Where the Wild Ladies Are

by Aoko Matsuda

Winner of an English PEN Award

Named a ‘new book you need to read in 2020’ by i-D

Named a ‘best book of the year so far’ by Tatler

Witty, inventive, and profound, Where the Wild Ladies Are is a contemporary feminist retelling of traditional ghost stories by one of Japan’s most exciting writers.

In a company run by the mysterious Mr Tei, strange things are afoot – incense sticks lead to a surprise encounter; a young man reflects on his mother’s death; a foxlike woman finally finds her true calling. As female ghosts appear in unexpected guises, their gently humorous encounters with unsuspecting humans lead to deeper questions about emancipation and recent changes in Japanese women’s lives.

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction, Japan, Fantasy, Horror, Japanese Literature, Feminism

194 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 8, 2016

Reviews

[Tim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Japan has a rich folklore, filled with Yokai, ghosts and various other interesting creatures. With "Where the Wild Ladies Are" Aoko Matsuda examines many of these classic stories, retelling them with a modern feminist viewpoint. The results? Delightful.

The tone of these stories is frequently comical, occasionally melancholy, but never without a sense of whimsy. The stories are also connected, though it may take a while to see how some connect. It creates an interesting tapestry of folklore, seeing that all these stories are to an extent happening side by side.

I usually try to review all the stories when I do a short story collections, I find though that it is a bit difficult this time without spoiling how the stories connect. I will instead say that I enjoyed all the stories but that my favorites were The Peony Lanterns, Quite a Catch and What She Can Do. The first two of those three are hilarious and the third is shockingly heartwarming.

This was a pleasant surprise. Don't get me wrong, I expected I would like this book, but not this much. While not every story was perfect I find that the book as a whole is enhanced when looking at them all. There are so many tie ins and clever nods, that even the lesser stories come off better when the book is done and it is examined as one piece in a larger picture.

In the end I give it my highest recommendation for those who enjoy Japanese folklore, but would like to see a more modern take. A rare 5/5 stars.

[Alwynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

The inspiration for Matsuda Aoko’s marvellously entertaining book stems from a specific realm of Japanese culture, tapping into a long history of myth, folklore, rakugo story-telling and kabuki theatre. Matsuda’s retelling of these kinds of traditional tales deliberately challenges and subverts the vengeful or tragic femininity so common to these forms, like the voiceless, monstrous female ghosts popularised by films like Ring. Instead Matsuda offers up stories of transformation, and sometimes literal metamorphosis, full of fiercely independent women or women who learn to celebrate and exploit their outsider status: in “Smartening Up” a young woman obsessed with body maintenance and images of physical perfection longs to look like the fragile blondes she sees in American movies but changes her attitude after a visit from a ghostly relative; in “A Fox’s Life” a middle-aged woman embraces her long-suppressed wild nature; and in “Quite a Catch” uncovering the victim of an age-old crime results in an unconventional and unexpected queer love story. Matsuda’s collection slowly establishes an intricate web of connections at the heart of which is a shadowy company staffed by the living and the dead, presided over by the mysterious, sensitive Mr Tei. An inventive device that works brilliantly to bring together Matsuda’s seemingly disparate characters and concerns.

These are eerie rather than horrific pieces with a seam of ironic, bordering on absurd, comedy running through them. Matsuda’s style’s predominantly informal and conversational, her feminist themes are on prominent display, from an exploration of oppressive gender roles, kneejerk misogyny to the frustrations of dealing with the glass ceiling or the stifling expectations of what is or isn’t appropriate womanly behaviour. But that directness never drifts into heavy-handedness, there’s an admirable lightness of touch here, a playful exuberance that surfaces in a number of these stories albeit with hints of wistful melancholy. I enjoyed reading this immensely. At first, I wondered if Matsuda’s approach might be a little too superficial, a little too simply-rendered but as her narratives unfolded, I was increasingly impressed by her skill and the underlying complexity of her message. The Tilted Axis Press edition includes a full listing of Matsuda’s source material, as well as short descriptions of the lesser-known origin stories and it’s beautifully translated by Polly Barton.

[daph pink ♡ · Rating 2 out of 5]

For me, the stories were quite hit or miss; either I liked them too much or they disappointed me. They left me feeling curious or wanting more because they were lacking. After reading over half of the collection, I realized that they were somehow connected, and I hoped that this would pique my attention. Sadly, it did not. This may have been a really potent collection, yet it did little to stir my soul.

[inciminci · Rating 4 out of 5]

Male employees had to pretend to be capable of doing things they couldn't do, while female employees had to pretend to be incapable of doing things they actually could do.

