Asako Yuzuki

A highly fresh and original novel following a journalist in contemporary Japan as she investigates a serial killer convicted of luring wealthy men in with her cooking classes only to seduce, murder, and rob them, and a gripping exploration of misogyny, obsession, and the pleasures and pressures of food Journalist Rika Machida is facing an unusual assignment: she is tapped to investigate serial killer Manako Kajii, notorious for drawing rich men in with her pricey cooking classes, only to murder them and move on to the next. Kajii refuses to cooperate with the press until Rika writes her a letter asking for her beef stew recipe, a correspondence and ongoing series of conversations between the two women that sees Rika transforming as she becomes closer to Kajii, taking on some of her confidence and strength but also some of her deadly intention. Game on. Set in 2011, when dairy product shortages across Japan made butter a hot commodity, Butter depicts a vivid, panoramic view of contemporary Japan as seen through a diverse cast of Japanese women. An endlessly entertaining and sharply insightful look at the relationships between women and how they engage and challenge one another, revealing the many contradictions and complexities in the process, Asako Yuzuki's novel is filled with intoxicating descriptions of food and the body that also looks deeply at its connection to the sinister, criminal, and taboo, its enduring power and delight.

A Novel of Food and Murder

Butter

Clark Louis

All you need to do is to eat as much of whatever it is you most desire at any given moment. Listen carefully to your heart and your body. Never eat anything you don't want to.

We've come to use the word "evolution” as though it were a resolutely positive thing, but all it means is that the species best adapted for a particular environment survive, and the others die out. Like how people often say that our print media here in Japan will gradually be driven out by the digital forms, like you see happening in America. That can hardly be called progress, can it?

In principle, all women should give themselves permission to demand good treatment, but the world made doing so profoundly difficult.

Claudine

What mattered, then, was not to let those aspects of her get out of hand. She had to do all she could, under her own steam, to make the small details of her life as rich and fulfilling as they could be. That way, she thought, things would feel less desolate, even if the outcome was the same.

Eating was ultimately an individual and egotistic compulsion, Rika is starting to realize. A gourmand was ultimately a secret of the truth. You can wrap their mission in all kinds of fancy language, but they were simply confronting their desires day and day out.

The cult Japanese bestseller about a female gourmet cook and serial killer and the journalist intent on cracking her case, inspired by a true story.

There are two things that I can simply not tolerate: feminists and margarine.

Gourmet cook Manako Kajii sits in Tokyo Detention Centre convicted of the serial murders of lonely businessmen, who she is said to have seduced with her delicious home cooking. The case has captured the nation’s imagination but Kajii refuses to speak with the press, entertaining no visitors. That is, until journalist Rika Machida writes a letter asking for her recipe for beef stew and Kajii can’t resist writing back.

Rika, the only woman in her news office, works late each night, rarely cooking more than ramen. As the visits unfold between her and the steely Kajii, they are closer to a masterclass in food than journalistic research. Rika hopes this gastronomic exchange will help her soften Kajii but it seems that she might be the one changing. With each meal she eats, something is awakening in her body, might she and Kaji have more in common than she once thought?

Inspired by the real case of the convicted con woman and serial killer, “The Konkatsu Killer”, Asako Yuzuki’s BUTTER is a vivid, unsettling exploration of misogyny, obsession, romance and the transgressive pleasures of food in Japan.

akshita

Walls don't have to be made of hard bricks and cold concrete. They could be made of sweet, soft dough - and still offer protection.

The snow outside the window shone, as if competing with the city's neon lights.

Lindy

Blood and butter both hardened in no time - which was why she would be okay.

Don't you think that's a disease of the contemporary age? It feels like these days our value is determined by how much effort we make from day to day. That matters even more than our results. After a while, the concept of effort starts to become mixed up with things feeling difficult, and then you reach the point where the person seen as the most admirable is the one suffering the most. I think that's the reason people are so vicious towards Manako Kajii. She refuses to live that life, refuses to suffer. 

