Japanese writer Sayaka Murata recently visited Bulgaria for the Literary Talks Festival, held at Sofia’s City Stage from April 23–25. During the event, a discussion was moderated by Bulgarian literary critic Darin Tenev, with interpretation provided by Albena Todorova. Murata, recognized as a leading figure in contemporary Japanese literature, has seen her works, including Convenience Store Woman and Earthlings, translated into Bulgarian by Colibri Publishing House.
Her novel Shoumetsu sekai is a finalist for the Locus Award 2026. The conversation explored Murata’s frequent critique of global homogeneity and uniformity. She shared anecdotes concerning individuality, noting how the concept’s distortion can lead to authoritarianism.
Participants also discussed George Orwell’s 1984, touching upon the theme of exclusion even within individualistic societies. Murata’s characters often exhibit a quiet resistance by refusing full participation in the current system, a theme explored in works like Sekai 99. The discussion also covered the interplay between dystopia and ambiguity in her writing.
When questioned about literary taboos, Sayaka Murata stated that she feels no limitations on her subject matter, comparing her writing process to a laboratory. She concluded by mentioning her habit of seeking out Albert Camus’s The Stranger in bookstores abroad. The Literary Talks Festival, themed “Dystopia and Resistance,” featured Murata alongside Paul Lynch, and included various programs for writers, scholars, and industry professionals.
Topics: #sayaka #murata #literary
