A Woman of Pleasure

Murata’s chilling and poignant English-language debut portrays a 15-year-old girl sold into an elite brothel in Kumamoto, Japan, by her father at the turn of the 20th century. Aoi Ichi is forbidden to speak her native dialect and is raped along with the other girls by the brothel’s owner so he can rate them. The story spans her first year in the brothel and details the various ways she finds strength to survive. She draws on memories of her mother, an ama renowned for her diving to catch fish, who wasn’t able to stop Ichi’s father from selling her, and takes solace in her friendship with top courtesan Shinonome. After the two friends attempt to escape, they are captured, beaten, and humiliated by the brothel owner. When Ichi turns 16, her father visits the brothel to borrow money against her earnings, and she realizes her enslavement could continue indefinitely. Still, she persists in seeking a way out. As the enslaved women band together in solidarity, taking inspiration from a nearby shipyard strike, the story builds to a dramatic and tense showdown. This immersive chronicle will move readers. (Feb.)