Swallows (novel)
| Swallows | |
| 燕は戻ってこない (Tsubame wa Modottekonai) | |
|---|---|
| Novel | |
| Written by | Natsuo Kirino |
| Illustrated by | Eiko Sasaki |
| Published by | Shueisha |
| English publisher | Penguin Random House |
| Published | March 4, 2022 |
| Manga | |
| Written by | Natsuo Kirino |
| Illustrated by | Eri Sakai |
| Published by | Shueisha |
| Imprint | Margaret Comics |
| Magazine | Cocohana |
| Original run | February 28, 2024 – January 28, 2026 |
| Volumes | 2 |
| Television drama | |
| Directed by |
|
| Produced by |
|
| Written by | Ikue Nagata |
| Music by | Evan Call |
| Original network | NHK General TV |
| Original run | April 30, 2024 – July 2, 2024 |
| Episodes | 10 |
Swallows (Japanese: 燕は戻ってこない, Hepburn: Tsubame wa Modottekonai) is Japanese novel written by Natsuo Kirino. The novel was serialized from 2019 to 2021 and published in print in March 2022. It was also adapted into a manga series and live-action television drama series.
Plot
Riki, a 29-year-old woman originally from Hokkaido, works as a temporary worker in Tokyo hospital. Having financial troubles, she learns about surrogacy and offers to become the surrogate mother of another couple, which are Kusaoke Motoi, a former ballet dancer, and his wife Yuko.
Media
Novel
Swallows was published as a serialized novel from 2019 to 2021, and later as a full novel on March 4, 2022. It was released in English by Penguin Random House on September 9. 2025.[1]
Drama
A live-action television drama adaptation aired on NHK General TV from April 30 to July 2, 2024.[2]
Manga
A manga adaptation illustrated by Eri Sakai was serialized in Shueisha's Cocohana magazine on February 28, 2024 to January 26, 2026.[3]
Reception
Swallows won two awards, the Mainichi Art Award in 2022 and the Yoshikawa Eiji Literary Award in 2023.[4]
Financial Times' Catherine Taylor gave it a positive review, calling it a "A witty portrayal of surrogacy that confronts the injustices of class and gender imbalances in Japanese society"[5]
References
- ^ "Swallows by Natsuo Kirino: 9780307267580 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books". PenguinRandomhouse.com. Retrieved 2026-01-25.
- ^ "石橋静河、稲垣吾郎、内田有紀がドラマ「燕は戻ってこない」で共演". 映画ナタリー (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. Retrieved 2026-01-25.
- ^ "He's Expecting's Eri Sakai Launches Manga Based on Natsuo Kirino Novel". Anime News Network. 2026-01-25. Retrieved 2026-01-25.
- ^ Kosaka, Kris (2025-09-05). "'Swallows' untangles the murky ethics of selling motherhood". The Japan Times. Retrieved 2026-01-25.
- ^ "Client Challenge". www.ft.com. Retrieved 2026-01-25.