This mortal mentality was yesterday! In the spirit world a strange and mysterious ghost company recruits women exactly for their apparent weaknesses which are very useful for ghosts – raging jealousy, insistence, hair power, hairlessness power, zombie love, they don't have to pretend anything here!

Even though I wasn't familiar with the source material the stories are based on, these stories were still FUN to read with their unusual approach to the female experience. My favorites were The Peony Lanterns in which two ghost saleswomen try to stubbornly sell said lanterns; Smartening Up which is about an aunt who raises from the dead to give her niece, who thinks her perceived unattractiveness is the reason she was left by her boyfriend, a lesson; the most savage story I read The Jealous Type and the absolute winner of the collection, Having A Blast.

Anyway, from that point in, I've been a skinhead.

I adored Having A Blast - a young bride dies and according to the traditional story, she can't keep her promise to her husband of coming back, because her head has been shaven for the burial and she couldn't possibly be attractive to her husband like that, so she needs to wait three years. Three years in which her husband finds another wife with whom he makes children. In Matsuda's version the bride actually thinks she looks cute and owns her new buzz cut, and decides to become a punk. It's all so easy in this spirit world, without social restrictions around.

My one nuisance was that I've read the digital version and the list of names of the original stories was in the back, unlinked. So I think the physical copy could be more practical for this one.
I can't believe I've waited so long to read this book, it's the February light read for Shine and Shadow.

[JimZ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection of 17 stories is hard for me to describe, so I think I will take 2 blurbs of other writers taken from the several pages prior to the title page because they do a nice job in synopsizing the collection into 2 or three sentences.
• Taking a collection of traditional Japanese ghost stories and crafting them into often humorous yet painfully relevant tales is a move of pure genius by Aoko Matsuda. Taking place in a contemporary setting, with a decidedly feminist bent, ‘Where the Wild Ladies Are’ takes classic Japanese ghost stories—which make up some of the best in the world—and rewrites them to make them relevant to the current gender climate of modern-day Japan. Witty, biting, and poignant, Matsuda’s collection is a pleasantly haunting surprise.—Jessica Esa, Metropolis (Japan’s No. 1 English Magazine)
• An enjoyable and satisfying read, coming out of a sense of discomfort and unease around gender inequality. This is a short story collection where classic works from rakugo and kubuki are developed in the author’s unique style.—Asayo Takii, Nami

And Aoko Matsuda in a brief note prior to the start of the first of 17 stores says:
• ”The stories in this collection draw inspiration from traditional Japanese ghost and yokai tales, many of which have been immortalized as kabuki or rakugo performances.”

After the last story Aoko Matsuda tells us over 14 pages what ancient ghost stories she based her stories on, and gives a brief synopsis of those stories.

The stories in her collection and what they are based on, and those that I was especially intrigued by ( 😊 ) are as follows:
• Smartening Up— The Maid of Dojo Temple (Musume Dojoji), kabuki 😊
• The Peony Lanterns—The Peony Lantern (Botan Doro), rakugo 😊
• My Superpower—(Yotsuya Kaidan and Kaidan Ichikawazutsumi), rakugo Matsuda says ‘Yotsuya Kaidan” is arguably the most famous Japanese ghost story of all time. 😊
• Quite a Catch—Skeleton Fishing (Kotsutsuri), rakugo 😊
• The Jealous Type—Tadanobu the Cat (Neko no Tadanobu), rakugo 😊 😊
• Where the Wild Ladies Are—Soul-Summoning Incense (Han-konko), rakego 😊
• Loved One— Soul-Summoning Incense (Han-konko), rakego Jim: I don’t know why Matsuda groups this story with the eponymous story above…, stating that her two stories are based on Soul-Summoning Incense
• A Fox’s Life—Mount Tenjin (Tenjinyama), rakugo
• What She Can Do—The Child-Raising Ghost (Kosodate Yurei), folk legend 😊
• Enoki—The Breast tree (Chibusa no Enoki), rakugo
• Silently Burning—Oshichi the Greengrocer’s Daughter (Yaoya Oshichi), folk legend 😊
• A New Recruit—(Zashiki Warashi), folk legend 😊
• Team Sarashina—Maple Viewing (Momijigari), kabuki
• A Day Off—The Suspicious Nighttime Visitor (Shinobiyoru Koi was Kusemono), kabuki
• Having a Blast—The Third Year (San Nen Me), rakugo
• The Missing One—Plate Mansion (Sarayashiki), rakugo 😊
• On High—The Tale of the Castle Keep (Tenshu Monogarari), play

Reviews (all very enthusiastic and well-written and gives praise also to the book’s translator, Polly Barton):
• Very thoughtful & enthusiastic review: https://www.npr.org/2020/10/20/924709...
• https://www.theguardian.com/books/202...
• https://booksandbao.com/review-where-...

