Swallows (novel)
Swallows is a 2022 novel by Natsuo Kirino.
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 2019-2021, and later as a full novel in 2022. It was released in English by Penguin Random House on September 9. 2025.Drama
A live action drama adaptation of Swallows would air on NHK, premiering on April 30, 2024 and ending on July 2 of the same year.Manga
A manga adaptation of Swallows, created by Eri Sakai, premiered in the magazine Cocohana on February 28, 2024.Reception
Swallows won two awards, the Mainichi Art Award in 2022 and the Yoshikawa Eiji Literary Award in 2023.Financial Times