Following the widespread critical acclaim of Blank Space, celebrated manga creator Kon Kumakura has officially released a brand-new short story collection titled Sukoshi Nagame no Isshun (A Slightly Longer Moment) through publisher Tokyo Sogensha. Known for blending mundane daily routines with surreal, speculative concepts, Kumakura returns with an omnibus of narratives exploring fragile human connections, quiet winter landscapes, and strange domestic companionships.
The newly published volume gathers several distinct vignettes, tracking characters who navigate brief yet profound intersections in their lives. Among the included premises are the aftermath of fragmented relationships inside a paper-cutout universe, a harrowing winter trek guided by deceptive footprints, the quiet records of mythical nue living covertly within modern society, and a poignant 444-day coexistence with a Japanese fire-cart spirit known as a kasha. Tokyo Sogensha has highlighted the collection as a testament to Kumakura's distinctive ability to find wonder nestled right beside ordinary domestic routines.
Critical Acclaim and Promotional Chapter Previews
To celebrate the physical and digital launch, prominent comedian and avid manga reader Yuki Iwai from the owarai duo Haraichi shared high praise for the publication, commending its emotional warmth and gentle narrative resolutions:
Whether dealing with everyday mundane conversations or wildly imaginative fantasy concepts, this is a gentle short story collection that feels deeply connected to our own world and easy to empathize with. You can genuinely feel the creator's dedication to ensuring every story resolves with profound kindness. Reading it constantly left me wishing I had thought of these concepts myself. It is a wonderful work that has quickly become a favorite, and frankly, I don't think anyone could possibly dislike this manga.
Yuki Iwai, Haraichi
In tandem with the release, Tokyo Sogensha has launched an extensive digital campaign allowing readers to sample three complete stories from the collection: Bain-bain no Bōken (Adventures of Double and Double), Kōkōkōkōkō, and Tsuyoi Chikyūjin to Kutsu (Strong Earthlings and Shoes), available to read for free via their official Tokyo Sogensha Note page.
Author Background and Publication Details
Kon Kumakura first rose to prominence after receiving an honorable mention at the 2012 Summer Afternoon Four Seasons Awards. Following a 2014 debut in Good! Afternoon with the one-shot Banjo Kyōdai, Kumakura cemented a dedicated readership with serialized works including Spring and Kryptonite (Haru to Bonjaku) and Blank Space, the latter of which secured the sixth-place ranking in the female readers' category of Kono Manga ga Sugoi! 2022.
Sukoshi Nagame no Isshun is currently available in bookstores across Japan, with official purchasing links and campaign details hosted through the publisher's portal.