[luce (cry bebè's back from hiatus) · Rating 3 out of 5]

| | blog | tumblr | ko-fi | |

Where the Wild Ladies Are is a collection of short stories that traditional Japanese folktales a modern and feminist twist. The premise behind these stories is certainly interesting and I would probably recommend it even if it didn't quite 'work' for me. Most of Aoko Matsuda's stories are interconnected as they feature recurring characters and places. I quite liked this aspect of the collection as I was curious to discover how certain stories were related to other ones. The surreal atmosphere and zestful tone lend this collection a rather offbeat quality that brought to mind authors such Kevin Wilson and Hilary Leichter. These stories are unapologetically weird as they are populated by quirky characters facing some peculiar scenarios. Ghosts seem to be the norm and many characters undergo fantastic transformations.

My favourite stories were the very first two in the collection. One stars a woman who has been recently 'dumped' by her boyfriend. She spends time and money in order to enhance her looks (hair removal galore) but finds herself questioning existing beauty standards when her body hair begins to have a life of its own...and yeah, she also happens to talk who to her aunt who is a ghost. The following story has a vaguely Kafkaesque feel to it as it focuses on a unemployed man who finds himself answering the door to an unusual sales duo. The subsequent stories, in comparison, were very uneven. They had some interesting elements but they would eventually peter out, leaving me kind of wanting more and questioning what was the point of story itself. The writing was okay. It wasn't particularly funny or insightful. The feminist 'twists' were kind of there...but kind of not. At the end we get brief summaries of the folktales that inspired each chapters but I still could not really see how Matsuda's stories were all that empowering for women (yes, she acknowledges sexual misconduct in the workplace or that woman are often regarded as wives or mothers but acknowledging these things hardly means challenging them).
Still I do think Matsuda presents her readers with a vivid portrayal of Japanese culture and society today. If you enjoy eccentric stories with a dose of magical realism you might want to give this collection a chance.

[Marie-Therese · Rating 4 out of 5]

Based around Japanese tales of the supernatural and featuring a wide variety of yūrei and yōkai (ghosts and monsters), Aoko Matsuda's Where the Wild Ladies Are is an airy, delicate, surprisingly touching literary confection that satisfies as it unsettles.

Matsuda has a light touch and her stories are frequently humorous and deliciously quirky but all have a strong feminist and non-conformist element as the characters (whether ghost or human) try to make their way through a world that shuts down their individuality and either actively persecutes or pointedly ignores them. Barriers between the human and the ghost realm are very porous in this book of slightly linked stories and it can sometimes be difficult to ascertain just where a character stands at first. This isn't a drawback though, as it gives the narratives a complexity they might otherwise lack. I do think this book is probably best appreciated by a reader who already knows a little bit about Japanese ghosts and their lore, but it's so much fun and so gently thoughtful that I'd hate to limit its audience, so I'd recommend it to anyone who liked Convenience Store Woman, Kitchen, or similar books.

[Melki · Rating 3 out of 5]

The ability to appear as a ghost was proof of an iron will.

I really enjoyed the first two stories in this collection, but after that, I can't remember a single thing I read. I guess I was expecting a little more of a ghosts-show-up-and-deliver-a-slap-on-the-head-to-those-who-need-it vibe, and these tales didn't quite deliver on that. There were some great ghost quotes, though.

The numbers of people with the levels of passion it takes to become a ghost are decreasing every year.

(I blame Netflix.)

[Teresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

When a friend told me about this collection that she’d loved, it sounded like my kind of thing: feminist retellings of traditional Japanese spooky tales. I particularly liked the updated quirkiness, the use of ghosts, and their liminal spaces between this world and another. But I think I would’ve appreciated the stories more if I’d known the original tales first, as a Japanese readership would. I think that’s why several of the stories fell flat for me, though the first two stories are excellent and all had wonderful imagery. There’s a section in the back that gives the inspiration for each story and that was helpful.

[Mariana · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5!
Leyendas típicas japonesas pero con un toque moderno y feminista. Me gustó, sobre todo que al final trae un capitulo en donde explica cuáles son las versiones originales de las historias adaptadas. Creo que para sacarle todo el jugo vale la pena estar familiarizado un poco con el folklore japonés, pero aunque no sea así, se disfruta.
Aunque al principio parece inconexas, todas las historias se van hilando y parecen tener en común la existencia de una misteriosa compañía que hace incienso para que puedas ver a los espíritus de tus seres queridos.
Mis historias favoritas fueron las de kitsune (una mujer que descubre su verdadera naturaleza y acepta quien es) y la historia sobre el esqueleto que encuentran pescando en el río (soy pésima recordando títulos, jajaja).
Un libro divertido, creativo y que le da un aire fresco a estos espíritus femeninos.

