Asako Yuzuki’s novel Butter, a Japanese crime story rooted in real-life events, has gained international acclaim for its exploration of misogyny, body shaming, and the societal pressures faced by women. While initially received as a crime novel in Japan, the English translation has captivated audiences in the UK and beyond, earning praise for its feminist themes.
Published in 2017, Butter became a cult bestseller in Japan, drawing inspiration from the notorious case of Kanae Kijima, the “Konkatsu Killer,” a woman convicted of poisoning three of her male lovers. The English translation of the novel has struck a chord with readers, particularly in the UK, where it has sold around 280,000 copies. It was even named Waterstones’ Book of the Year for 2024.
Yuzuki, 43, expressed surprise and satisfaction at the novel’s reception overseas, noting that its feminist undercurrents seemed to resonate more strongly abroad than the focus on Kijima’s crimes did in Japan. The novel follows Rika Machida, a Tokyo-based journalist in her thirties, who investigates the case of a female serial killer. The murderer, Manako Kajii, also known as Kajimana, is convicted of killing three lonely businessmen whom she lured with her home-cooked meals.
Kajimana, like Kijima, becomes the target of intense media scrutiny, with the press focusing not on her crimes but on her physical appearance. This sexist portrayal highlights a broader societal issue, as both Kajimana and Kijima face body shaming due to their plain looks. Kajimana’s refusal to speak to the press only heightens the intrigue, and she eventually agrees to an interview with Rika after the journalist requests her beef stew recipe, the last meal of one of Kajimana’s victims.
As Rika becomes more involved in the case, her fascination with the femme fatale grows, leading her to adopt an increasingly indulgent attitude toward food. This shift causes her to gain weight, and Rika, too, begins experiencing the harsh body shaming that Kajimana faced. The novel deftly explores these issues through Rika’s journey, shedding light on the societal expectations placed on women’s appearances.
Butter earned Yuzuki a nomination for Japan’s prestigious Naoki Prize, but she did not win, as most discussions around the book focused on its depiction of the crimes rather than its social commentary. Despite this, Yuzuki’s work has found an enthusiastic audience overseas, with Butter gaining a reputation as a powerful feminist critique.
The success of the book in the UK has been marked by positive reviews. Waterstones praised the novel for its “vivid, unsettling exploration of misogyny, obsession, romance, and the transgressive pleasures of food in Japan.” Polly Barton, the book’s translator, noted that the novel’s themes of body image and gender norms resonate deeply with British readers, pointing to the growing awareness of such issues globally.
Dr. Victoria Young, an associate professor of contemporary Japanese literature at the University of Cambridge, highlighted the novel’s portrayal of food as both indulgent and grotesque. She noted that the vivid culinary scenes in Butter symbolize a resistance to the societal pressures that women face to maintain a certain body image. The book critiques the roles women are expected to play in society, including as wives, mothers, and caretakers, while challenging the intense social pressures these roles impose.
As Butter continues to captivate readers worldwide, it stands as a testament to the power of literature to address pressing social issues. Through its exploration of misogyny, body shaming, and the expectations placed on women, Yuzuki’s novel has transcended its origins as a crime story to become a feminist work of significance on the global stage.
