A hilarious, feminist read from the new star of Japanese fiction

Diary of a Void

For the sake of women everywhere, Ms Shibata is going to pull off the mother of all deceptions... 
 
'Incredibly thought-provoking... you'll love Yagi's writing' STYLIST 
 
Ms Shibata refuses to clear away the coffee at work one day, because she's pregnant and can't bear the smell. The only thing is . . . Ms Shibata is not pregnant. 
 
Being a mother-to-be isn't easy. Ms Shibata has a nine-month ruse to keep up. Before long, it becomes all-absorbing, and with the help of towel-stuffed shirts and a diary app that tracks every stage of her 'pregnancy', the boundary between her lie and her life begins to dissolve. 
 
Discover this prizewinning, thrillingly subversive new novel that's perfect for fans of Convenience Store Woman and Breasts and Eggs. 
 
'A subversive, surreal read that will strike a cord' RED 
 
'One of the most passionate cases I've ever read for female interiority, for women's creative pulse and rich inner life' NEW YORKER 
 
Translated from the Japanese by David Boyd and Lucy North

If you're in the mood for a matter-of-fact and incredibly thought-provoking read, you'll love Yagi's writing.

The tension grows along with the comedic details. . . . Diary of a Void starts as stylish satire... but it becomes something even more profound. Always expect the unexpected when you're not expecting.

A subversive, surreal read that will strike a cord.

One of the most passionate cases I've ever read for female interiority, for women's creative pulse and rich inner life.

Endlessly strange, funny and meaningful... This book is a powerful exploration of what it means to be single and childless, and of the impact of work on our bodies and mental health

Yagi has a light touch for the endless ironies made possible by her premise. There is humor, but also the realization that the alienation of pregnancy and motherhood is no reprieve from the oppressive office culture that inspires Shibata's experiment.

Delightful . . . Yagi's focus is on how acting pregnant reshapes Shibata's relationship to herself... Yet the book never idealizes pregnancy...We see the difficulty of being a woman with or without a child, and Yagi emphasizes how society makes both roles harder... If you've ever wanted to bite back at a nosy boss, a rude co-worker, an unfair assignment, or the endless list of shoulds we face, then maybe you'll find something to enjoy in Shibata's audacity too.

One of the most intriguing new novels of the summer.

Darkly funny and surprisingly tender.

Kirsty Logan, author of THINGS WE SAY IN THE DARK

In Diary of a Void, what begins as a bud of a lie blossoms into a gripping and thought provoking examination of womanhood and motherhood in a patriarchal society. A short read but by no means is this a small story.

So tightly written, and so much fun to read.

Kikuko Tsumura, author of THERE’S NO SUCH THING AS AN EASY JOB

Comical and tender, absurd, bold and joyful.

Yagi captures Shibata's loneliness and the community she's granted upon 'falling into step' with her married peers in such a keen way that, reading along, you're on pins and needles to discover what will happen... The [fun] premise pays off.

Riveting and surreal . . . Absurdist, amusing, and clever, the story brings subtlety and tact to its depiction of workplace discrimination-as well as a touch of magic. Readers will eagerly turn the pages all the way to the bold conclusion.

A book that reflects on life, solitude and what it means to be a woman.

A surreal, engrossing meditation on loneliness, womanhood, and what it actually means to have a work-life balance.

Takes office toxicity and how we cope to new heights.

I found myself completely captivated by this novel's unusual and inviting premise and all that it questions and stirs up.

Aimee Bender, author of THE PARTICULAR SADNESS OF LEMON CAKE

I loved it. It's incredible. Diary of a Void is joyful, exuberant, and triumphant. It made my heart sing.

Filled with sly humor and touching intimacy, Diary of a Void builds from its revolutionary premise into a powerfully resonant story of longing and defiance. An absolutely thrilling read - I didn't want to put it down.

In this fictional diary of a pregnant woman, it is the real, rather than the made-up, aspects of society, such as single parenting and discrimination against women in the workplace, that are powerfully depicted.

Kyoko Nakajima, author of THE LITTLE HOUSE

Yagi artfully blurs the boundary between truth and lies with this riotous solution to women's workplace challenges.

[A] penetrating look at working life and gender expectations... In a tone perfectly modulated in Boyd and North's translation, Shibata's dry observations and choices are both relatable and humorous...At the heart of the story is Yagi's wry and witty consideration of how one woman, tangled up in a web of deceit, struggles to live a meaningful life through work and her relationships with others.

Discover this prizewinning, thrillingly subversive new novel that's perfect for fans of Convenience Store Woman and Breasts and Eggs. 
 
'Incredibly thought-provoking... you'll love Yagi's writing' Stylist 
 
'One of the most passionate cases I've ever read for female interiority, for women's creative pulse and rich inner life' The New Yorker 
 
 
For the sake of women everywhere, Ms Shibata is going to pull off the mother of all deceptions... 
 
Ms Shibata refuses to clear away the coffee and cigarette butts at work one day, because she's pregnant and can't bear the smell. The only thing is . . . Ms Shibata is not pregnant. 
 
Being a mother-to-be isn't easy. Ms Shibata has a nine-month ruse to keep up. Before long, it becomes all-absorbing, and with the help of towel-stuffed shirts and a diary app that tracks every stage of her 'pregnancy', the boundary between her lie and her life begins to dissolve. 
 
'A subversive, surreal read that will strike a cord' Red Magazine 
 
'An insight into what it means to be a woman in our time... As a mode of resistance, Shibata's trick is perfect' Electric Literature 
 
Translated from the Japanese by David Boyd and Lucy North

Emi Yagi

Yuki Tejima

I was captivated by Rika's strange, frozen world, filled with movement and passion - a perfectly contained and luminous story that reveals a whole world of desire and possibility, right at the heart of loneliness

Rika Horauchi’s new part-time job is to converse with a statue of Venus – in Latin – every Monday, when the museum is closed. 
 
Initially reluctant, Rika starts to enjoy her strange new job. Recommended by her old university professor for her exemplary language skills, Rika leads an otherwise unassuming life, working the rest of the week in a frozen-food warehouse. As Venus comes to life in the quiet of the museum, they talk about everything. Venus opens up new worlds for Rika, both intellectually and emotionally. They soon fall in love. But when the museum’s curator, Hashibami, makes it clear he wants to keep Venus for himself, what will Rika do? 
 
When the Museum is Closed is by turns charming, funny and surprising, a surreal take on our most real emotions and concerns: love, loneliness, freedom, perceptions of beauty and how women are seen in society. A joyful queer love story, this fresh and original new novel confirms Emi Yagi as one of the most exciting Japanese writers published in English today.

Emi Yagi

Praise for When the Museum is Closed

I was captivated by Rika's strange, frozen world, filled with movement and passion - a perfectly contained and luminous story that reveals a whole world of desire and possibility, right at the heart of lon ...

Books by Emi Yagi

Follow penguin

Follow ladybird

Follow puffin

Sign up to the Penguin newsletter