Japanese author Sayaka Murata participated in the Literary Talks Festival in Sofia, Bulgaria, on Thursday, marking her first visit. The discussion was moderated by Bulgarian literary critic Darin Tenev, with interpretation provided by Albena Todorova. Murata, recognized for her significant contributions to 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 in the Translated Novel category, and her writing has been translated into over 30 languages. The conversation began with welcoming remarks from the Japanese Ambassador to Bulgaria, Chikahisa Sumi. Murata’s novels frequently examine the contemporary trend toward uniformity and homogeneity.
She discussed how the concept of “individuality” can be distorted, potentially leading to authoritarianism. Participants also referenced George Orwell’s 1984, discussing how exclusion persists even within supposedly individualistic societies. Murata’s characters often embody a quiet resistance by refusing full participation in the prevailing system, a tension she explores in works like Sekai 99.
The discussion touched upon the relationship between traditional storytelling and modern dystopia. When questioned about transgressing literary taboos, Murata stated that she feels no restrictions on her writing, comparing her process to a laboratory where human elements assemble themselves. She concluded by mentioning her habit of revisiting Albert Camus’s The Stranger in any foreign bookstore.
The festival, themed “Dystopia and Resistance,” featured Murata alongside Paul Lynch, and included various cultural events for writers, scholars, and industry professionals.
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