[Caro the Helmet Lady · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun fact - quite unintentionally I started reading this book full of ghosts on the last day of Obon, an annual Japanese holiday when the spirits of families and ancestors travel back to this world.
And I honestly didn't expect this book to be such a pleasant read - lightly humorous, with a healthy pinch of feminism and a bit of a slice of Japanese life. Where the Wild Ladies Are is a collection of modern ghost stories loosely based on traditional Japanese ghost stories or legends. So if you consider reading it you better be ready for googling! Or you can check the Author's inspirations in the end of the book - at least in my edition there was an index. Light and fun read, but not shallow at all.

[fatma · Rating 4 out of 5]

An absolute delight of a short story collection.

The stories of Where the Wild Ladies Are are filled with all sorts of fantastical things: ghosts, frog guardians, and hauntings aplenty. And yet no matter how seemingly discordant these things may be, they come together beautifully in Matsuda's hands.

Each of these stories comprises a small part of a bigger picture, and the more you read the collection, the more insight you gain into the threads connecting one to the other, the ways in which themes or characters or myths reverberate throughout their narratives.

And what narratives they are. Matsuda's stories are playful yet tender, invested in moments of personal importance to their characters. The plots of these stories may be far-flung--what with all the ghosts and various other fantastical goings-on--but Matsuda always maintains her focus on a compassionate and sympathetic treatment of her characters. Oh, and the writing is just delightful: like a bubble, almost as if it conjures something out of nothing. It's simple but affecting, clean and precise.

Where the Wild Ladies Are is a breath of fresh air. I cannot recommend this one highly enough, especially if you love Japanese fiction and/or short story collections.

(Thanks so much to Soft Skull Press for providing me with an e-ARC of this via NetGalley!)

[Jin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have a soft spot for Japanese authors and I was really looking forward to read this short story collection. Even though the feminist re-telling of Japanese traditional ghost stories was refreshing, it was either sometimes too obvious or too flat to have any impact. I really liked the general atmosphere and how contemporary Japan was well portrayed using the Japanese ghost figures. The gender disparity, the focus on outward appearance of women and the indifference towards oneself and others are the main subjects of this book. Some stories were really good and entertaining (i.e. "Smartening up") and some of them were too plain, explaining too much. This book is ok for lovers of Japanese literature.

This book was picked up by the bookclub and we will discuss it in 2 weeks. Btw I also dislike the book cover, it doesn't have any impact and the layout is also not really inviting. I also think that "translated by" should not be as prominently placed on the cover as it is in this case..

[Inderjit Sanghera · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aoko’s retelling of various Japanese ghost stories are full of whimsy and wit, a veritable whirlpool of wonder, from the woman whose tryst with the ghost of the skeleton she fished out a river or the pusillanimous man who is visited by a pair of pushy undead salespeople. Indeed Aoko’s stories aren’t so much frightening as they are fantastical explorations of various human interactions, with the ghosts who appear in the stories retaining most of their human traits and a strong feminist theme running through the stories, many of which explore the role of women in contemporary Japan, especially ‘The Fox’, which is about a woman who fails to fulfil her consider potential and intelligence so as to not upset the men around her, but who able to reach her final apotheosis late in life when she is able to transform into a fox.

Another theme which runs through the stories is the aloof, almost detached personalities of most of the characters, who are content to remain on the peripheries of the world, curiously observing the often irrational behaviour of the people (and ghosts) around them. Their observations aren’t so much sociological as they are diffident deliberations on human nature, all of which add to the sense of strangeness and surrealism which Aoko weaves within the fabric of the stories. ‘Where the Wild Ladies Are’ is worth reading for the originality and fervent frivolity of the stories, of the Aoko’s brilliant ability to retell classical stories as contemporary explorations of Japanese life and society.

[Ivana - Diary of Difference · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wishlist | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Ko-fi



I loved this collection so much! “Where The Wild Ladies Are” is one of those books that I know I shall return to one day. I loved the folklore mentioned, myths, legends, history. A lot of the stories are based on Japanese folklore, and for me, this was a little introduction to it, with a lot of new information and knowledge to take into, but I really enjoyed it.

A lot of the characters are female, and I also quite enjoyed this – it brought what I think is a refreshing take. There are a lot of paranormal characters, events and it makes a great read if you’re in the mood for a soft spooky read. As I got through the end, I started to realise that some of the characters seem to be connected to each other, and figuring that out was a lot of fun, a bit like a mini puzzle to connect all dots.

I greatly recommend this book, and I will definitely add Matsuda Aoko to the list of writers I’d love to read more books from. Also, Polly Barton deserves a big mention for the incredible work she did as a translator. As is tradition with anthologies and books that have multiple stories in them, the final rating is the average rating of all stories combined (3.7, rounded to 4 stars). And below are my thoughts for every story individually.