At the end of the day, men were not looking for a real-life woman, but a professional entertainer.

wondering if there even is a natural order, or is every systematic thing a figment of the human mind

Kira L

Everyone is suffering because they’re trying to rail against the natural order of things.

clara

As it grazed her cheeks, she smelled the scent of spring. It came as a shock to her that the warmer season was finally arriving, kicking away the cold, dry wind. And there she’d been, until a few minutes ago, thinking that nothing would change, that she couldn’t change a thing. Even without her lifting a finger, the world would keep on changing. The fact stunned her. Even without her trying, the people around her would form connections, intertwine in complex ways, and keep on growing, like the roots, leaves and stems of a plant. She felt as though she could see their rich green spreading out behind her eyelids.

aywen

‘What we do know about one another is our favourite and least favourite foods, whether or not we can make a sauce with a nappe consistency, if we’ve been on a cheese holiday to France, which department store’s food section we like the best, which meal scenes from films we take inspiration from when laying the table – that kind of stuff. That’s the crucial info, as far as we’re concerned.’

Was it not in those details that a person’s soul resided? It seemed to Rika that she’d lived her life underestimating the importance of such things.

'If you find someone you truly like then that person is enormously lucky, and if you told them how you felt they’d be pleased, regardless of whether it develops into a romantic relationship. The kind of person you’d fall for wouldn’t treat you cruelly or use you. I can guarantee that.’

‘I think it’s because you don’t mind if your acquaintances get to know one another when you’re not there. You’re not bothered by the idea of them forming new connections or talking about you, right? That’s a rare quality. People are usually desperate to hold on to what they’ve got, desperate not to lose anything.’

If you were accepted by just one person, then you didn't need to be someone whose beauty was acknowledged by everyone.

OH OH OH🫵🏻😯🫵🏻😯🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈

Stas

A desire that I didn't usually confront suddenly flashed before my eyes as if lit up in fuorescent lights: If only Rika were a man.

The heady aroma that rose up through her nose, the crispiness of the skin as it broke open beneath her teeth, the silkiness of the gooey insides that spread themselves fat across every bit of flesh in her mouth and refused to let go…

Food and fashion the things that women were supposed to have a particular fondness for - had always left Rika indifferent. At her height, though, it was easy for her to look stocky, and she took care that her weight never exceeded 50 kilos. 

Gemma McCarthy

“humans just need rice, don’t they”

Rika found herself rapt by Kaji's speech. In a diferent way fom Reiko, Kajii opened up a new world to her, expanding her perspective.

Her recent experience  at Reiko's had reminded Rika of just how much comfort te thoughtfulness and home-made food of another person could bring to a tired body and dried-up heart.

One time read for me. Interesting in a sense that I got to know a lot about different dishes and It really made me eat butter in the middle of the night.

Tanishq Khandelwal

The book commenced in an engaging and well-written manner, captivating the reader’s attention with its delectable descriptions of food, particularly the butter.

However, the primary drawback of this book lies in its lack of plot. The characters were rather annoying and reminiscent of high school students, lacking depth and interest.

While I initially enjoyed the book for its food-related descriptions, I found myself growing increasingly frustrated as the story dragged on without any clear resolution. The characters’ daily lives, poor decisions, obnoxious behavior, and outright stupidity became monotonous and unrelenting.

Perhaps this is a characteristic of Japanese literature, but it failed to resonate with me. I eagerly anticipated the book’s conclusion, hoping for a satisfying payoff, but it remained devoid of any such resolution.

I find it difficult to comprehend how many readers have given this book four and five stars. It was an unpleasant read that failed to deliver any meaningful conclusion. While I had read positive reviews about the payoff, I can confirm that it was absent in this particular book.

BC Hark

The book commenced in an engaging and well-written manner, captivating the reader’s attention with its delectable descriptions of food, particularly the butter.

However, the primary drawback of this book lies in its lack of plot. The characters were rather annoying and reminiscent of high school students, lacking depth and interest.

