This is a highly ambitious novella that delves into the life of Shaka, a woman in her thirties with congenital myopathy, a condition severely affecting her mobility and breathing. She lives in a group care home she inherited from her wealthy parents. Frustrated with her disability, Shaka maintains a secret Twitter account to vent her feelings. Despite her financial comfort, she writes erotic content to earn money for charity.
The narrative takes an unexpected turn when Tanaka, one of her carers, discovers her Twitter account. On a whim, Shaka proposes a bizarre plan: she offers Tanaka 150 million yen to impregnate her, despite knowing her body can’t handle childbirth, intending to have an abortion. This plan goes awry when Tanaka ejaculates in her mouth, leading to severe complications that hospitalize her.
The novella concludes with Tanaka rejecting the plan and quitting his job, while Shaka returns to her life in the care home. An enigmatic closing section introduces a young university student who works as a prostitute and shares a similar name to the previous protagonist. This new character may or may not have “written” the previous section and hints that her brother is in prison for killing a woman in a care home, possibly Shaka from the main narrative.
The novella’s strength lies in Ichikawa’s compelling narrative, sharp prose, and nuanced dialogue. It seamlessly shifts between themes and tones, transitioning from racy articles to the harsh realities of Shaka’s life. This stark contrast highlights the difference in experiences based on physical ability and gender.
Ichikawa excels in portraying the realism of Shaka’s daily life, from her reliance on assistive technology to the careful planning of her movements. The novella also delves into the complex relationship between Shaka and Tanaka, infused with class, wealth, gender, and physical ability dynamics.
The book has garnered attention in Japan due to the parallels with the author’s own experiences, but it is more than a commentary on disability or ableist structures. It challenges societal norms through Shaka’s lens, critiquing the romanticism of paper books, a painful experience for her, and subtly referencing various thinkers and artists who have explored representations of disabled bodies. However, the novella avoids being preachy by grounding these issues in a relatable and multifaceted protagonist.
Shaka’s story breaks down the binary labeling of individuals as able-bodied or disabled, offering a deeper exploration of human traits such as creativity, sadness, humor, selfishness, and desire that transcend physical limitations. This complexity makes “Hunchback” a gripping and important work that prompts readers to reconsider their preconceptions about disability and identity.