Image: Sukoshi Nagame no Isshun – Ansicht in hoher Auflösung
AMBot | 08/31/2026 | Reading Time: 3 Min.
Ken Kumakura, known for the widely acclaimed series "Blank Space," has presented a new short story collection: "Sukoshi Nagame no Isshun" (freely translated: "A Slightly Longer Moment") was published on August 31 by Tokyo Sogensha.
The volume brings together 16 stories originally published in the literary magazine "Shimi no Techō" by Tokyo Sogensha. The title story depicts the fateful encounter of a man and a woman. Another story, "Keshuka Hyunhyon," was drawn especially for the collection. Thematically, the stories range between everyday life and fable: there are relationships that spiral out of control in a paper-cutout world, a winter spent with a creature that erases traces in the snow and leads wanderers astray, nue that hide their true forms, blend into society, and venture out on stormy nights, as well as the 444 days someone spends with a kasha, a demon in the form of a burning carriage. Again and again, there are characters who part in a slightly longer moment and meet again anew.
Kumakura became particularly known for "Blank Space," the story of a girl who materializes things she imagines as invisible blank spaces in the world. The series ranked 6th on the "Kono Manga ga Sugoi!" list in 2022 in the female readership category and was selected as a jury-recommended work in the manga division of the 25th Media Arts Festival of the Agency for Cultural Affairs. Kumakura made his debut in 2014 with the story "Banjō Kyōdai" in the magazine good! Afternoon; previously, he had received an honorable mention at the 2012 summer competition of the Afternoon Seasonal Awards. Other works include "Haru to Bon-ane" and "Blank Space Hoi."
On the book cover of the new volume, there is a recommendation from comedian Yūki Iwai, known as part of the duo Haraitchi and as a passionate manga reader. He describes the collection as a piece that leaves a feeling like after a very good solo live performance: everyday stories as well as crazy fantasy designs remain connected to one's own world and repeatedly awaken the desire to have come up with these ideas oneself.
The volume comprises 270 pages in B6 format; the publisher lists August 28 as the date of the first edition, with sales starting on August 31. An e-book edition is also available. To mark the release, the publisher is offering three stories free of charge on the web: "Baibai no Bōken," "Tsuyoi Chikyūjin to Kutsu," and the story "口口口口口" (five times the character for "mouth").
Numerous bookstores are offering purchase bonuses: Maruzen & Junkudō, as well as Animate and Shosen, are giving out an illustration card, Ōgaki Shoten and participating supporter bookstores a special paper, and Yurindō a postcard. The bonuses are usually distributed upon purchase in the store and are limited. At Shosen, there is also a lottery for signed color cards until September 27; winners can pick up their cards from October 17 at the Shosen Grande store. Tokyo Sogensha has published an overview of all bonuses and participating bookstores on the official publisher channel on the Note platform.
The volume brings together 16 stories originally published in the literary magazine "Shimi no Techō" by Tokyo Sogensha. The title story depicts the fateful encounter of a man and a woman. Another story, "Keshuka Hyunhyon," was drawn especially for the collection. Thematically, the stories range between everyday life and fable: there are relationships that spiral out of control in a paper-cutout world, a winter spent with a creature that erases traces in the snow and leads wanderers astray, nue that hide their true forms, blend into society, and venture out on stormy nights, as well as the 444 days someone spends with a kasha, a demon in the form of a burning carriage. Again and again, there are characters who part in a slightly longer moment and meet again anew.
Kumakura became particularly known for "Blank Space," the story of a girl who materializes things she imagines as invisible blank spaces in the world. The series ranked 6th on the "Kono Manga ga Sugoi!" list in 2022 in the female readership category and was selected as a jury-recommended work in the manga division of the 25th Media Arts Festival of the Agency for Cultural Affairs. Kumakura made his debut in 2014 with the story "Banjō Kyōdai" in the magazine good! Afternoon; previously, he had received an honorable mention at the 2012 summer competition of the Afternoon Seasonal Awards. Other works include "Haru to Bon-ane" and "Blank Space Hoi."
On the book cover of the new volume, there is a recommendation from comedian Yūki Iwai, known as part of the duo Haraitchi and as a passionate manga reader. He describes the collection as a piece that leaves a feeling like after a very good solo live performance: everyday stories as well as crazy fantasy designs remain connected to one's own world and repeatedly awaken the desire to have come up with these ideas oneself.
The volume comprises 270 pages in B6 format; the publisher lists August 28 as the date of the first edition, with sales starting on August 31. An e-book edition is also available. To mark the release, the publisher is offering three stories free of charge on the web: "Baibai no Bōken," "Tsuyoi Chikyūjin to Kutsu," and the story "口口口口口" (five times the character for "mouth").
Numerous bookstores are offering purchase bonuses: Maruzen & Junkudō, as well as Animate and Shosen, are giving out an illustration card, Ōgaki Shoten and participating supporter bookstores a special paper, and Yurindō a postcard. The bonuses are usually distributed upon purchase in the store and are limited. At Shosen, there is also a lottery for signed color cards until September 27; winners can pick up their cards from October 17 at the Shosen Grande store. Tokyo Sogensha has published an overview of all bonuses and participating bookstores on the official publisher channel on the Note platform.
This article was originally published in German. It was translated with technical support and editorially reviewed before publication.
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