While I initially enjoyed the book for its food-related descriptions, I found myself growing increasingly frustrated as the story dragged on without any clear resolution. The characters’ daily lives, poor decisions, obnoxious behavior, and outright stupidity became monotonous and unrelenting.

Perhaps this is a characteristic of Japanese literature, but it failed to resonate with me. I eagerly anticipated the book’s conclusion, hoping for a satisfying payoff, but it remained devoid of any such resolution.

I find it difficult to comprehend how many readers have given this book four and five stars. It was an unpleasant read that failed to deliver any meaningful conclusion. While I had read positive reviews about the payoff, I can confirm that it was absent in this particular book.

5/5 - descriptive writing. made me so hungry half the time!

5/5 - topics discussed. in the context of contemporary japan whilst making links to other cultures, the book talks about misogyny, feminism, eating habits, work culture, etc. The book doesnt necessarily drive you into one fixed perspective, but rather opens the room for varying point of views

3.5/5 - "murder mystery" plot. the reader shouldnt approach this book for a thrilling serial killer story. as with many japanese stories, the narrative is up to the reader's interpretation

aemouh

5/5 - descriptive writing. made me so hungry half the time!
5/5 - topics discussed. in the context of contemporary japan whilst making links to other cultures, the book talks about misogyny, feminism, eating habits, work culture, etc. The book doesnt necessarily drive you into one fixed perspective, but rather opens the room for varying point of views
3.5/5 - "murder mystery" plot. the reader shouldnt approach this book for a thrilling serial killer story. as with many japanese stories, the narrative is up to the reader's interpretation


I liked it. Was it the most riveting story ever? No. Was it a bit prolonged? Yes. Was the portrayal of gender and the expectations of women in Japan masterfully woven into an original plot, with the intricacies of tender, fluid, and - at times fragile, female relationships very well written? Also yes. 

Alison Hinklom

Wow, just wow. The character development was layered and rich. The writing style made my mouth salivate. Although this was a slow burn, the payoff was worth the wait. So poignant, so real. 

Elyse 

Fascinating book. Ends up surprisingly heartwarming, for a novel that often toys with themes of self-destruction and overindulgence.

Katelyn Caillouet

fully went into this thinking it was like a whodunnit style thriller only for the real thrill to be that it was nothing at all like that. far more introspective and poignant than i would've predicted by the synopsis. that being said i did quite enjoy this, and found it easy to move through. really ties you in with the main character to the point where things do seem to unfold for the reader as it does for her. 

tiff <3

I feel like the marketing for this novel, West-side, has been greatly mismanaged in that it seems to present it as a salacious thriller that you simply cannot put down. And in some aspects, it is - technically - a thriller. But those are the weakest and least convincing bits of it.

What this novel largely is a slow character-driven meditation on women, their place in society and the standards placed upon them. It interwines this with themes of desire and pleasure and shame, of control and policing of female bodies. Of the relationships between women and how sometimes we are our own prison guards or each other's prison guards.

Does the novel say anything particularly new in this regard? No. But Yuzuki Asako succeeds in creating complex female characters that create enough nuance to keep the discussion feel alive and fresh.

P.S. Butter really is the best ingredient you could add to about 90% of food. Is it good for you? Well, no. But you should have it anyways, when you are boiling your pasta as a minimum.

I feel like the marketing for this novel, West-side, has been greatly mismanaged in that it seems to present it as a salacious thriller that you simply cannot put down. And in some aspects, it is - technically - a thriller. But those are the weakest and least convincing bits of it.

What this novel largely is a slow character-driven meditation on women, their place in society and the standards placed upon them. It interwines this with themes of desire and pleasure and shame, of control and policing of female bodies. Of the relationships between women and how sometimes we are our own prison guards or each other's prison guards.

Does the novel say anything particularly new in this regard? No. But Yuzuki Asako succeeds in creating complex female characters that create enough nuance to keep the discussion feel alive and fresh.

