Full-Series Pre-order Bonus Offered for 'Mariko Saito: Personally Selected & Translated Korean Literature Classics' Beginning in October

Kawade Shobo Shinsha will begin publishing 'Mariko Saito: Personally Selected & Translated Korean Literature Classics' (5 volumes total) in October 2026. The collection is curated by translator Mariko Saito, who has been at the forefront of introducing Korean literature, with all works newly translated.

Those who pre-order the full series (list price 17,930 yen) will receive an exclusive, not-for-sale essay collection titled 'Mariko Saito: Personally Selected & Translated Korean Literature Classics: Separate Volume' written by the translator (Application deadline: December 31, 2026). The series is currently available for pre-order at bookstores nationwide and select online retailers.

Following Han Kang's Nobel Prize in Literature in 2024, interest in Korean literature has surged worldwide. This series is a groundbreaking collection focusing on post-war writers who lived through turbulent times, including liberation from Japan, the division of the Korean Peninsula, the Korean War, military dictatorship, and rapid economic growth.

Volumes 1 through 4 feature works by four master authors of Korean literature, while Volume 5 contains an anthology of exquisite short stories. The series also highlights monochrome illustrations and thoughtful book design by Jun Kawana.