INDEX
Literary Works Born from Japan’s Distinctive Culture
There’s been a lot of talk about the Japanese literature boom, with works by authors across different generations, from younger writers like Sayaka Murata and Aoko Matsuda to established names like Yoko Ogawa and Mieko Kanai, being embraced overseas.
Yuzuki: That’s what I find so interesting. It’s not only the internationally acclaimed authors from an older generation, like Yoko Tawada or Yoko Ogawa—there’s a growing sense that reading books by Japanese women writers in their 40s is now seen as chic and culturally savvy.
Like, “Oh, you know about that?”
Yuzuki: I think it all started with Sayaka Murata. Her novel Convenience Store Woman gave readers this eye-opening look at how many different tasks are involved in working at a Japanese convenience store. That sense of novelty really struck a chord. With BUTTER, I think the most surprising detail for readers was the idea that there are virtually no women in senior editorial roles at weekly magazines. I based that on actual interviews with people in publishing, but I kept getting asked, “Wait, is that really the case?”
So from an international perspective, Japan can come across as quite unusual?
Yuzuki: I think Japan really does have a unique culture. For instance, Seichō Matsumoto’s mystery novel Points and Lines is currently popular in the UK, but there are parts of it that British readers find hard to wrap their heads around. The story involves a crime that takes place on a train platform, and the key trick hinges on the train arriving exactly on time. But to people in the UK, that kind of punctuality feels miraculous—they’ll say things like, “Was this murder just a gamble based on coincidence?” And I’m like, no, no, no—not at all!
So it’s a meticulously calculated murder, all based on train timetables. [laughs]
Yuzuki: Exactly—it’s painstakingly planned! People say, “But a train arriving exactly on time? That’s impossible!” And I tell them, in Japan, if a train is even one minute late, there’s an official apology announcement. That just blows everyone’s mind. With Convenience Store Woman, too, there’s this sense of learning about Japanese culture through fiction. I’ve even heard that some people traveled to Japan just to see if what’s written in the book is really true. I think that’s why Japanese literature feels so close and accessible to readers abroad.
Are there more people reading books in other countries?
Yuzuki: Yes, there are definitely more people reading, and those who do, read quite a lot. When I was in Germany, I particularly noticed that, despite the clear income disparity, people are paid well and have much more vacation time than in Japan, which gives them the opportunity to read. Every bookstore I visited was bustling with people. In Japan, though, even buying books has become a struggle for many, and with such limited time off, it’s hard for people to find the time to read. I think this also points to issues in the political system. Lately, I’ve been constantly thinking about wages and vacation time.
