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Then Why Ask Me to Come?
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About the author
Risa Wataya
24 books32 followersRisa Wataya (綿矢りさ, born February 1, 1984) is a female Japanese novelist from Kyoto.
Wataya graduated from Murasakino High School in Kyoto.
Her first novella, Install, written when she was 17, was awarded the 38th Bungei Prize. She graduated from Waseda University in Tokyo. Her thesis focused on the structure of Osamu Dazai's Hashire merosu (走れ、メロス Run, Melos!). Wataya rose to fame in 2003 upon receiving the Akutagawa Prize for her short novel Keritai Senaka ("The Back You Want to Kick"), while at Waseda University. The prize was shared between Wataya and Hitomi Kanehara, another young, female author. At the age of 19, Wataya became the youngest author—and the third student—ever to receive this greatly prestigious award, the first two student winners having been Shintarō Ishihara and Keiichiro Hirano. Wataya's works have been translated into German, Italian, French, and Korean. In 2004, her novel Install was adapted into a film starring Aya Ueto. In 2012, her novel Kawaisou da ne? ("Isn't it a pity?") won the Kenzaburo Oe Prize, meaning that the novel will be translated into English and other languages.
Wataya graduated from Murasakino High School in Kyoto.
Her first novella, Install, written when she was 17, was awarded the 38th Bungei Prize. She graduated from Waseda University in Tokyo. Her thesis focused on the structure of Osamu Dazai's Hashire merosu (走れ、メロス Run, Melos!). Wataya rose to fame in 2003 upon receiving the Akutagawa Prize for her short novel Keritai Senaka ("The Back You Want to Kick"), while at Waseda University. The prize was shared between Wataya and Hitomi Kanehara, another young, female author. At the age of 19, Wataya became the youngest author—and the third student—ever to receive this greatly prestigious award, the first two student winners having been Shintarō Ishihara and Keiichiro Hirano. Wataya's works have been translated into German, Italian, French, and Korean. In 2004, her novel Install was adapted into a film starring Aya Ueto. In 2012, her novel Kawaisou da ne? ("Isn't it a pity?") won the Kenzaburo Oe Prize, meaning that the novel will be translated into English and other languages.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
October 5, 2025
a great vignette, that puts the reader in the position of a protagonist who is clearly in the wrong, but also faces the strange duality of feeling defensive of the indefensible. The final few sentences brilliantly revert the tables back, and you find yourself realising the error in finding yourself identifying with the narrator in the cold light of day
October 27, 2025
I loved reading Wataya's I Want to Kick You in the Back (currently re-reading it!), the edginess, the loneliness, and the despair of the main character really felt alive. The main character in that book has a soul full of hatred and darkness, yet deep inside is the character's inner desire for companionship. In Then Why Ask Me to Come?, Wataya portrayed a different kind of character — a narcissistic, vain man whose acts of adultery were exposed in a party. Although the characters are worlds apart from each other, they are both similar in their hatred for alienation and their misanthropic tendencies.
This book was the reason I bought the whole Kanata set, a chapbook series published by Strangers Press. As a fan of Wataya's writing, I'm saddened by the lack of translation of her work, and considering her works won a variety of literary awards in Japan, it's unfortunate that there is very little translation out there of Wataya's writing. Besides I Want to Kick You in the Back, the only translation of Wataya's writings that I could hunt for were a translation of an excerpt of Wataya's book Install (available online), and now this book. Yuki Tejima is a mutual of mine on Bookstagram, and I loved her amazing translation of Kumi Kimura's Someone to Watch Over You, so I knew she would not disappoint with the translation for this novella.
This was very frustrating to read, mostly because everyone is annoying as hell. The dialogue felt exaggerated at times, almost comical, but I personally think it added to the novella's sardonic tone. It's pure domestic drama written in the perspective of the bad guy i.e. the cheater, but boy was it fun. You pray for everyone's downfall because everyone was just so exhausting to listen to.
