder Width”).

This is a collection of 13 short stories depicting small wonders slipping into everyday life—both sad and warm.

Ōki Fusako (おおき ふさこ)
Born in Tokyo in 1988. Completed a master‘s course in Japanese Literature, Creative Writing Program, at Hosei University Graduate School. Worked at a law firm, then became a freelance proofreader. Since 2019, active under the pen name Shunse Tenma in the online literary magazine Hametsu-ha. Later published SF under her current name in Kaguya Planet. In 2021, submitted to the anthology Kaze no Tanbun: Tasogare no Kusa no Kanmuri (tentative), produced by Nishizaki Ken, making her commercial debut. In 2022, “Fukuragi” (“Calf”), published in the literary doujinshi Kansō Vol. 5, was selected as an outstanding work of the second half of 2022 and reprinted in Bungakukai, December 2022 issue.