Sayaka Murata's 'La dependienta' Examined as a Critique of Labor and Withdrawal in Japan
In a thought-provoking essay featured in La Tempestad, Sayaka Murata's 2016 work, La dependienta, is examined through themes of labor, automation, and social isolation. The story centers on 36-year-old Keiko Furukura, who finds solace in her role at a Tokyo konbini amidst personal pressures. With two million copies sold globally, the novel has garnered acclaim from publications like Vogue and The New Yorker. Murata's detached storytelling style draws parallels to Jean-Pierre Jeunet's Amélie, although Keiko's character lacks empathy. The narrative takes a turn when Shiraha, a misogynistic temp worker, enters her life. The essay also connects the novel to Japan's declining birthrate, depicting workers as machines reliant on their employment. The Spanish translation by Marina Bornas is currently in its twelfth printing, set for 2025.
Key facts
- Sayaka Murata's novel La dependienta was originally published in 2016 and appears in Spanish from Duomo.
- The book has sold two million copies worldwide and been translated into several languages.
- Protagonist Keiko Furukura is 36 years old and works at a Tokyo konbini open 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
- The Spanish edition is translated from Japanese by Marina Bornas and is in its twelfth printing, Duomo, Barcelona, 2025.
- Vogue called the novel 'Brillante, inteligente y dulce' and The New Yorker described it as a gothic romance about a misfit and a store.
- The essay compares the novel to Jean-Pierre Jeunet's 2001 film Amélie, starring Audrey Tautou.
- A character named Shiraha, a misogynist and insecure temporary worker, moves into Keiko's small apartment in a fake-partner arrangement.
- The essay connects the novel to Japan's fertility decline and to global debates on automation and labor.
Entities
Artists
- Sayaka Murata
- Keiko Furukura
- Shiraha
- Jean-Pierre Jeunet
- Audrey Tautou
- Marina Bornas
Institutions
- Duomo
- Vogue
- The New Yorker
- La Tempestad
Locations
- Tokyo
- Japan
- Paris
- France
- Barcelona
- Spain