First Look at the Book Cover for "Hayabusa Fire Brigade: The Road to the Forest" by Jun Ikeido (Released August 5th by Shueisha)! Various Commemorative Projects Including Autograph Sessions, T-shirt Sponsorship for Gifu Nagaragawa Fireworks Festival, and Kindle Unlimited Campaign Also Announced

Shueisha Inc. will release Jun Ikeido's latest work, "Hayabusa Fire Brigade: The Road to the Forest," on August 5th. This highly anticipated sequel to the hit mystery novel, which was adapted into a drama and won the Shibata Renzaburo Award, will be the first of six literary works to be published as part of Shueisha's 100th-anniversary celebration. We are pleased to unveil the book cover and announce various promotional projects.

◆ First Look at the Book Cover! Interviews with Mr. Ikeido and a special talk with Go Osaka will be featured in the August issues of "Shosetsu Subaru" and "Seishun to Dokusho."

【Synopsis】

Several years have passed since mystery novelist Taro Sanma moved to the nature-rich Hayabusa district of Yaoyorozu Town. While busy as a member of the local fire brigade, he is nominated for a literary award! His biggest rival is the currently popular and beautiful historical mystery writer, Minami Kitahara. However, inexplicable suspicions arise around Minami.

Meanwhile, in Yaoyorozu Town, a young woman is found drowned in the river, leaving behind her child. As Taro investigates the truth behind the incident, he becomes entangled in a massive conspiracy that shakes the town...

【Interview Publication Information】

"Shosetsu Subaru" August Issue, released on Thursday, July 16, 2026

Jun Ikeido "Hayabusa Fire Brigade: The Road to the Forest" Publication Commemorative Interview

Searching for the "Intersection" of Past and Present

【Talk Session Publication Information】

"Seishun to Dokusho" August Issue, released on Monday, July 20, 2026 (Holiday)

Special Talk Session "Hayabusa Fire Brigade: The Road to the Forest"

Jun Ikeido x Go Osaka

Continuously expanding one's territory. A writer's strength lies in their "horsepower."

◆ Autograph Session to be Held at "ACADEMIA Kohoku" in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture!

An autograph session will be held to commemorate the release of "Hayabusa Fire Brigade: The Road to the Forest."

【Autograph Session Details】

Date and Time: Saturday, August 8, 2026, from 2:00 PM

Location: ACADEMIA Kohoku (Northport Mall 3F, 1-25-1 Nakagawa Chuo, Tsuzuki-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture)

Capacity: 100 people

*This event is for those who pre-order or purchase "Hayabusa Fire Brigade: The Road to the Forest" at the store. It will be on a first-come, first-served basis.

For more details, please check here: https://www.kumabook.com/event/162958/

◆ Supporting the "Gifu Nagaragawa Fireworks Festival" with Original "Hayabusa Fire Brigade: The Road to the Forest" T-shirts!

*Design is for illustrative purposes only.

The "Gifu Nagaragawa Fireworks Festival," a summer tradition in Gifu City, will illuminate the night sky with approximately 10,000 fireworks over the clear Nagara River. For the 4th annual event, original T-shirts bearing the title of the work will be created for the operational volunteers to wear in support of the festival.

【4th Gifu Nagaragawa Fireworks Festival Details】

Date and Time: Saturday, August 8, Reiwa 8 (2026)

From approximately 7:30 PM to 8:40 PM

*Event will proceed in light rain. However, in case of severe weather or flooding, it will be postponed to Saturday, August 22.

Venue: Along the Nagara River, downstream of Nagaragawa Bridge to upstream of Kinka Bridge, Gifu City

◆ "Ekiden" Style Kindle Unlimited Campaign Held in Collaboration with Four Companies!

Amazon's e-book subscription service "Kindle Unlimited" is hosting an "ekiden" (long-distance relay race) style e-book campaign where four companies – Diamond Publishing, Shueisha, Bungeishunju, and Kodansha – collaborate to connect their backlist titles like a relay baton.

Shueisha will be participating in the "Summer Leg" from Wednesday, July 1, 2026, to Monday, August 31, 2026, by offering a limited-time distribution of Jun Ikeido's backlist works. We encourage you to enjoy the world of Jun Ikeido's works, including the new release "Hayabusa Fire Brigade: The Road to the Forest," during this opportunity.

Campaign Site: https://www.amazon.co.jp/b?node=217669569051

In addition to these initiatives, Jun Ikeido's works, particularly "Hayabusa Fire Brigade: The Road to the Forest," will be prominently featured in bookstores nationwide. Please mark your calendars for the release on Wednesday, August 5th.

"Hayabusa Fire Brigade" Site: https://lp.shueisha.co.jp/hayabusa/

【Book Information】

Title: "Hayabusa Fire Brigade: The Road to the Forest"

Author: Jun Ikeido

Release Date: Wednesday, August 5, 2026

Price: 2,000 yen + tax

Number of Pages: 440 pages (tentative)

Format: 46-size softcover

ISBN: 978-4-08-770063-3

Publisher: Shueisha Inc.

Special Site: https://lp.shueisha.co.jp/hayabusa/

【Author Profile】

Jun Ikeido (Ikeido Jun)

Author. Born in Gifu Prefecture in 1963. Graduated from Keio University. Debuted in 1998 with "Haritsumeru Sokonaki," which won the Edogawa Ranpo Prize. Received the Yoshikawa Eiji Prize for New Writers for "Tetsu no Hone" in 2010, the Naoki Prize for "Shitamachi Rocket" in 2011, and the Shibata Renzaburo Award for "Hayabusa Fire Brigade" in 2023.

Major works include the "Hanzawa Naoki" series ("Oretachi Bubble Nyugumi," "Oretachi Hana no Bubble Gumi," "Rosujene no Gyakushu," "Gin'yoku no Ikarosu," "Arukuruan to Dōkeshi"), the "Shitamachi Rocket" series ("Shitamachi Rocket," "Gaudí Keikaku," "Gōsuto," "Yata Garasu"), "Shairokku no Kodomotachi," "Soratobu Taiya," "Min'ō," "Nanatsu no Kaigi," "Rikuō," "Nōsaido Gēmu," "Hanasaki Mai ga Damatte Nai," "Akira to Akira," "Oretachi no Hakone Ekiden," and "Boutique."