Yasu Awamori to debut novelist with Futabasha publication

Author Yasu Awamori is set to make a literary debut with the novel ‘Party wa Itsuka Owaru’ (The Party Will Eventually End), scheduled for release by Futabasha on October 21, 2026. The work was selected as the winner of the Futabasha Literary Department Prize in the ‘Creative Award 2025’, a major Japanese writing competition co-hosted by note and TALES.

The novel follows Akari Shioda, a 40-year-old woman who leaves her job in Tokyo to return to her hometown to succeed her family's Buddhist temple. The plot involves an unexpected romantic connection with a colleague who leads a double life as a masked DJ.

Awamori, a graduate of Waseda University, previously gained recognition in the ‘Creative Award 2024’ essay category. The upcoming novel has been expanded significantly for its print edition, doubling the original manuscript's length to provide deeper character development and emotional nuance.