JFT’s Valentine’s Event Series 2025: Author SHIMAMOTO Rio

Fall in love this Valentine’s season with the captivating stories of SHIMAMOTO Rio, one of the most celebrated romance fiction writers. Immerse yourself in the complexities of love and life through an engaging book club discussion, a stunning movie adaptation, and an exclusive opportunity to hear directly from the author herself!


About the Author

(c) Daisuke Hayata

RIO SHIMAMOTO (島本 理生) was born in Tokyo in 1983. In 2001, she won the 44th Gunzo New Writers’ Prize for Silhouette, and in 2003, she won the 25th Noma Literary New Face Prize for Little by Little. In 2015, she received the 21st Shimasei Renai Literature Award for Red and the 159th Naoki Prize for First Love in 2018.


JFT Book Club (Hybrid) – First Love by SHIMAMOTO Rio

Saturday, February 8, 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM (EST)

For the upcoming JFT Book Club (Hybrid), we will discuss SHIMAMOTO Rio’s novel: First Love (島本理生著『ファーストラヴ』Translated into English by Louise Heal Kawai). Join us in person or virtually to unravel the complexities of love, family, and hidden truths in this Naoki-award-winning mystery novel!


The Nighthawk’s First Love

Tuesday, February 11, 6:00 PM (EST)

Join us for our Valentine’s film screening of The Nighthawk’s First Love (よだかの片想い), adapted from the novel of the same name from acclaimed romance author SHIMAMOTO Rio. The film follows graduate student Aiko who always had low self-esteem because of the birthmark on the left side of her face. When her story becomes part of a book, and then adapted into a movie, she falls for the director who accepts her as she is.


First Love and Beyond: Author SHIMAMOTO Rio and Japanese Romance Fiction

Wednesday, February 12, 6:30 PM (EST)

Dive into the world of romance and storytelling with SHIMAMOTO Rio, the celebrated Naoki Prize-winning author renowned for her masterful romance novels. Now that her award-winning novel First Love (Translated into English by Louise Heal Kawai) has been translated into English for the first time, she will share insights into her creative process, writing journey, and the allure of Japanese romance fiction.