Riki left her boring hometown in Hokkaido in search of a better life in Tokyo. But in the big city, she is barely getting by. Every day she eats the same meal for lunch and dinner: a boiled egg that doesn’t cost much. So when her friend discovers an agency offering a hefty sum for egg donation, they both seize the chance for an interview.
On the other hand, Yuko and Motoi have been trying for years to have a child. They have tried almost every available option, but in vain - until Motoi discovers that, although surrogacy is illegal in Japan, there is a company that has found a loophole.
Class differences, power, control over another person’s body. Kirino’s writing slowly unravels the seams of society, reexamining our perception of motherhood, self-esteem, bodily autonomy, and social order. What does it mean to be in control? And in the end, can money really buy happiness?
The complexity of surrogacy through the lens of class in contemporary Japan.
WHAT THEY SAID ABOUT THE BOOK
Kirino’s novel reveals the ugly, awkward, and often disturbing thoughts we are ashamed to express out loud, as well as the inner anxious dialogue we often have with ourselves - all of this makes for an excellent read. Washington Post
An intelligent portrayal of surrogacy that confronts the injustices of class and racial imbalance in Japanese society. Kirino delivers a gripping finale in a dazzling feminist book you can’t put down. Financial Times
Natsuo Kirino’s novels bring us into direct contact with human life. Her fearless pen forces us to confront the ugliness, tension, and depth of our own desires, to the point where we cannot look away. But, just when those desires reach their peak, Kirino restores our faith in humanity in a unique way. The relentless beauty of her stories leaves me speechless every time. Mieko Kawakami
