Based on true events, the book 'A Woman for Pleasure' is a stunning portrayal of feminine bonding during harsh times and an important call for pursuing the quest for freedom. Also commendable is the able translation by Juliet Winters Carpenter, which never gives the readers a feeling of reading a translated edition. The best thing about the recent influx of translated works from Japan that has flooded the market with saccharine themes and covers adorned with images of cats (which do not at all feature in at least one book that I read) is the interest of publishers to introduce better and older works and capitalize on the trend. For example, it took more than ten years to come up with a translation of this excellent novel, which was published in Japan as early as 2013.

This novel delves deep into the complexities of desire, relationships, and the often murky waters of human sexuality. Murata’s writing is bold, unflinching, and unafraid to explore themes that are sometimes considered taboo. The narrative centres around the protagonist’s journey through various relationships and experiences, offering a raw and candid look at the intersections of pleasure, power, and emotional vulnerability.

However, despite the novel’s daring approach, I found myself struggling to fully connect with it. There’s a certain crassness to some of the scenes and descriptions that, rather than adding depth or authenticity, felt jarring and detracted from the overall narrative. The bluntness with which certain topics are handled sometimes came across as more provocative than necessary, leaving me feeling uncomfortable rather than engaged.

That said, it’s clear that Murata is a skilled writer who knows how to push boundaries and challenge societal norms. For readers who appreciate literature that doesn’t shy away from the gritty or uncomfortable aspects of human experience, A Woman of Pleasure might be a compelling read. The novel’s willingness to confront difficult topics head-on is certainly commendable, and there’s a raw honesty in Murata’s portrayal of her characters’ lives.

In the end, it wasn’t quite the right fit for me. The explicitness and sometimes abrasive tone of the novel made it difficult for me to fully immerse myself in the story. For those looking for a provocative and daring exploration of human desire, this book may hold more appeal, but for me, it was a bit too blunt in its execution to be truly enjoyable. Maybe I'm just a big prude.

A Woman of Pleasure is a devastating and powerful tale of a young woman sold into a life of prostitution. Ichi is fortunate, and comes to work for an upper class brothel under a very highly ranked oiran.

Ichi is a strong and courageous protagonist and as a reader I became very invested in her story. The characters she interacts with a beautifully molded and may loveable in their own ways, others foul and despicable. Many tragedies befall Ichi and those around her, but through it all the strength of these objectified, entrapped women shines through and it seems their sheer belief in a better life will persist through all hindrance that life throws their way.

I really loved this novel, it had me close to tears and I would highly recommend!

I found this an immersive and fascinating read, taking me right inside a red light district in Japan in the early 20th century and into the lives of the women who work there. In 1903 fifteen-year-old Aoi Ichi is sold to a brothel by her impoverished family, a practice that was common at the time. She is apprenticed to Shinonome, an experienced high-class courtesan, to be trained for her new role. Based on real life events, we learn about the daily routine of the prostitutes, their education, their visits to the bath house, their medical examinations, and the cultivation of the skills they need to be perfect prostitutes for their male clients, for whom they offer a service which goes far beyond purely mechanical sex. They are taught all the necessary skills, from music to calligraphy, reading and arithmetic (so that they can check their financial situation and not fall further into debt). Although their prime function is to please men, they do have some autonomy and if they ever manage to pay off their debts can in fact leave the life. They do in fact have some agency and I found this an unexpected aspect to their admittedly pretty harsh life in the brothel. The author remains non-judgmental, for she’s not out to shock, and she demonstrates that the women do have some freedoms and choice. The book reads like a documentary novel rather than a literary one, but is none the worse for that, and it isn’t a totally bleak book in spite of the subject matter. A comprehensive and insightful window into a time and place, opening up a new and compelling world to the reader.

This was a tough read but also a very satisfying read. This is the first book by this author that I have read and I will for sure be reading more. This book wasn’t just technically well written but it was fearless in its portrayal of the people within these pages. I don’t think there was a single emotion left unfelt by the end of this and especially for a relatively short book it certainly packed a lot in. I am writing this months after reading it and I have found myself thinking about this book. Several scenes I still see vividly in my mind. The one thing I will say is that you do need to be in a good headspace to read this and not be negatively impacted. Also, go in ready to have to sit with some uncomfortable things. As long as you go in with these things in mind I recommend this book wholeheartedly!!!!

This was such a wonderful book. Through the eyes of Aoi Ichi, an adolescent girl that was sold by her parents to a brothel, we perceive the very rigid social structure of Japan in the beggining of the XX century. This was very well written and engaging, and gave us an unique perspective of a time and a place, so different, but at the same time with similar challenges to our own.

A more complete review of this book will appear on my blog on the 15th of May.

Thank you Footnote Press and Netgalley for the ARC.

