BOOK #8 “HUNCHBACK” BY SAOU ICHIKAWA, TRANSLATED FROM THE JAPANESE BY POLLY BARTON, LONGLISTED FOR #INTERNATIONALBOOKERPRIZE2025

The protagonist, Shaka Izawa, has myotubular myopathy, a rare genetic disorder. Her spine is S-shaped, making it difficult for her to sit at certain angles. Shaka is an independent thinker who studies, tweets, and shares her writing online, challenging conventional expectations. Though her parents are no longer alive, they ensured she would be well cared for and left her with considerable wealth.

Shaka resides in Ingleside, a group home that she owns, named after Anne of Ingleside from L. M. Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables series, which she deeply admires. Despite relying on others for physical assistance, she asserts her individuality through social media and her writing, which includes pornographic literature. Her story makes us think about independence, control, and the way society perceives disability.

I loved her love for furikake:
“FURIKAKE WAS AN INDISPENSABLE ITEM FOR GETTING THROUGH THE TASTELESS MEALS THAT THEY SERVED HERE AT THE GROUP HOME, TOO. I GUESSED FURIKAKE WAS ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT SAVED PEOPLE REGARDLESS OF THEIR FINANCIAL STATUS.”

Though short in length, Hunchback is a powerful and deeply introspective read. It delves into Shaka’s emotions and experiences with honesty, portraying both her frustrations and her resilience.

Saou Ichikawa, the author of Hunchback, is the first disabled author to win the Akutagawa Prize for this novella.