Recommended by actress Mei Hata! “I was given a gentle push on my back.” A 100% pure love story!

When publishing “Aquarium World,” the author, Ao Fuzuki, imagined actress Meiku Hata to play the role of the story’s heroine, so she asked her to contribute a recommendation. It has been decided that recommended comments will be published on the obi.

After reading the book, Mr. Hata expressed his honest feelings, saying, “I was given a gentle push.This book is a must-read for people who can’t express themselves or who are timid.” When we asked her about her impressions of the novel, she said that the bright colors of the fish that appear in the story and the gentle worldview created by the pure and transparent relationship between the protagonist and heroine left a lasting impression on her. Mr. Hata says that this is his first experience reading a novel and commenting on it. I hope that this work will encourage readers and give them the courage to move forward.

This story is a heartwarming love story about clumsy love. This is a youth fantasy where the main character, who is not good at interpersonal relationships, grows up while being at the mercy of his own special abilities. It was selected as a finalist for the Tokyo Nakano Monogatari 2022 Literary Award, and was highly praised by the jury.

In addition, the book begins with a manga from the beginning, allowing you to enjoy the world of the work to the fullest. The transparent and impressive cover illustration was created by up-and-coming illustrator KU.

[Work introduction]

Kaito Tachibana, a secretive high school student with no friends, has the ability to “see the fish that live in people’s hearts.” Because he can understand other people’s feelings and personalities through fish, he is not good at interpersonal relationships, but by chance he becomes friends with his classmate Sumika Sakuraba.

Kaito gradually becomes attracted to her as a friend. Meanwhile, a gigantic whale appears in front of them, eating fish. Sumika’s fish is also targeted, and Kaito wants to protect her, but at the same time he loses her abilities. In order to stop the whales, the two come up with a plan on the night of a summer festival. Will Kaito be able to protect Sumika and her fish?

[Author profile]

Aoi Fumizuki

Born in Hokkaido in 1995. Cancer, type A. This book, which was nominated as a finalist for the “Tokyo Nakano Monogatari 2022 Literary Award”, is her debut work. Her favorite fish is Napoleon fish.

[Comment from the author]

I came up with this idea on a long-distance bus late at night. It was pitch black outside the window of the stopped bus, and I wondered what I would do if there were people I was scared of. From there, I thought it would be nice to be able to tell the difference between good and bad people at a glance, and came up with the idea of ​​setting it in the world of an aquarium.

One of the themes of the work is “accepting differences from others” and “diversity.” Try to accept different ways of thinking, feeling, and looking as much as possible. In the same way, I will also take steps to be accepted. I hope that this work will give courage to all of you who are trying to create a comfortable world to live in.

●Product name: “Aquarium World”

●Author: Ao Fuzuki

●Format/total pages: 46/266 pages

●List price: 1273 yen + tax

●Release date: Tuesday, April 23, 2024

●Publisher: Asuka Shinsha Co., Ltd.

◎Publisher information

Asuka Shinsha Co., Ltd.

Location: Kobun Kosan Building 2F, 2-4-3 Hitotsubashi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

■Asuka Shinsha homepage

■Asuka Shinsha Official X

■Asukashinsha official Instagram