DTOPIA

by Jose Ando, 安堂 ホセ

恋愛リアリティショー「DTOPIA」新シリーズの舞台はボラ・ボラ島。ミスユニバースを巡ってMr. LA、Mr.ロンドン等十人の男たちが争う──時代を象徴する圧倒的傑作、誕生！

第172回芥川賞受賞作

Audible Audio

Published August 29, 2025

About the author

Jose Ando (Japanese name: 安堂 ホセ) was born and raised in Tokyo, and is of African-Asian heritage. His debut novel Jackson Alone was awarded the 59th Bungei Prize. It was also shortlisted for the Akutagawa Prize, as was his second novel, The Camouflaged Man. His third novel, Dtopia, won the 172nd Akutagawa Prize, solidifying his presence as one of Japan’s brightest young literary stars.

Reviews

[Patrick Gwillim-Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s not a good sign when you finish something thinking ‘finally.’ I wrote a bunch of notes on this, but I really fee it didn’t amount to much. He seems to jump between any political topic that interests him randomly during the book, which adds to the already very all over the place plotting. Most importantly, the prose just isn’t that beautiful. I so rarely read something and felt impressed by the abilities of the author. It still gets 3 stars because the whole set up of the TV show was interesting (as long as we were there) and a few sections will always stay with me. The dad fighting with ‘you’ about the backalley orchiectomy was just so tense and painful throughout. I could feel his anger building. And the sex scene at the beginning was delightful and hilarious. I would have loved more time with the other contestants.

[Mizuki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read in Japanese, English reviews below.
とてもグローバルな視点でさまざまな社会問題を取り上げた作品。日本語の小説で(しかも芥川賞受賞とのこと)ここまで踏み込んだ作品はとても珍しいのではないだろうか。案外日本も変わろうとしているのかもしれない。

主なトピックとして、白人至上主義がどうアイデンティティ(特にミックス/ハーフの人)を形成するのかが挙げられる。他にも植民地主義の歴史や影響、アメリカメディアのレイシズム、未成年のトランスの子が持つ選択肢とは？など様々なトピックに触れている。

ちなみに舞台は一応恋愛リアリティショーである。しかし話のほとんどは「モモ」視点での世間の観察と批評に当てられている為、プロット目当ての読者は物足りなく感じると思われる。また、文体が説明的なのが個人的には合わなかった。ただ、日本では取り上げられにくいトピックにどんどん挑戦していく作者が日本にもいると思うと、とても頼もしいし、これからの作品が楽しみです。
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Very ambitious book talking about colonization and its impact on racial identity, the autonomy of trans children, American media and its racism, the continued exploitation of island colonies and its inequality, etc. I feel very excited and hopeful of the fact that books like this are being written and recognized in Japan :D

While I support the ideas the author explores, I felt that the book read like a cultural analysis essay instead of a novel - telling instead of showing. The plot of the main character being in a dating reality show felt kind of neglected, and I would’ve loved to see that more. But overall, it is a short read (3hours), and I am excited to see what he writes in the future!

[Kazumi · Rating 3 out of 5]

The timeline constantly shifts back and forth, and the way the characters are referred to keeps changing. It is also somewhat unclear whose perspective the story is being told from. Even the setting and development of the reality show “DTOPIA,” which is the central stage of the story, remain only vaguely understood. However, that very sense of chaos connects directly to the multifaceted and elusive themes the novel attempts to explore.

Issues surrounding young people — gender identity, the exploitation of minors, origins, and the complexity of parent-child relationships — all simmer beneath the surface, on the verge of breaking into visibility. Mr. TOKYO, who was born and raised in the midst of such turmoil, survives this chaos with a strangely detached and matter-of-fact attitude, showing little sense of personal involvement.

What actually happened between the time he met Momo and his appearance on DTOPIA as “Mr. TOKYO” is never fully explained. Yet, through fragmentary information, we come to understand that he had been exploited by adults and, in a sense, learned to turn that exploitation to his own advantage in order to survive.

Still, the path that led him to the state of mind he expressed to Miss Universe on DTOPIA feels both visible and invisible at the same time. In that sense, the aftertaste of the novel is not entirely satisfying. However, perhaps that very discomfort lends powerful credibility to the reality that the problems facing today’s society and young people cannot be easily articulated or neatly organized.

Because the novel incorporates highly specific and contemporary elements that are crucial to its development, it may be difficult for it to retain the same impact for future generations. Even so, one cannot help but feel the author’s momentum, boldness, and determination.

[Tomoko Enomoto · Rating 5 out of 5]

元フランス領の南の島で行われるリアリティ番組に参加する各国の若いイケメン男女。ジェンダーや結婚観、家族観、多様性などを抱え、グローバル世界が逆の意味で矮小化されながら二転三転。共感ではない、目の前で展開する様を追うだけでエンタメ的に楽しませる作品。