1. The Peony Lanterns – ★★★

Shinzaburo is on his own during the Obon holiday, when suddenly, late in the night, someone knocks on his door. Two ladies are trying to sell him lanterns and the interaction is quite interesting. Light-hearted story, with a little mystery at the end, it’s a perfect story to start the book.

2. Smartening Up – ★★★

It started off weird, then a mild aunt appeared with a plot twist of her own. Since the aunt visited, the story became even weirder, but I was so impressed at how intrigued it made me. Very interesting, and I’ll keep the synopsis a secret, as I don’t want to give anything away!

“You can change your destiny simply by lifting the corners of your mouth. Good fortune comes spilling out of every smile.”

3. My Superpowers – ★★★★

A woman suffering from eczema is sharing her experience, and compares Oiwa and Okon’s face portrayals on TV to her own. She covers how people don’t always see past the skin condition, and how unfair that can be. They look at her as if she’s a monster – but this monster has feelings too! She speaks about embracing it, and referring to it as her superpower, and I love that way of thinking!

4. Quite a catch – ★★★★★

Shigemi-chan goes fishing one day, and against all odds, catches what happens to be the skeleton bones of Hina-chan. What she doesn’t expect, though, is for Hina-chan to visit her every night and offer gratitude. Even though it is a paranormal story, I loved how Shigemi-chan’s life improves for the better with this new found relationship. It shows that finding a person, you can change for the better.

5. The Jealous Type – ★★★★★

This was not a traditional ghost story like the others, but I enjoyed it a lot. I loved the psychological elements. The narrative of making jealousy into a good thing. That being jealous is a gift. The way the story is told is so intense, descriptive and intriguing. So far, it’s my favourite story in the collection.

6. Where The Wild Ladies Are – ★★★★★

Shigeru recently lost his mum and he’s now living on auto-pilot. Working at the production line for an incense factory suits him quite well. He one day hears something odd at his mother’s grave, and when he stops visiting so often, he begins to notice some weird things around him, such as ladies that eat tofu and reminding him of the Kitsune – fox spirits, all very similar to the creatures he encountered when he read a book called “Where The Wild Ladies Are” when he was little. I enjoyed this story very much. From his shift start, I was amused and intrigued!

“There are times when something that is more important to you than you ever know, more meaningful than you ever thought, is torn out of your hands and carried so far away that you can never get it back.”

7. Loved One – ★★★★

Even though there was a bit of humour in this story, it really gripped me. I loved the “customer service” aspect and the genuine care Mr. Tei showed. What stood out to me was the character being unable to smell and not knowing what osmanthus smells like. For people that can smell everything all the time, this is not a big deal, and it never crossed our mind. But for someone who has never known a certain smell, it’s a completely different ball game. I also can’t help but mention the love for the cat. I haven’t had a cat pet, but the description was beautiful and honest, and very heart-warming.

8. A Fox’s Life – ★★★

“How unfair society was! Male employees need to pretend to be capable of doing things they couldn’t do, while female employees had to pretend to be incapable of doing things they actually could do.”

Kuzuha grew up with people always telling her she looks like a fox. Everything she does – she always finds shortcuts and does it faster and better than anyone else. She decides to find a job and encounters a slightly different environment – she can do things better than the male employees, but she can’t voice that or attempt such a testament. I won’t reveal the rest of the story, so you can enjoy it at your own leisure, but I liked the portrayal of what Japanese working society looked like in the past. I can’t comment on the accuracy, but I loved how vividly it was described and the point of view Kuzuha presented, especially during the end of the story.

“Doing a job where you could put your talents to good use, where it was okay to go at things with everything you had, was wonderful.”

9. What She Can Do – ★★★★★

Amazing and heartwarming story about a mother and her child. Running away, she has to do two jobs to support her family. And when she goes for her night shift, and leaves the child alone, she prays she will return to the same sight. But little does the mum know, a ghost guardian angel visits every night and helps in a beautiful way. The story moved me and made me feel good in the end, despite the sorrow, sadness and pain I felt in the beginning. A truly remarkable story.

10. Enoki – ★★★

A story of Enoki, with her resin and burrs, that people think she has super-human powers and produces breast milk. A tale of two sides: being objectified and only worth what people think of you. In this case, people come to you because they need something. And the other side – being people’s only hope. A mother, whose milk has stopped, praying that your powers will keep her child alive. Interesting story, but I didn’t find it moving, despite the topic.

11. Silently Burning – ★★★★

“It’s hardly my fault if they decide to underestimate what a good woman like me is capable of, but I’m still relieved to see them looking pleased.”

