Yen Press has created a new imprint, Avocado House, devoted to "expanding the reach of international authors in translation," that will be led by publisher and editor-in-chief JuYoun Lee. Yen is best known for publishing manga, manhwa, and light novels, and, through its prose imprint, Yen On, publishes literary fiction, such as the novels The Miracles of the Namiya General Store by Keigo Higashino and Tezcatlipoca by Kiwamu Sato. Avocado House aims to be a home for works that cover a cross-section of interests and genres in fiction and nonfiction. Avocado House will publish some 12 titles a year.
Lee said, "As divisive as the world can seem at times, books have always remained a great unifier--helping us find commonalities across cultures while celebrating our unique differences. Avocado House aims to be a true home for authors, a place where their voices can connect with readers far beyond borders and language barriers. It has been gratifying to see the growing enthusiasm for literature in translation recently, alongside such enormous support from book retailers. We truly could not be more excited to contribute to this movement with the establishment of Avocado House."
Inaugural titles include:
Laplace's Witch by Keigo Higashino, translated by Stephen Paul (October 2026). "Two people die in hot-spring towns in different parts of Japan from hydrogen sulfide poisoning. Investigating the case is geochemist Shusuke Aoe, who witnessed the same mysterious girl, Madoka, at both crime scenes." By award-winning Japanese mystery author Keigo Higashino.
Sickness unto Love by Yuki Shasendo, translated by Michael Blaskowsky (November 2026). "More than 150 deaths across Japan have been connected to Blue Morpho, a game that leads people to take their own lives. The organizer of this terrible 'game' is Kei Yorikawa, a seemingly good- natured high school student. How did a girl like her become such a monster? This story is a look back at the boy who changed her fate--her childhood friend, and her first kill." By Yuki Shasendo, an emerging Japanese mystery writer, the book was made into a live action film by Ryuichi Hiroki, released last October.
1,000 Words Left to Live by Gyatei Murasaki, translated by Matt Treyvaud (December 2026). "A collection of twenty-six shocking, awe-inducing short stories. A doctor tells a patient they can speak only one thousand words before their life ends. Someone’s boyfriend turns into a can of mackerel. A woman is in her sixth year of pregnancy. This mysterious world is full of laughter and tears, and twists and turns sure to leave anyone reeling!" 1,000 Words Left to Live is a TikTok sensation in Japan by Gyatei Murasaki, a "master of the absurd."
The Curse Called Mother, the Prison Called Daughter by Aya Saito (2027). "On March 10, 2018, a corpse belonging to 58-year-old single mother Taeko Takasaki is found on a riverbank in Shiga Prefecture. Her body is mutilated beyond recognition, with her head, arms, and legs all severed, and investigators quickly home in on her 31-year-old daughter, Akari, as the prime suspect. Details about their relationship slowly come to light, painting a picture of a daughter pushed to the brink by a physically and emotionally abusive mother in desperate need for control, culminating in a horrific crime described by Akari in two simple sentences: 'The monster is dead. Now I am free.'... A story revealed through a judicial reporter's coverage of the tragic incident and extensive letters exchanged with the murdering daughter, The Curse Called Mother, the Prison Called Daughter is a gripping work of nonfiction."
The Place of the Flamingo by Haeyeon Jeong (2027). "Junhoo is just an overworked teacher in a small town. As he watches the lake before him swallow up the body of his lover, he can't help but wonder, how did it come to this? He didn't kill Dahyeon, but he is guilty of another sin: sleeping with a student. And his desperation to hide this career-ending crime has compelled him to cover up a murder. Now, as the prime suspect, how will he ever prove his innocence?" One of the best known works Korean author Haeyeon Jeong.