Swallows (novel)

• Name — Swallows • Ja Kanji — 燕は戻ってこない • Ja Romaji — Tsubame wa Modottekonai

• Type — novel • Author — Natsuo Kirino • Illustrator — Eiko Sasaki • Publisher — Shueisha • Publisher En — Penguin Random House • Published — March 4, 2022

• Type — manga • Author — Natsuo Kirino • Illustrator — Eri Sakai • Publisher — Shueisha • Imprint — Margaret Comics • Magazine — Cocohana • First — February 28, 2024 • Last — January 28, 2026 • Volumes — 2

• Type — drama • Director — * Kenji Tanaka • Yūki Yamato • Takashi Kitano • Producer — * Maiko Itagaki • Daishi Okoshi • Writer — Ikue Nagata • Music — Evan Call • Network — NHK General TV • First — April 30, 2024 • Last — July 2, 2024 • Episodes — 10 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.

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.

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.

A live-action television drama adaptation aired on NHK General TV from April 30 to July 2, 2024.

A manga adaptation illustrated by Eri Sakai was serialized in Shueisha's Cocohana magazine on February 28, 2024 to January 26, 2026.