Beautiful story about a young calligrapher, whose fate brings her to the Oshichi’s temple. I enjoyed learning about the stamp albums called “shuincho” and how much importance people give to their collections. I also enjoyed the story, the mystery surrounding Oshichi, and the little mystery aspect about the calligrapher in the end too.

12. A New Recruit – ★★

“It always struck me as very strange that even if you felt yourself the same as the person you were talking to, it didn’t necessarily mean the other person saw you in that regard.”

For some reason, I didn’t enjoy this story. I couldn’t connect with it and it didn’t invoke any major feelings in me, good or bad. I was slightly surprised that there was a mild spoiler for “The Sixth Sense” in there, so do thread carefully if you are not familiar with the plot and the twist at the end.

13. Team Sarashina – ★★

Again, a slightly underwhelming story in my opinion. I liked the team spirit, the dedication and competitiveness, but aside from that, it was just a description of a mysterious team that works for Mr. Tei.

14. A Day Off – ★★

This lady and her toad help women stay safe from being assaulted on the street. They walk together, or at a distance, and if a man approaches, they fend him off. Today is her day off and our heroine is struggling to get out of bed. Her motivation is low and she’s lost all faith in men. I think her day job has emotionally and psychologically drained her. The story had a sombre mood, unsurprisingly, but I didn’t enjoy it because there was no action and no ending to it.

15. Having a Blast – ★★★★★

A story based on the rakugo story San-nen-me (The Third Year), a dying woman makes a deal with her husband that if he remarries, she’ll come back to haunt the new wife. When the husband remarries, the lady has to first wait 3 years for her hair to grow, as people are shaved at their funerals. Like the story, here we have a woman that has just passed away, but when her husband remarries, she decides to not wait and visit him instantly, with her shaved hair. She’s decided she won’t let it grow back and starts rocking the Furiosa from Mad Max: Fury Road look. The story continues with the husband’s point of view when he dies, and then the second wife’s point of view as well. I love how these stories are connected and how all roads leads us back to Mr. Tei in the end.

16. The Missing One – ★★★

This tale was light-hearted and beautiful in its own way. A little family owned gift shop, and a lady finding her feet running the shop. I liked the ghost story, although more like a legend, and the encounter that occurred in the last few pages.

17. On High – ★★★★

A perfect end to such a rich collection of stories. Inspired by a play, and featuring a few characters we’ve been familiarised with before. Truly ending this collection on a high.

[Federica Rampi · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Avere un corpo mortale costituisce un fardello enorme, una restrizione non da poco.”

Le donne arrabbiate occupano un posto speciale nel folklore giapponese, sia da vive che da morte.
Molte delle storie più famose parlano di “fantasmi vendicativi”, che perseguitano per vendetta.

La raccolta di racconti di Matsuda Aoko trae spunto da una serie di racconti popolari tradizionali giapponesi, ma è ambientata in un’epoca decisamente contemporanea.
La maggior parte delle storie da cui l’autrice trae ispirazione erano originariamente gli yokai (storie di creature o entità soprannaturali), poi trasformati in spettacoli kabuki e rakugo.

Nel Paese delle Donne Selvagge gli spiriti femminili della tradizione giapponese si ripresentano sotto forma di venditrici spregiudicate, babysitter per madri single ,zie tornate dall’oltretomba per liberare le nipoti dalla retorica dell’amore romantico e dalla schiavitù della depilazione.

L’approccio di Matsuda al materiale originale va oltre il trasferimento diretto della narrazione in un ambito moderno: lo utilizza per dare un senso alle nostre esperienze nel mondo.

Il risultato sono storie schiette inquietanti e ironiche

Qui si incontrano i fantasmi dei diversi racconti, pronti a scatenare la loro energia sovrannaturale in competizioni aziendali nella vendita di incenso , ridicolizzando l’aspetto commerciale di culti e usanze, che all’estero è un vero business

Nel Giappone del misticismo e del maschilismo, la voce femminista di Matsudo Aoko investe la società ossessionata da produttività e consumi.
"Poveri vivi, poveri esseri umani”
I veri mostri di questa collezione non sono gli spiriti , ma gli spettri creati da una società capitalista e patriarcale: luoghi di lavoro in cui le donne sono costantemente sottovalutate, le voci che giudicano gli altri, gli stereotipi di genere. Tuttavia, al di là dell’ottima scrittura e della scorrevolezza del testo, l’intento dell’autrice non va oltre il raccontare seppur in maniera brillante questa trasposizione contemporanea
No, l’amarezza e il risentimento non sono i nostri poteri speciali, possiamo fare di più che non lasciarci andare alla gelosia irrazionale e alle emozioni negative (“Forse non te ne rendi conto, ma la tua gelosia è un grande dono.”

