Name: Sayaka Murata Born: 1979, Chiba Prefecture, Japan Genres: Contemporary Fiction, Satire, Social Commentary Notable Works (English): Convenience Store Woman, Earthlings, Life Ceremony Sayaka Murata is one of Japan’s most distinctive literary voices. She is best known for her breakout novel Convenience Store Woman, which sold over a million copies and was translated into more than 30 languages. Through sharp prose and dark humor, Murata explores themes of societal pressure, gender roles, conformity, and identity in modern Japan. Her writing often features eccentric characters who challenge societal norms—and in doing so, invite us to question our own assumptions about what it means to be “normal.” Murata has won multiple prestigious literary awards, including the Akutagawa Prize. Before becoming a full-time writer, she worked part-time at a convenience store for over 18 years—a real-life experience that deeply informs her work.