A Woman of Pleasure follows Aoi who is sold off by her parents to become a courtesan and gives insight to the hierarchy, training, freedom and restrictions working class women in early 20th century Japan faced with the incorporation of historical elements like the workers rights movements and the development of feminism. Like a lot of Japanese literature their is no true concluding end to the novel leaving you the reader to think and reflect on what happens next. A really thought-provoking book about just how few years many of us have had 'rights' and one I do recommend reading.

I did not finish this book. Although the topic is very interesting to me, it felt as though the writer wanted to write a nonfiction book,, and hastily through together some characters to embody ideas of sex work and the positions of the culture at the time. They were not fleshed out characters and there wasn’t a sense of place or atmosphere. The writing was also extremely bland and almost like it was written as a guidebook or school exercise book, though that may be the translation.

The first novel by Kiyoko Murata to be translated into English.

While some of the language and descriptions were excellent I was often aware this was a translation and found some prose somewhat “clunky”.

Unlike others I found the ending unsatisfying.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

A Woman of Pleasure is a fictional story based on the factual events of the Courtesan Strike in early 1900s Japan. It is a really sensitively written book about the horrendous conditions many young women faced in Japan - being sold by their families to earn back the family debt working in brothels. From very young ages, these women are taught to be nothing more than women of pleasure. But of course, women are strong and intelligent and want more. The story was handled really well, the characters were complete and I gained a lovely story while learning about a part of history I wasn't overly aware of.

Such and interesting and unique read. This book approaches a very different time, in life, for all people, but particularly those in the same job field as Ichi. It is a time when some women can hold power, but maybe not in the places you think or in the past way you might think. This book looks at this, at the dynamic between power and money and ay whether women of that time can haveore control over both.

I really like some the ways the author was able to keep historical accuracies within this book, as it really added to the believability of the story and definitely made it easier to connect with the story read.

I really liked getting to know Ichi and the others, as there was a lot of detail and a lot of interesting, fun information shared, and also very real moments, making the book so unique and exciting.

Overall, I really enjoyed it and think a lot of people will, the ven of historical reads are not always your genre.

A very hard subject told with sensitivity and respect. I've read other books on this subject but never in Japan so it was a fascinating insight into their world and the hardships they faced and the positivity of the movement developed to help them. A great read

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publishers for a free copy in exchange for an honest review!
A honest, thought provoking novel through the eyes of a sex worker. I find the translations upto the mark and it kept me engaged. The pacing could have been better but I enjoyed !

Told through the eyes of a woman sold by her poor family into sex work, this was a fascinating insight into the world of brothels in early 20th Century Japan. It's strange because there isn't really a plot here but Murata builds this world so well that I felt fully immersed in the hierarchy, the training, the school, the freedoms and the restrictions. 5 stars and looking forward to more translations from this author.

An enjoyable historical fiction translated into English for the first time recently, this book follows Ichi a young girl from an island off Japan sold into prostitution.
The historical details are interesting about the developing workers rights movement and the differences between the small islanders that live off the sea and the bigger japanese islands. I felt the translator did a good job of making dialect still sound like dialect but in English which must be tricky.
I would've liked more of a story and conclusion to the book though.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

This exposes the horrors of the women sold by their families and working as prostitutes in the Meiji era in Japan.

Written in one long prose, we are taken on a journey into the Shinonome district as we come in contact with the various women who work there and their interactions with each other.

The author focuses on Ichi and her foray in the district. I love the way the author portrayed the characters and the class system that exists in the district.

The plot details the horrors of slavery and servitude and the seemingly legal backing that it has. It juxtaposes history and fiction as we learn about this dreadful cultural practice and the story of those affected by it.

I had a hard time settling into this. For one, it was one long prose without chapters. Also, I felt the translation did not do justice to the original text. I don’t speak Japanese but there were some words used which would not have existed in the early 1900s Japan. Also, there were so many names that it was very hard to keep up with (I gave up at some point).

If you enjoy historical fiction and translated works, then you will enjoy this. I received an advanced copy and the review is mine and voluntary.

A Woman of Pleasure is a Japanse novel by Kiyoko Murata, translated into English by Juliet Winters Carpenter. I don't think I've ever read anything before that wasn't originally written in English which made it very interesting as some of the phrases and language weren't necessarily the same as if it had been in my opinion.

At times the writing is almost poetic, with some beautiful phrasing, and at others very simplistic which was perfect as it showed the confusion that Aoi Ichi must have felt having been sold to a brothel in an area where everything, including the language, is different. The way these language differences was written into the story was great, albeit a bit confusing to get my head around the unfamiliarity words.

