Vanishing World is a short novel written by Sayaka Murata, the same author who wrote Convenience Store Woman. Both stories are focused on young Japanese women and how they feel about the world around them.
It’s told from the perspective of Amane, a young woman who is trying to adjust to and understand the changing world she lives in. Reflecting Japan’s current population crisis, the story explores the changing family dynamic and the promotion of a new society where the focus is on birthing, not relationships.
For example, people marry for companionship and compatibility, but not for intimacy. In fact, intimacy between married couples is taboo in this story. To add to the oddness, many people have “affairs” with fictional characters. It’s not unlike when people become obsessed with a character in a television program or from a movie. The affairs are imaginary, of course, but in the book it’s commonplace.
To jump-start a new population boom, the Japanese government transforms Chiba, a large city, into a “Paradise City” where everyone, both men and woman, can be inseminated (based on a lottery) and give birth. For the men, it’s an external sort of harness they can wear so they can experience maternity.
Amane and her husband move to Chiba, but while her husband goes all in with the new society and his chance at maternity, Amane begins to doubt this new direction society is taking.
Yes, this is a very strange story, but it’s also a fascinating read. For countries like Japan that are experiencing population loss, it’s within the realm of possibility that their society could go this route. I think it’s also a warning about how humans are beginning to drift apart, are being less social, are getting wrapped up in fictional digital worlds. Life is about connection with others. If we lose that, do we lose our humanity?
I don’t think I’d recommend this book to the casual reader. It’s a good speculative fiction story, but definitely more for readers who enjoy weirdness.
RB
I have read Convenience store Woman and liked it.
Nothing too much happens, but it makes you think, empathasize, realize.
So I reckon I will like this book too!
Funny story, as a kid, I think like most kids, I had a crush of a character from the cartoon Digimon. Which really makes me emberassed now 😅
But that is kids stuff. I have listened to podcast/warched documentaries where people marry their pet or even AI. Or stalk celebs, genuinly thinking a love song they sing is written for them. Or hate an actor because of a role they played.
It is all a bit scary.
In Japan, in Europe and I reckon in the US too.
And I think eventually the last one standing will be countries where people tend to breed like rabbits …
Oh, I’m glad you enjoyed Convenience Store Woman. Your assessment is spot on, and I do think you’ll like this one. It starts slow, but it pays off as the story progresses.
I have to admit, I had crushes on cartoon characters when I was a kid. I never proposed or anything like that, I simply admired from the other side of the television screen. 🙂
And you may be right about the last country/society standing. Time will tell… ⏰
Sounds intriguing, but frightening that we could actually go in this direction. The best sci fi stories do make you worry they could come true!
That’s the scary part, Dawn. It does sort of feel like we are sliding into that direction.
It does sound weird, dystopian even.
To me, it was almost dystopian…sort of like a transition period between what we consider normal society and dystopian.
I’m not surprised that this book springs out of contemporary Japanese culture. The current trends are already paradigm-busting and unconventional.
So very true, Swabby. Thanks!
oooohhhh…. this sounds so good…. and tragic…
Tragic is a good word for this, Linda. Subtly tragic.
Thanks for stopping by!
always a pleasure to visit xx
All of us should read this book before it is too late and we are so far from nature,social connections and family bonds that it is impossible to return.
Fine review,Richard
I do think it works well as a warning about our loss of contact and familiarity. Thanks you, Nusrat!
Adding that one to the list!
Cool! Hope you enjoy it! 📚
I might be that person who likes weirdness… Especially if it has a deeper social comment. Thank you for the review ☺️
Good to know, Morag! 🙂 You may want to give it a read.
I found this review interesting (and honest)
Thank you, Luisa…I try to be fair. 🙂
👍💐👍
Honest review.
Many thanks, my friend. 🙂
Fine review. I might be interested in how young Japanese women feel about what’s going on around them.
It’s an interesting read, Pat, and I think it had some good social commentary.
Vanishing into a digital world is a process that has been going on for a long time. If one looks at the gradual development of innovations that add to our comfort, the process coincides with our gradual disconnection with the earth, with the very soil we walk on.
Walking barefoot, the contact of our soles with the soil, changes the polarity in our body. When we wear shoes for comfort and safety we lose that connection.
We build bigger and more energy efficient houses for which the air is filtered and mechanically ventilated to a comfortable temperature. Another step away from natural air.
With gardening we have a direct connection with the soil. As farms get bigger, the machinery with air conditioned cabs and radios disconnects us from the soil and nature’s sounds, the sound of birds, insects and the wind.
With digital technology we are further disconnected; the face to face contact is reduced, a hug happens less often. More and more people are being fooled by AI generated videos of nature, of animal behaviour and other natural phenomena. We lose the keen sense of observation when we experience nature close-up and personal.
The basis of justice is land Jjustice. The sometimes harsh nd brutal reality of nature can not be soft peddled. All actions and consequences of actions are built on what the interactions in the natural world teaches us, be it, accountability, consequences, empathy, loss, blessings, reward.. connection with the soil that we and our food comes from.
A very thoughtful comment, Jasper. I agree, we seem to be slipping further and further apart as a society, and we’re more disconnected from the Earth every day.
Thank you for taking the time to share this. I appreciate it.