Why did Chōchō have to choose death?— Searching for the meaning of “life” through love and loss The novel In Search of Chōchō goes on sale December 1

A story of love and prayer that begins with a young girl’s first love. “What if I had chosen a different path back then?”— A full-length novel in which the author has poured her enduring feelings into her writing.

2026.10.27 11:00

株式会社アクセスイースト

On Tuesday, December 1, 2026, the full-length novel *In Search of Ms. Butterfly: A Story of Love and Prayer That Transcends Time* (by Akio Yamaguchi) will be released nationwide by Parade.

『蝶々さんを探して』書籍表紙

"In Search of Chōchō-san" Book Cover

This story follows a young girl who lost both her parents to suicide as she navigates her first love, numerous encounters, and experiences of loss, ultimately finding her own way in life.

Using Puccini’s opera *Madama Butterfly* as a key motif, the book explores the questions of what it means to love, what it means to live, and the significance of lives lost without ever having a voice in society—all through the lens of the question, “Why did Butterfly have to choose death?”

■About the Work

The protagonist is Nami, a fourth-grade girl living in Kanazawa. While she struggles with social interaction, she possesses a special ability to accurately memorize and reproduce music she hears.

One summer, Nami meets Ken’ichi, a third-year middle school student and the only son of a long-established sake brewery, and falls in love for the first time. Ken’ichi, who was raised under his mother’s strict control, also regains his will to live through his encounter with Nami.

However, that fall, Nami’s parents take their own lives.

Now a high school student, Nami attends a performance of the opera *Madama Butterfly* with Ken’ichi. She is captivated by Cio-Cio-San, who trusts her beloved and sings of happiness, but during the scene of her suicide, memories of her parents’ deaths resurface, and she is overcome by a violent panic.

Eventually, circumstances beyond their control tear the two apart.

“Once I can sing all of Cio-Cio-San’s songs, I’ll definitely come to see you perform.”

With Ken’ichi’s promise in her heart, Nami goes to Tokyo to study vocal music.

“Why did Cio-Cio-San have to choose death?”

The question that continues to weigh on Nami’s mind—through various encounters and losses—expands to encompass all those who died without being able to raise their voices in society.

Now a senior in college, Nami pours her own feelings into the songs from *Madame Butterfly* and tries to convey them to Ken’ichi.

The two meet again—will Nami be able to share with Ken’ichi the answer she has found in her own way?

――A story of love and prayer that transcends time.

主人公・佐々木奈美小学校4年の時）01

Main Character: Nami Sasaki (4th grade) 01

■The Author’s Intentions Behind This Book

This work is not merely a romance novel depicting Nami and Ken’ichi’s first love.

The two walk their own paths in life while being tossed about by family, society, institutions, the nation, and a fate beyond their control.

People do not live by their own thoughts alone. Due to their surroundings, the times, and chance encounters, they may end up choosing a path different from what they truly cherish.

Furthermore, everyone makes mistakes. However, even if we cannot erase the past, once we recognize those mistakes, we should be able to choose anew how to live from here on out.

As Nami continues to grapple with Chōchō’s death, she comes face to face with her parents’ suicides and with those who passed away without having a voice in society.

We cannot bring back lost lives. Still, by not forgetting that those people once lived, we may be able to reach out and take the hand of someone else who is suffering in the same way.

I hope you’ll enjoy the long love story of Nami and Ken’ichi, and that it will also prompt you, the readers, to reflect a little on the meaning of life.

■Writing a Novel Once Again at Age 80

For a long time, I, too, have harbored a sense of dissatisfaction with my own life.

When I was young, I left NHK and set out to make a living as a writer. I won the Shosetsu Gendai New Writer’s Award and even published a full-length novel, but in the end, I was unable to make a living as a writer.

After that, I founded a small public relations agency and ran it for over 40 years.

From the outside, it may have seemed like a fulfilling life. However, deep down, I still harbor a sense of regret—wondering if I might have led a very different life had I chosen a different path back then.

Now, in an era often referred to as the “100-Year Life,” I suspect there are quite a few people who, looking back on their lives so far, share similar feelings.

At the age of 80, I set out once again to write the full-length novel I had aspired to write in my youth.

I cannot reclaim the past. Nor have I come to fully accept everything about my life so far.

Still, I believe there is meaning in facing what I truly wanted to do, no matter how old I am.

I would be delighted if this challenge could serve as an example for those who feel they have left something undone in their lives, and if it could give them hope and energy for the future.

■About the Book Design

The cover depicts the beach where Nami and Ken’ichi first met—the starting point of the story.

Rather than simply recreating the actual landscape, I used surreal forms and striking colors to express the beautiful ocean and the vast world and destiny that await the two of them.

■Author Biography

Akio Yamaguchi

Born in 1945 in Kaga City, Ishikawa Prefecture.

During high school, he studied abroad for one year at Vernonia High School in Oregon, USA.

In 1969, after graduating from Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, he joined NHK. After working at the Obihiro and Sapporo bureaus, he was assigned to the drama department in Tokyo.

In 1977, aspiring to become a novelist, he changed jobs to McDonald-Douglas Japan to secure time for writing. He was in charge of advertising and public relations.

In 1979, under the pen name “Akira Mine,” he won the 31st Kodansha “Shosetsu Gendai New Writer’s Award.”

In 1980, he published the full-length novel *Listen to My Blues* through Kobunsha.

In 1985, he founded the public relations agency Access East Co., Ltd. and became its representative director.

In 1990, he wrote the original story for the Toei film *Best Guy*, which was released nationwide.

In 2007, he published *No More Fear of Dealing with the Media! Everything You Need to Know About Media Training* through Parade. Since then, he has published several specialized books on public relations and media training.

In 2010, he translated the novel *Teresa in Neverland*.

In 2015, he translated the Danish picture book *Rasmus Klump’s Christmas Adventure*.

In 2026, he published the full-length novel *In Search of Ms. Butterfly* through Parade.

He currently serves as Representative Director of Access East Co., Ltd.

著者・山口明雄・近影