「コンビニ人間にんげん」―普通ふつうとは何なにですか

Sayaka Muratas Convenience Store Woman is a novel that makes readers deeply reflect on the pressure to be normal in modern society and on individual identity.

This work depicts the protagonist, Keiko Furukura, a single woman in her thirties who has worked at a convenience store for many years and is constantly troubled by her abnormal side.

Keiko is suffering because she cannot live the normal life that society expects.

Although she graduated from university, she hasnt gotten a job or gotten married, and by not following the usual path in life, she constantly feels pressure from the way people around her look at her.

For her, working at a convenience store is the best way to be normal without having to communicate much with others, and she feels that she can live her life without bothering anyone while on the job.

However, her unconventional way of life caused conflicts with those around her, complicated her romantic relationships, and brought about struggles within herself as well.

In particular, her relationship with the man she met through an arranged marriage had a significant impact on her life.

The process in which Keiko faces herself, reconsiders what it means to be normal, and ultimately comes to accept herself is the main theme of this novel.

Convenience Store Woman sharply depicts whether pursuing normalcy truly brings happiness, and how difficult it is to live in a way that differs from what is considered normal.

This book will resonate with those who are tired of having to meet others’ expectations or feel that they don’t fit into society, and it will give them courage.

Sayaka Murata explores the pressures of modern society and the process of self-understanding with a humorous yet incisive writing style.

This novel depicts the process of the protagonist choosing an unconventional way of life and ultimately accepting themselves, prompting readers to deep reflection.