E se proprio si vogliono combattere i diktat della moda, non è necessario passare dall’ossessione per l’estetica al suo esatto opposto
Si può semplicemente accettare che il tempo passi con indulgenza, e andare avanti
E soprattutto la soluzione al patriarcato non è il matriarcato, ma una società egualitaria
Tre stelle, perché lo sforzo narrativo di regalare a queste creature compassione e redenzione è commovente e palpabile.

[Puty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kenapa ya banyak hantu Asia yang berwujud perempuan? Dari beberapa diskusi dan artikel, saya menemukan argumen bahwa di daerah yang budaya patriarkinya sangat kental, perempuan kerap ada dalam posisi yang rentan, sulit untuk melawan ataupun balas dendam, sehingga mereka baru bisa membalas dendam setelah jadi hantu, melakukan teror dan bergentayangan. Masuk akal. Sebagaimana, 'Where the Wild Ladies Are' menjadi kumpulan cerita hantu perempuan yang kemudian dikembangkan secara kreatif menjadi buku yang menggugat kesetaraan gender dan relevan dengan situasi hari ini.

Buku 'Where the Wild Ladies Are' terdiri dari 17 cerpen yang terinspirasi dan dikembangkan dari kisah-kisah mistis dan supernatural Jepang yang melibatkan arwah, hantu dan siluman perempuan. Pengembangan ini dibawa ke konteks modern secara brilian oleh Aoko Matsuda. Jangan khawatir, jatuhnya satire dan lucu kok, walau tetap saja ada bagian-bagian yang membuat merinding juga.

Contohnya cerita pembuka, 'Memoles Diri' yang melibatkan Kiyo hime (yokai.com/kiyohime/) yang gigih memperjuangkan cintanya sampai kekuatannya membara, kemudian dihubungkan dengan karakter di zaman sekarang yang cepat menyerah, termasuk kepada 'kesepakatan' bahwa bulu di tubuh perempuan harus dihilangkan demi menyenangkan laki-laki. Membacanya membuat kita cengar-cengir tapi mungkin juga tersindir.

Cerita-cerita di buku ini juga saling berkaitan. Hampir semuanya diawali dengan kisah asli Jepang-nya baru kemudian dilanjutkan dengan cerita pengembangannya. Ada cerita-cerita yang sangat girl power / women support women, ada yang absurd, membawa kehampaan tapi ada pula yang manis.

Menurut saya seru banget dan wajib dibaca oleh penyuka sastra Jepang, penggemar buku-buku bertema keperempuanan dan tentunya: penggemar terjemahannya Ulan alias Asri Pratiwi Wulandari. Saya selalu suka terjemahannya yang puitis tapi juga segar dan berani :D

[Emily M · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really fun set of short stories, inspired by Japanese ghost stories and folklore but with a feminist twist. My favorites include the woman who acquires a ghost girlfriend after fishing a skeleton out of the river and the older lady who discovers she's been a fox all along.
Full review: https://ajungleoftales.blogspot.com/2...

2024 re-read:
These still hold up really well. I noticed more of the connections between stories this time (they all take place in a shared universe, several directly around a company that specializes in supernatural stuff).

I also noticed a connection to the Wano arc of 'One Piece' (which I'm currently working my way through):
The Okiku ghost in one of the source stories was a "steadfast woman" who refused to marry her samurai master (and got thrown down a well). Okiku in 'One Piece' IS a (trans woman) samurai, but when we meet her she is working as a tea house waitress and persistently refusing an (apparently) higher class man who keeps hitting on her. Too bad original Okiku didn't have a sword!

[Kam Sova · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Kendinizi savunmamızı sağlayan o sivri dişlerinizi sökmenize gerek yok."

Çok başarılı. İlgiyle okudum. İlk önce asıl halk masallarını okumak ve Japon kültürü hakkında bilgi sahibi olmak da çok güzeldi.

Feminist bakış açısıyla yazılmasına rağmen bunu direkt şekilde yapmak yerine cinsiyet dinamiklerini sık sık göz önüne sererek feminist düşünceyi biraz daha kısık tonda tutmuş diye düşünüyorum.

