Shinchosha Publishing Co. and the Shieria City Otsu Ninohama management association donated a new design manhole cover to Otsu City on August 7 (Friday), featuring Naruse's Going on the Path of Belief (Shincho Bunko), written by Mina Miyajima. The manhole cover is now installed at Shieria City Otsu Ninohama, on the former site of the Seibu Otsu department store.
Mina Miyajima, who lives in Otsu, made her debut with Naruse's Going to Conquer the World, which went on to win the 2024 Honya Taisho and numerous other literary prizes and awards. The paperback edition of its sequel, Naruse's Going on the Path of Belief, finally went on sale on June 24 (Wednesday), bringing the series' combined circulation past 2.6 million copies.
To celebrate both the paperback release of Naruse's Going on the Path of Belief and the third anniversary of Shieria City Otsu Ninohama opening for residents, Shinchosha and the Shieria City Otsu Ninohama management association jointly donated the new design manhole cover to Otsu City. It has been installed on the grounds of Shieria City Otsu Ninohama, the former site of the Seibu Otsu department store.
A design manhole cover for the first book, Naruse's Going to Conquer the World, is already installed in front of the escalator at the north exit of JR Zeze Station (in front of the Keihan Zeze Station ticket gates). Visitors are welcome to see both design manholes from the Naruse series together.
Installation Day
The manhole cover was set in place at Shieria City Otsu Ninohama (former site of the Seibu Otsu department store) around 4:00 PM on August 7 (Friday), with fans and members of the media on hand to watch. Anyone passing through the area is welcome to stop by and take a look.
Comment from Author Mina Miyajima
The Seibu Otsu department store, where Naruse Akari spent every day of her second year of middle school one summer, was also a place I have fond memories of visiting with my family. I'm glad to have a Naruse's Going on the Path of Belief design manhole cover installed on the grounds of Shieria City Otsu Ninohama, the building now standing on that site.
Baba Park, where Naruse practiced comedy routines with her childhood friend Miyuki Shimazaki, and the spot that inspired the Heiwado Friend Mart Otsu Uchidehama store where Naruse works part-time, are both nearby as well.
Naruse's Going on the Path of Belief is my favorite of the three books in the series. It depicts Naruse building relationships with people in the community across generations.
As the author, I would be delighted if everyone who sees the manhole cover also enjoys the atmosphere of this area alongside the novel.
Comment from Shinchosha
We are delighted to have had the opportunity to install a design manhole cover for Mina Miyajima's Naruse Akari series, thanks to connections with Otsu City, Shieria City Otsu Ninohama, and everyone else involved. Following the one we donated near Zeze Station this past January, we are very happy to see another manhole cover placed once again in Otsu City, the setting of the story.
The Naruse Akari series has sold more than 2.6 million copies combined. Its first installment, Naruse's Going to Conquer the World, winner of the 2024 Honya Taisho, opens with its protagonist, middle schooler Naruse Akari, deciding to devote a summer to the soon-to-close Seibu Otsu department store. The store closed in 2020, and we feel a sense of fate in having a manhole cover from the Naruse Akari series installed on the grounds of Shieria City Otsu Ninohama, the building now standing on that former site.
We designed the manhole cover in consultation with the author, Ms. Miyajima. As before, the artwork is by illustrator Zashikiwarashi. At the center of the manhole is Naruse Akari dressed as the "Biwako Otsu Tourism Ambassador," the same look featured on the cover of the series' second book, Naruse's Going on the Path of Belief. The background depicts light and bubbles on the surface of Lake Biwa, which appears repeatedly throughout the story.
We hope readers will enjoy the world of the novel while experiencing the streets of Otsu, where Naruse Akari walked every day in the story and where the manhole cover now stands in reality. As the publisher of this series, nothing would make us happier. We hope the Naruse Akari series continues to be loved by local residents and fans of the work for a long time to come.
About the Author: Mina Miyajima
Born in Fuji City, Shizuoka Prefecture in 1983. Lives in Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture. Graduated from the Faculty of Letters at Kyoto University. In 2021, her story "Arigato Seibu Otsu-ten" won the Grand Prize, Reader's Award, and Tomochika Award (a triple win) at the R-18 Literary Award for Women, by Women. She made her debut in 2023 with Naruse's Going to Conquer the World, which includes that story. The book went on to win the 2024 Honya Taisho and the Tsubota Joji Literary Award, among other honors, and together with its sequels, Naruse's Going on the Path of Belief and Naruse's Racing Through the Capital, the series has sold more than 2.6 million copies combined. Her other books include Konkatsu Maestro and Sore Ike! Heian-bu.
Book Information
Naruse's Going to Conquer the World
- Author: Mina Miyajima
- Release Date: July 1, 2025
- Format: Paperback
- Price: ¥630 (tax included)
- ISBN: 978-4-10-106141-2
- URL: https://www.shinchosha.co.jp/book/106141/
Naruse's Going on the Path of Belief
- Author: Mina Miyajima
- Release Date: June 24, 2026
- Format: Shincho Bunko (paperback)
- Price: ¥693 (tax included)
- ISBN: 978-4-10-106142-9
- URL: https://www.shinchosha.co.jp/book/106142/
More Information
- Special site: https://www.shinchosha.co.jp/special/naruten/
- Series official X: https://x.com/naruseakari_off
