FIT Publishes “The Novel: Nakatohikari,” the first full-scale ancient history novel featuring Japan’s first king, Nakatohikari, who was sealed away in the shadows of mythology

FIT Co., Ltd. (located in Hirano Ward, Osaka City) has published *The Novel: Nakatomihiko*, an authentic work of ancient history featuring Nakatomihiko—a deity who exists at the intersection of ancient Japanese mythology and history—as the main character.

Novel: Nakatotohiko—Front Cover

URL: https://hikonohoakari.jp/

Although Nakatotohikari’s name appears in texts such as the *Kojiki* and *Nihon Shoki*, he is not widely known to the general public.On the other hand, as a deity deeply connected to the Mononobe clan, Prince Amaterasu, the Ten Sacred Treasures, Emperor Jimmu’s Eastern Campaign, and the legends surrounding the founding of Yamato, he holds significant importance in the fields of ancient history, shrine traditions, and place-name lore.

Following the author’s previous work, *Nakatomihaya: The First King of Japan*, which compiled shrine traditions and historical debates surrounding Nakatomihaya into an accessible analytical text, this newly published *Novel: Nakatomihaya* further develops those insights into a narrative form.

In this work, Nakatotohiko is portrayed not merely as a mythical figure, but as a king who crossed the ancient seas, opened up new lands, united the people, and made decisions caught between governance and prayer.In a story that spans Awa, Awaji, Harima, Tamba and Tango, Aki, Tsukushi, and finally Yamato, scenes that have traditionally been told as myths come to life as the actions, conflicts, love, and prayers of a flesh-and-blood human being.

A major feature of this work is its realism, which makes it feel as though it is recounting historical facts.While this is, of course, a novel, it is not a typical work of fiction. Drawing on ancient historical research, shrine traditions, place names, ancient transportation routes, rituals, maritime travel, and the relationships between powerful clans, the descriptions are so realistic and vivid that readers may find themselves wondering, “Did this really happen?”

An authentic ancient history novel centered on “Nagosuhihiko,” the first king of Japan, whose story has been buried in the shadows of mythology.

With a realism that defies belief for a work of fiction, this book vividly portrays his life.

Numerous scenes recounted in the *Kojiki* are brought back to life not as mere myths, but as a reality inhabited by flesh-and-blood human beings.

This epic ancient history novel depicts another, long-hidden history of Japan’s founding, set amidst the tensions of love and prayer, politics and war.

Novel: Nakatohikari—Back Cover

■Background of Publication

While Japanese ancient history is filled with stories of gods and emperors known to all, there are also figures who, though mentioned, have never been given their due attention. One such representative figure is Nakatohiko.

Nayohibito is spoken of as the ancestral deity of the Mononobe clan and is also said to have been involved with Yamato even before Emperor Jimmu. However, despite the prominence of his name, opportunities for general readers to learn about Nayohibito have been limited.

My previous work, *Nakatohikari: The First King of Japan*, was published as part of an effort to interpret regional culture, Shinto shrines, ancient history, and folklore and present them in an accessible way to general readers. That book was conceived as an introductory volume that bridges the enjoyment of exploring Shinto shrines with the depth of ancient history.

In this new work, *The Novel: Nakatotohiko*, we have restructured the insights presented in the previous book into a narrative, with the aim of enabling an even wider audience to enter the world of ancient history. This book is recommended not only for those with a specialized interest in ancient history but also for anyone interested in historical fiction, shrine visits, Japanese mythology, and local folklore.

Illustration: Yamato

■ Features of This Work

1. An Authentic Ancient History Novel Featuring Nakatomihiko as the Protagonist

This work centers on Nakatomihiko—one of the most enigmatic figures in ancient history—and portrays his life as an epic tale. Rather than merely retelling a myth, it presents a compelling narrative that explores how the people of antiquity migrated, governed the land, and shaped the nation.

2. A sense of realism as if recounting historical facts

Although this book is a work of fiction, it draws on shrine traditions, ancient place names, ancient transportation systems, maritime travel, and the relationships between powerful clans. It places great emphasis on descriptions that make readers feel, “This isn’t just a myth—could this actually be history that really happened?”

3. A follow-up to the previous work, *Nakatotohiko: The First King of Japan*

The previous work was a scholarly analysis of shrine legends and historical debates surrounding Nakatotohiko. This novel expands on those insights into a narrative, conveying the appeal of Nakatotohiko to a broader readership.

4. A wide-ranging story set in ancient Japan

The story unfolds across Awa, Awaji, Harima, Tamba and Tango, Aki, Tsukushi, and finally Yamato. Against the backdrop of regional folklore and landscapes, the novel depicts Nakatomihiko’s encounters with people in various regions as he works toward nation-building.

5. Illustrations That Complement the Story’s World

To visually convey ancient ship fleets, settlements, mountains, rituals, and character relationships, illustrations have been created to accompany the text. Ancient landscapes and scenes are carefully visualized to help readers immerse themselves in the ancient world.

Illustration: Tamba Fuji

Illustration: Nano-tsu (Hakata Bay)

■ Book Overview

Title: Novel: Nakatomihiko

Author: Ryutaro

Publisher: FIT Co., Ltd.

Release Date: July 31, 2026 (Reiwa 8)

Dimensions: 210 mm (H) × 143 mm (W)

Number of Pages: 334 pages

Price: 2,500 yen (excluding tax)

ISBN: 978-4-9913868

Available at: Official LP, Amazon

Official Website: https://hikonohoakari.jp/

Genre: Ancient History Fiction / Historical Fiction / Japanese Mythology / Shrine Lore

*This book is a work of fiction based on ancient history, shrine lore, and place-name traditions.

Where to Buy:

This book is available for purchase on Amazon as well as through the official landing page. The official landing page features purchase buttons for *Novel: Nakatomihiko* and its predecessor, *The First King of Japan: Nakatomihiko*, as well as a contact form for inquiries regarding the publication.

Illustration: Awa

■About the Previous Work

The previous work, *Nihon no Kuni no Hajime no Ō: Nakatomihiko*, is a book of ancient history analysis that introduces the figure of Nakatomihiko in a way that is easy for general readers to understand, using the deities enshrined in shrines as a starting point.

It was crafted to allow readers to gain a deeper appreciation of Japanese mythology and ancient history by reflecting on familiar shrines, ancient clans, folklore, and place names as they read.

This new work, *Novel: Nakatohikari*, is a sequel-style publication that further expands the worldview presented in the previous book into a narrative.

Previous Work: *Nakatohikari, the First King of Japan*—Cover

■Company Overview

Company Name: FIT Co., Ltd.

Address: 5F Miyako San-ai Building, 1-1-2 Nishiwaki, Hirano-ku, Osaka City

Business Activities: Publishing, editing, printing, public relations and sales promotion support, dissemination of local information, planning and production

URL: https://fit-plan.co.jp/