Mieko Kawakami writes about women and gender, but she wishes society would progress to a point where she didn’t have to. In 2008 she won the Akutagawa Prize, arguably Japan’s most prestigious literary award, for her novella Chichi to Ran, or Breasts and Eggs, which explores body image in modern Japan through the relationships between a girl, her mother and her aunt. Kawakami expanded the story into a novel, which will be published in English by Picador in spring 2020. This story is from Kinfolk Issue Thirty-Five Buy Now Related Stories Arts & Culture Issue 51 On The Shelf Writer Claire-Louise Bennett reflects on her process. Arts & Culture Issue 50 Angela Trimbur “I’m talking to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority…. I want to do a rat king ballet in the subway.” Arts & Culture Issue 50 On the Shelf Writer Hua Hsu on faxes and friendship. Arts & Culture Issue 49 Jenny Odell The acclaimed author in search of lost time. Arts & Culture Issue 49 Amalie Smith The Danish arts writer finding clarity between the lines. Arts & Culture Issue 47 Julia Bainbridge On the life-enhancing potential of not drinking alcohol.
Arts & Culture Issue 50 Angela Trimbur “I’m talking to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority…. I want to do a rat king ballet in the subway.”