This book discusses the masks we use in our daily lives, from physical masks to metaphorical masks. The main character has a mask on at first (the setting was during a pandemic), and everytging was fine and dandy. He took off his mask once they were all inside, and that was the trigger of the whole situation. His mask was taken off, making him vulnerable to the people who were reprimanding his affairs. It was interesting that the characters in the novella commented directly on how they want to take off his mask and reveal his disgusting personality, but he held on to it until the end. The ending cracked me up because it was so funny that he never had the last word. I believe his refusal to take off his mask until the end is why he couldn't speak up when he really wanted to at the end. Ironic.
A fun read. Would definitely read again because Wataya's writing is just pure entertainment!
4.25 ⭐️
This book was the reason I bought the whole Kanata set, a chapbook series published by Strangers Press. As a fan of Wataya's writing, I'm saddened by the lack of translation of her work, and considering her works won a variety of literary awards in Japan, it's unfortunate that there is very little translation out there of Wataya's writing. Besides I Want to Kick You in the Back, the only translation of Wataya's writings that I could hunt for were a translation of an excerpt of Wataya's book Install (available online), and now this book. Yuki Tejima is a mutual of mine on Bookstagram, and I loved her amazing translation of Kumi Kimura's Someone to Watch Over You, so I knew she would not disappoint with the translation for this novella.
This was very frustrating to read, mostly because everyone is annoying as hell. The dialogue felt exaggerated at times, almost comical, but I personally think it added to the novella's sardonic tone. It's pure domestic drama written in the perspective of the bad guy i.e. the cheater, but boy was it fun. You pray for everyone's downfall because everyone was just so exhausting to listen to.
This book discusses the masks we use in our daily lives, from physical masks to metaphorical masks. The main character has a mask on at first (the setting was during a pandemic), and everytging was fine and dandy. He took off his mask once they were all inside, and that was the trigger of the whole situation. His mask was taken off, making him vulnerable to the people who were reprimanding his affairs. It was interesting that the characters in the novella commented directly on how they want to take off his mask and reveal his disgusting personality, but he held on to it until the end. The ending cracked me up because it was so funny that he never had the last word. I believe his refusal to take off his mask until the end is why he couldn't speak up when he really wanted to at the end. Ironic.
A fun read. Would definitely read again because Wataya's writing is just pure entertainment!
4.25 ⭐️
November 9, 2025
Okay, each story I read from this collection is better than the last. The narrator of this story reminded me of American Psycho – he is so concerned about his image and how he is being understood and seen by those around him.
He attends a BBQ held by his wife’s best friend just as Covid restrictions are being lifted and he navigates the social etiquette not only on being around other people again but being in a social scenario in which he doesn’t really like the people. Everything about the scene feels oppressive and confrontational and lo and behold, it is a set up for a confrontation.
When the story opens I feel like we are predisposed to root for the narrator, it is somewhat our default mode but the hints come pretty quickly that he is not to be liked. However the whole scenario, as it reaches its climax, does not enamour me to any of the individuals involved including the narrators long suffering wife.
This is a dark domestic drama (dark humour rather than anything violent).
I cannot wait to read the next one in this set as they just keep getting better and better.
He attends a BBQ held by his wife’s best friend just as Covid restrictions are being lifted and he navigates the social etiquette not only on being around other people again but being in a social scenario in which he doesn’t really like the people. Everything about the scene feels oppressive and confrontational and lo and behold, it is a set up for a confrontation.
When the story opens I feel like we are predisposed to root for the narrator, it is somewhat our default mode but the hints come pretty quickly that he is not to be liked. However the whole scenario, as it reaches its climax, does not enamour me to any of the individuals involved including the narrators long suffering wife.
This is a dark domestic drama (dark humour rather than anything violent).
I cannot wait to read the next one in this set as they just keep getting better and better.
November 29, 2025
COVIDin jälkeiset BBQ-juhlat, joihin mies menee puolisonsa kanssa. Edessä on ikävä ilta kaikille osapuolille. Mustaa huumoria, kuvainnollista selkäänpuukotusta, inhottavia ihmisiä. Oli hauskaa!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews