The Soul Catchers
- Author Naoko Higashi, illustrated by Translated by Lucy North
- Narrator Sadao Ueda, Yuriri Naka
- Publisher Transworld
- Publish Date 19 March 2026
- Run Time 3 hours and 57 minutes
- Format Audio
- Genre Fiction in translation, Magical realism, Modern and contemporary fiction, Narrative theme: Death, grief, loss, Short stories.
Flexible Pricing & Rewards For Listening
At xigxag, the more you read, the less you pay* on select audiobook and x-book® titles, as in the table below. Pricing updates automatically in the app and resets one year after your first purchase. And you can always find a selection of brilliant titles available for only £3.99.
Titles Purchased
- 1-5
- 6-10
- 11-15
- 16-20
- Over 20
Price per title
- £8.99
- £7.99
- £6.99
- £5.99
- £4.99
*Only the full price titles you buy count toward your personal pricing tier. Full price titles don’t include Listen for Less or other books bought with a voucher or discount code.
Listen to a sample
What to expect
Brought to you by Penguin.
A JAPANESE MODERN CLASSIC
Discover the highly original and moving literary gem for fans of Banana Yoshimoto and Kawaguchi's BEFORE THE COFFEE GETS COLD
What if you could come back after death to watch over your loved one, installing yourself in a treasured mug, for example, or perhaps your mother's hearing aid, a diary, or even a climbing frame, to be clambered over by a younger sister you will never meet?
Eleven recently deceased protagonists find themselves floating in the afterlife where a nameless ghost offers them one last chance to spend time with their loved ones.
But not as you would expect.
In a world where souls roam restlessly around after death, unwilling to depart, The Soul Catchers is a soothing, witty, and surprisingly sensual take on the Japanese folk belief that objects can be inhabited by human presences. Equal parts charming, profound, immensely moving, Higashi's powerful classic is an original exploration of our eternal reluctance to let go.
© Naoko Higashi 2026 (P) Penguin Audio 2026
Critics Review
| Author | Naoko Higashi, illustrated by Translated by Lucy North |
|---|---|
| Narrator | Sadao Ueda, Yuriri Naka |
| Duration | 3 hours and 57 minutes |
| Release Date | |
| ISBN | 9781529973273 |
| Format | Audiobook |
| Publisher | Transworld |
| Genre | Fiction in translation, Magical realism, Modern and contemporary fiction, Narrative theme: Death, grief, loss, Short stories |
| Availability | AU, GB, IE |
About xigxag
xigxag is an independent, UK-based audiobook platform and the UK’s only B Corp certified audiobook company. We offer nearly 150,000 audiobooks, all with professional human narration. No AI-generated voices. xigxag is rated an Ethical Consumer Best Buy for audiobooks and a top-rated ethical bookshop.
There is no subscription. You buy the audiobooks you want, you own them permanently, and prices start at £8.99. The more you listen over the year, the less you pay per book, and there is always a selection in Listen for Less from £3.99. You can also send audiobooks as gifts using our audiobook gift cards or in-app gifting.
Every audiobook on xigxag has honest reviews covering both the book and the narration, and our community features make it easy to share what you are listening to, discover what others recommend, and find your next listen.
Download or stream on iOS, Android, or in your browser. Browse the full catalogue at xigxag.co.uk.