Butter - Asako Yuzuki

I consider myself a fan of Japanese writers. It started a long time ago with Murakami. Japanese writers get more and more popular. It is a good way to get good insight in the Japanese culture and to me, it is something very different than I am used to (as in Dutch culture).

What is the book Butter about?

• Butter is a book inspired by a real-life serial murder case, "The Konkatsu Killer" in Japan. That in it's way made it interesting! It is said that that is the only real-life thing about the book. It is a weird book. The book follows a Tokyo journalist Rika who starts interviewing the woman accused (Gourmet cook Manako Kaji) of tricking and most probably killing men by seducing them with her cooking. The journalist Rika gets the advice from her best friend Reiko when she wants to start a conversation with Manako, she should start about food. Rika asks Manako a recipe of beef stew. Rika is not into food and eats mainly ramen, but loves her work and manages to get an invitation to go to prison and visit Manako Kajii. 

Why does Butter go against Japanese culture?

• The Japanese 80% rule, or Hara Hachi Bu is totally not followed at all in the book. The 80% rules is a Confucian teaching from Okinawa that says to stop eating when your stomach is about 80% full. In that way you are leaving a 20% gap for digestion and to avoid overeating. This is a mindful eating practice. At the same time it helps control calorie intake. Butter goes against all of it.
• Rika cooks, eats and gains weight and gets criticism from everyone around her, since she is getting fat. She follows all extreme eating habits of Manako Kaji. She gets manipulated by Manako.

Should you read Butter?

• I had some insights about myself while reading this book and how I see myself and the world. I hope you do too. Personally I thought it was a great book, it gave me insight in the Japanese culture and personal thoughts of Rika. It also helped me understand more of my own life, and that doesn't happen much. The way Manako manipulates is painful to read about and interesting at the same time. The book gives you a good insight about liberation, friendship, and how women are seen and treated in Japanese society. I would say yes, and be reminded it is not a crime novel at all.