The Revolutionary Media Mix of Michihito Chinen's Swipe Prohibition Novel Set to Captivate Readers

Chinen Michihito's Hit Novel Gets a Unique Media Mix

The modern literary landscape is set for disruption as renowned author Michihito Chinen’s bestselling novel, "Swipe Prohibition", achieves the fastest media mix within three months of its release. Published by Terano Novel, this innovative twist on storytelling is captivating readers in ways never seen before.

Background of the Project

"Swipe Prohibition: The Mysterious Death of University Student" was first introduced to the market on August 20, 2025. This unique novel, measuring only 165mm by 85mm, offers a fresh reading experience by placing the protagonist's narrative on the left page while showcasing their smartphone screen on the right. This inventive setup piqued interest, resulting in an immediate decision for a significant reprint just two days post-launch. With over 170,000 copies sold, it has rapidly become a hit book, establishing a dedicated fan base.

The novel offers a simulated sensation of "looking into a smartphone", diverging from traditional reading experiences and making it particularly appealing to a wide audience. Notably, the unique structure is especially suited for digital formats, closely aligning with the chat novel style offered by Terano Novel, where stories progress seamlessly 'within the screen'. This compatibility motivated a collaborative effort between Futaba Shobo, Chinen’s agent Straight Edge, and Terano Novel to bring forth this innovative media mix.

Highlights of the Chat Novel Edition

The chat novel adaptation remains true to the original structure and world of the novel while enhancing the immersive experience. It immerses readers directly into the protagonist's world as if they are controlling the character’s smartphone.

1. Narrative Within the Smartphone: The entire story unfolds within the smartphone interface. Readers experience the protagonist's observations, text exchanges, and notifications as if they were operating the device themselves, substantially enhancing their perspective into that of the main character. This setup transforms the reading process into an immersive event where readers feel integral to the unfolding drama.

2. Interactive Tapping for Enhanced Tension: The chat novel format invites readers to tap through the story, creating moments of pause and anticipation. This interaction builds stress and suspense, elevating the fear factor uniquely absent in traditional novels. The idea that there’s no escape is magnified by the reader’s direct engagement with the narrative, making moments of horror almost palpable.

3. Unique UI Elements: Utilizing Terano Novel’s novel UI and presentation techniques, the dual narrative of storytelling and smartphone interaction flows smoothly. Moreover, additional episodes penned exclusively for this format are included, delivering fresh content for devoted fans.

To showcase the innovative chat novel experience, a demo video has been produced, allowing potential readers to compare the book with the digital adaptation and grasp the distinct thrill of becoming an active participant in the story.

New Features to Enhance Immersion

In an effort to faithfully recreate the world of "Swipe Prohibition", Terano Novel has introduced several new features:

- Scene transition effects
- Background music
- Sound effects
- Full-screen image display
- Full-screen video functionality
- Animation displays
- Vibration feedback

These features aim to enhance reader immersion in a way that traditional formats never could.

Future Developments

Looking ahead, Terano Novel plans to collaborate with Michihito Chinen on additional digital expansions beyond "Swipe Prohibition", marking the beginning of diverse narrative experiences aimed at attracting new audiences. Furthermore, Terano Novel is in discussion with Chinen about prospective support for upcoming creative contests as part of their efforts to foster new talent in the industry. By bridging the gaps between paper, digital, and visual storytelling, Terano Novel remains committed to advancing narrative creation and expanding digital literature culture.

About the Author

Michihito Chinen, born in Okinawa in 1978 and residing in Tokyo, is an acclaimed author known for intertwining medical concepts into his fiction. His numerous accolades, including the prestigious "Shimada Soji Mystery Literature Award" and nominations for the coveted "Bookseller Award", solidify his place in modern Japanese literature.

For those eager to delve into this revolutionary narrative experience, the chat novel version of "Swipe Prohibition" is available exclusively on Terano Novel starting December 23, 2025. Discover a brand-new way to engage with stories and experience an entirely different sensation of reading.