P.S. Butter really is the best ingredient you could add to about 90% of food. Is it good for you? Well, no. But you should have it anyways, when you are boiling your pasta as a minimum.

This was excellent, and really lived up to the hype for me. An excellent translation by Polly Barton that flows well. There’s so much to unpack here around body image, men’s perception of women, women’s perception of men, women’s views of other women, friendship, work, life, pleasure, desire, and having the courage to live life on your own terms and discover what’s right for you. I’ll be thinking about this one for a long time.

Laura Dobie

A bit too long for my taste but a course I enjoyed nonetheless

PS: Not quite the fan of style in the English translation. Would this register differently with a different translator? 🤔

A bit too long for my taste but a course I enjoyed nonetheless

PS: Not quite the fan of style in the English translation. Would this register differently with a different translator? 🤔

Rich and revitalising, not unlike a good meal. 

Kinda irresistible! Raced through it, though the style is over-larded and magazine-y for my taste. Definitely never read such a romantic description of roast turkey. Ultimately sweet and heartwarming, exploring modern loneliness and friendship. Left full of wintery Tokyo, steam and - curiously - an aversion to butter. 

Sarah Christine Gill

This was a long, long commentary on how we should all not give a fk about what others think and do it for yourselves!

A little too long for my liking but I get it.

Cherine Fok

This was a long, long commentary on how we should all not give a fk about what others think and do it for yourselves!

A little too long for my liking but I get it.

Deliciously anxiety driven cat and mouse play between women who eventually all are victims to their cultural beauty standards and patriarchal society.

a foodie serial killer and a curious journalist exchange thoughts, recipes, and experiences.

Rabia Sitabi

Deliciously anxiety driven cat and mouse play between women who eventually all are victims to their cultural beauty standards and patriarchal society.

a foodie serial killer and a curious journalist exchange thoughts, recipes, and experiences.

A journalist goes to lengths to acquire an exclusive interview with a serial killer. Using food, Butter explores societal expectations of gendered roles. 

apart from the delicious food mentioned and the constant urge to eat a slab of butter, what really struck me was the desire to live. even when torn down by someone or something, Rika still had the will to move on and live, the will to be herself and to do things as she want. “If God exists. He wouldn’t take joy or satisfaction in the sight of suffering. Which means, you don’t have to get through everything alone. You don’t have to always be growing as a person either. The far more important thing is just to get through the day.”

I really liked this book, in the sense that it threw me for a loop and brought me into an obsessive spiral basted with butter. The story follows a journalist named Rika who herself becomes obsessed with the case of convicted killer Manako Kajii in her efforts to dig deeper to understand how her mind works… and potentially prove her innocence. As she successfully establishes contact with the convicted murderer thanks to advice from her best friend and recently-established housewife Reiko, Rika begins to take on challenges assigned by Kajii to emulate Kajii’s experiences with men and food, namely butter. In this journey, Rika confronts avoided familial trauma while exploring Kajii’s own, ruminates on the power imbalance between men and women in society, and recovers a long-severed relationship with food and the community that food can nurture. 

Because of its outspoken feminist commentary, I was reminded a lot of Korean author Cho Namjoo’s Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982, a much shorter and straightforward tale of the hardships of the everywoman, written in a tone stripped of emotion and left empty. Butter takes the same messages delivered by Cho and sends them along a much darker path with Manako Kajii’s confident feminine charm, Rika’s malleable identity, and Reiko’s silent unpredictability. Both Cho and Yuzuki’s stories tell essentially the same tale - of women’s hope being in each other - just each in their own gripping and powerful ways. 