I've read fiction books before about girls/young women sold into sexual slavery, but this one feels different. They are usually about girls who are locked up and beaten into submission in a world where prostitution and people trafficking is illegal.
This is not like that, the whole thing is almost calm, although the fear and confusion Ichi feels is captured so well in phrases such as "The world fell away from beneath my feet," which just perfectly explains how her entire understanding of life has changed. It is also set in a time and place where parents selling their children to pay of debts wasn't uncommon, or illegal. The girls themselves are faurly well looked after. They are taught the art of seduction, as well as calligraphy, reading and writing. They have clothes, food and relative freedom outside of working hours.

This book, although fiction, is based on real events which I found absolutely fascinating to learn about. It shows the sheer force of female strength, and what we can do when we work together.

I really enjoy Japanese fiction so I was excited to read A Woman of Pleasure by Kiyoko Murata and translated by Juliet Winters Carpenter. I have not, to date, read a part historical novel from Japan as such and I have to say I loved this one. While it is historical it has almost a documentary feel to it. There is a lot of historical evidence and facts intertwined with Ichi’s story and the stories of those around her.

One thing that stood out to me was the way Carpenter and Murata managed to capture the idea of Ichi’s dialect being different and her having some difficulty at first to change her island dialect to that of the brothel and mainland. It’s certainly not something that is easy to capture but I felt it was. Tied to this is the very journey of Ichi herself which generally speaking not a lot happens to her in a sense. She does not develop other than being from a young girl to a professional prostitute. That said again I think this gives us a wonderful window to the past and an idea of how culturally women were viewed.

A Woman of Pleasure is equally heartbreaking, poetic and thought-provoking. It gives a deep insight into the historical cloistered world of the red-light district and how many girls came to be there. It shows the how the girls were cared for in their own way as well as the struggles they faced. I think this will be eye opening to a lot of people. While it may not be what one would expect from an historical novel at first glance it offers a deep historical insight and is well worth the read.

‘A Woman of Pleasure’ is a wonderfully detailed and evocative piece of historical fiction set in Japan, in 1903. Kiyoko Murata is an established author in Japan but this book is her first to be translated into English and I sincerely hope that more will be coming as this was a fascinating and heartwarming read. When I pick up a piece of historical fiction I definitely want to be entertained as a reader but I also want to learn! I'm such a history nerd and I didn't know anything about this section of Japanese history at all. It sent me on many a rabbit hole on a certain search engine! But for me that a good thing as it has piqued my interest and I want to learn even more.

Ichi is a low-born girl from the Southern islands and has been sold into a prestigious brothel in Kumamoto. Although, she is still a child she is taught about the cultural and physical cues they will need in their new position. Their top oiran Shinonome takes her under her wing and becomes her mentor in the ways of pleasure. But Ichi is headstrong and defiant, very unsure in this new world of hers and only takes pleasure in the afternoon lessons at the school for the women.

This is based on real historical events as women began to challenge the status quo, even in such a patriarchal society. One in which they had no power until they learnt about the concept of workers' strikes from nearby dockyards. This emboldens the woman and they begin to take their own destinies into their own hands. ‘A Woman of Pleasure’ is a rich and vibrant historical novel that turned the lens onto an area of history I was not aware of. It was a beautiful piece of writing, full of strong female characters, with a sense that this was an authentic telling!

Let me know if you pick this one up!

A Woman of Pleasure is the first novel by well-known Japanese writer Kiyoko Murata to have been translated into English (by Juliet Winters Carpenter). Set in the first years of the twentieth century, it follows a teenage girl, Aoi Ichi, sold into prostitution in the Kumamoto quarter of Kyushu, and so forced to leave her southern fishing village with its community of women divers who live their lives tanned and naked. Her memories of this free, if poor life stay with her throughout this story, contrasting sharply with the regimented world of the brothel. Nevertheless, Ichi discovers female solidarity among her fellow prostitutes as well when they take part in the courtesan strike of 1904. For me, this read more like a fascinating first draft than a finished novel. The structure is a bit shapeless and weirdly repetitive - a key reveal about the same legislation being used to regulate prostitutes and livestock is presented to the reader twice, for example, and there are multiple smaller moments that are similarly duplicated. I also wasn't sure about some of the translation decisions, although it's hard to judge given that I don't read Japanese. In particular, I found the English version of Ichi's island dialect jarring, and thought that more could have been done with the English rendering of the slow development of her writing, which confines itself to a few missing apostrophes. The historical material is great, and I liked that it doesn't go for a Memoirs of A Geisha style plot about bitchy female infighting and Ichi's destined greatness, but instead positions her realistically as a mid-tier prostitute and allows her and the other girls to ally with characters such as the older Tetsuko, a retired prostitute who teaches in the female industrial school, and even Shinonome, one of the highest-ranking courtesans or oirans. But it just all felt a bit rushed and incomplete.