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Convenience Store Woman is the heartwarming and surprising story of thirty-six-year-old Tokyo resident Keiko Furukura. Keiko has never fit in, neither in her family, nor in school, but when, at the age of eighteen, she begins working at the Hiiromachi branch of “Smile Mart,” she finds peace and purpose in her life.
In the store, unlike anywhere else, she understands the rules of social interaction – many are laid out line by line in the store’s manual – and she does her best to copy the dress, mannerisms, and speech of her colleagues, playing the part of a “normal” person excellently, more or less. Keiko is very happy, but the people close to her, from her family to her coworkers, increasingly pressure her to find a husband, and to start a proper career, prompting her to take desperate action…
A brilliant depiction of a world hidden from view, Convenience Store Woman is an ironic and sharp-eyed look at contemporary work culture and the pressures we all feel to conform, as well as a charming and completely fresh portrait of an unforgettable heroine.
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About Sayaka Murata
Sayaka Murata is one of the most exciting up-and-coming writers in Japan today. She herself still works part-time in a convenience store, which gave her the inspiration to write Convenience Store Woman. She debuted in 2003 with Junyu (Breastfeeding), which won the Gunzo Prize for new writers. In 2009, she won the Noma Prize for New Writers with Gin iro no uta (Silver Song), and in 2013 the Mishima Yukio Prize for Shiro-oro no machi no, sono hone no taion no (Of Bones, of Body Heat, of Whitening City). Convenience Store Woman won the 2016 Akutagawa Award. Murata has two short stories published in English (both translated by Ginny Tapley Takemori): “Lover on the Breeze” (Ruptured Fiction(s) of the Earthquake, Waseda Bungaku, 2011) and “A Clean Marriage” (Granta 127: Japan, 2014).
After studying Spanish and Russian at the University of Bath, he lived in Madrid and Moscow, immersing himself in local culture and developing his craft as a storyteller. He published his first book, The Sun Struck Upwards, in 2010, followed by El Camino in 2015. His latest novel, Hikikomori: Journey From Darkness, continues his exploration of cultural connection and narrative adventure.
In addition to his writing, Luke co-owns Madrid & Darracott, a wine shop and tasting space in Madrid. A WSET Level 3 wine expert and certified Kikisake-shi sake specialist, he is dedicated to sharing the joy of wine, sake, and spirits through engaging and accessible education.