Kirihara Shoten and Gakken release English learning workbook

Kirihara Shoten and Gakken have collaborated to release a new English language learning resource titled ‘Five-Minute Novels 5-Minute Unexpected Endings Story Reading Workbook’. Released on August 20, 2026, the book is designed specifically for junior high and high school students to improve English reading comprehension through engaging narratives.

The workbook features ten selected stories from the popular ‘Five-Minute Unexpected Endings’ series. To enhance the learning experience, the material includes QR codes that allow students to listen to immersive audio accompanied by sound effects. The book also provides a themed vocabulary list of 180 essential words and a ‘Story Secrets’ column that explains narrative structures and foreshadowing to help students analyze texts more deeply.

This publication is a school-exclusive item and is not available through general bookstores. It is intended to foster a love for reading while building practical linguistic skills, such as understanding character emotions and specific narrative expressions.