Hell yeah I’d recommend this book. The read was fun and stomach-churning and emotional all the same. This was a great book about food that doesn’t necessarily overpower or draw the attention away from the plot, which is something that tends to be a pet peeve of mine in other books. I actually get to appreciate food a bit more while reading this book as I reflect on and appreciate my own body and womanhood. And I think a lot about the incredible women in this story who take risks and dive headfirst despite fear, who develop the courage to leave what does not suit or serve them, who pursue connection and hope even when drained of both.

joana ashley

I really liked this book, in the sense that it threw me for a loop and brought me into an obsessive spiral basted with butter. The story follows a journalist named Rika who herself becomes obsessed with the case of convicted killer Manako Kajii in her efforts to dig deeper to understand how her mind works… and potentially prove her innocence. As she successfully establishes contact with the convicted murderer thanks to advice from her best friend and recently-established housewife Reiko, Rika begins to take on challenges assigned by Kajii to emulate Kajii’s experiences with men and food, namely butter. In this journey, Rika confronts avoided familial trauma while exploring Kajii’s own, ruminates on the power imbalance between men and women in society, and recovers a long-severed relationship with food and the community that food can nurture. 

Because of its outspoken feminist commentary, I was reminded a lot of Korean author Cho Namjoo’s Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982, a much shorter and straightforward tale of the hardships of the everywoman, written in a tone stripped of emotion and left empty. Butter takes the same messages delivered by Cho and sends them along a much darker path with Manako Kajii’s confident feminine charm, Rika’s malleable identity, and Reiko’s silent unpredictability. Both Cho and Yuzuki’s stories tell essentially the same tale - of women’s hope being in each other - just each in their own gripping and powerful ways. 

Hell yeah I’d recommend this book. The read was fun and stomach-churning and emotional all the same. This was a great book about food that doesn’t necessarily overpower or draw the attention away from the plot, which is something that tends to be a pet peeve of mine in other books. I actually get to appreciate food a bit more while reading this book as I reflect on and appreciate my own body and womanhood. And I think a lot about the incredible women in this story who take risks and dive headfirst despite fear, who develop the courage to leave what does not suit or serve them, who pursue connection and hope even when drained of both.

So disappointed in this book. I really appreciated the feminist narrative, but didn’t connect with the voice of the narrator as well as I would have liked. 

hessensitive

The first chapter was quite slow but once you get into the book it just keeps getting better! I loved the story and the food was also great (I ofc tried to recreate the simple cold butter with hot rice and soy sauce recipe) overall stunning book, really goes into the darker side of Japanese work culture and people finding a balance. Beautifully written 

0cchi

I had high hopes but this book did not fully live up to the hype for me. It is an interesting perspective on Japanese work and social culture that I haven’t experienced before. 

Elizabeth Denny

this was quite a complex read. i am honestly not sure i get it beyond the surface level themes that were described quite on those nose as i think the deeper themes are lost on the sheer density of the text - it was draggy at parts which didn’t need to be. nevertheless i LOVED the descriptions of food, the discourse on femininity, fatphobia etc in the contemporary Japanese context. a solid read if you have a little time!

prachi

Eva Ströberg

Butter - Asako Suzuki
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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The Silence of the Lambs meet cooking program, Suzuki’s writing is simply brilliant in this book. I was mesmerized and bulldozed through the 400+ pages of this book in the promise of thrilling plot and more cooking recipes. I could only imagine how awesome if this book would be filmatized with all the mind-blown scenes ala anime that would follow all the eating and cooking in the book
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Ms Rika Machida - a journalist for a woman’s weekly is set to interview Manako Kajii, a serial killer who is infamous for seducing middle-aged men into pampering her, buying her luxury presents, sending her to the most exclusive cooking school in Tokyo and these men all turned up dead later on. What’s more controversial is that Ms. Kajii, the suspect, she is not pretty and slim, on the contrary, she is a big woman who loves to eat, making it even more mind boggling for the public to understand how she could seduce all the men (and later allegedly killed them)
.
This book discusses not only about the investigative journalism that Machida did, including all her long interview sessions with manipulative Kajii but also a reflexion about Japanese society in general, how women are supposed to look and behave and what’s demanded of them as a daughter, wife or a mother.
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I can’t recommend it highly enough. Go read it!
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Butter A Novel of Food and Murder

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