[Charlott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Feminist retellings of classic Japanese ghost stories? Yes please, is what I thought but what I really did not expect when I picked up Matsuda Aoko’s Where The Wild Ladies Are (translated from Japanese by Polly Barton) was how incredible comforting this short story collection is.
If you are looking for gory, scary ghost stories, this is not the collection for you, but for everyone else: this book is incredible. Aoko takes stories, myth, and figures and re-imagines these taking up issues such as workplace sexism, grief, unruly bodies, societal norms for men and women, and more. She gives women agency which they often had been denied before and probes the ways patriarchy hurts many people. She does so with kindness and tenderness towards her protagonists and a lot of humour - which is sometimes more subtle and sometimes makes you laugh out loud. Some of my favourite stories included a ghost helping a single mother who does sex work to care for her child, an aunt coming back to give life (and body hair) advice to her niece, a wife who is really happy as a ghost, a fox-woman, and incense which can make your most beloved dead person reappear as a ghost. There is also a tender love story between a woman and a female ghost.
Aoko plays around with different formats and each story has a distinct feel. But while every story can be read by itself, some of them are interconnected and characters reappear (like the elusive Mr Tei and his mystery company) which makes it very rewarding to read the entire collection chronologically. For some stories, there is a brief summary of the source story put in front of it which made it very easy to value the re-telling aspect of the story even if you weren’t as well-versed in Japanese ghost stories so far.

I absolutely loved this – more than I could do justice in an IG caption. So far, my favourite book of August and if you are still looking for a book to pick up for #WITmonth than this one would be a great choice certainly.

[Miriam Cihodariu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely, lovely, lovely!

If this was just composed of Japanese folk tales retold, it would have been already worth reading and interesting enough. But with the contemporary (mild) feminist twist to the stories, the collection becomes pure gold.

Body positivity, adventurous and nurturing models of femininity side by side, there's plenty to love in this beautiful collection of tales. A classic for (almost) all ages.

[Come Musica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Matsuda Aoko il 7 dicembre 2023 ha ricevuto il Premio Tokyo > Roma - Parole in transito. La premiazione è avvenuta presso lo Spazio Rai nel Centro Congressi la Nuvola durante la manifestazione Più Libri Più Liberi.

Una raccolta di dodici racconti che hanno come protagoniste delle donne, che scoprono il loro lato selvaggio, nell'interregno dove non c'è un confine netto tra vivi e morti.

Matsuda Aoko nei suoi racconti offre storie di trasformazione, piene di donne fieramente indipendenti o donne che imparano a celebrare e sfruttare il loro stato di esseri in un certo senso sfavoriti e in ogni caso donne fuori dal coro.

“Lei sa di poter rendere felici quelle due anime, la madre e il suo bambino. È molto orgogliosa di questa sua capacità, perché sa che è qualcosa che loro, gli altri, non farebbero mai. Pur volendo, non sarebbero mai in grado di farlo, mentre lei sì che può. Perché è la sua missione ed è in possesso dell’energia e della conoscenza necessarie. È questo, in fondo, che la rende molto diversa da loro. Osserva la mamma mentre stringe con infinito amore la mano del figlio traendo un grande sospiro, li guarda a lungo e annuisce soddisfatta.”

Donne che abbracciano il loro lato selvaggio come la donna che si scopre volpe bianca.

“Infine Kuzuha, la splendida volpe bianca, aveva cominciato a correre. Una forza esplosiva si sprigionava da ogni singola cellula del suo corpo, un’energia straripante che le permetteva di sfrecciare come un fulmine nella foresta verde e rigogliosa, la terra che schizzava a destra e sinistra ogni volta che appoggiava le zampe al suolo.
È fantastico!, pensava la volpe bianca.”

Donne che imparano a non reprimere il proprio lato più profondo, perché non è bene uniformarsi “Com’era monotona e noiosa la vita umana! Stentava a credere di essere riuscita a reprimere quell’energia selvaggia così a lungo, continuando a tradire se stessa per tanti anni. Era stato un grave errore mettere da parte la sua vera natura e non esprimere ciò che aveva dentro. Ma come ho potuto?, continuava a pensare. Sono stata una stupida a lasciarmi imbrigliare dalle circostanze! Ora le sembrava tutto così ridicolo e insensato.”

Perché solo così, tempo e spazio realmente ci apparterranno, per sempre e comunque.

“Nel silenzio, che regnava assoluto ora che non c’era più anima viva, si distingueva con chiarezza lo scricchiolio delle assi di legno sotto i suoi piedi. Dentro di sé, nel profondo dell’anima, Tomihime sapeva. Quella città, ora avvolta dall’oscurità, puntellata qua e là dalle luci delle case e delle insegne al neon dei negozi, le apparteneva. E quel bianco e radioso castello era un tutt’uno con lei. Quel posto era suo, per sempre e comunque.”

[Jassmine · Rating 4 out of 5]

How unfair society was! Male employees had to pretend to be capable of doing things they couldn't do, while female employees had to pretend to be incapable of doing things they actually could do. Over the years, how many women had seen their talents magically disappearing in that way?

I have been listening to this short-story collection while on quite active vacation, so... I have no notes and it's quite difficult for me to review. So this one will be short!

I really loved this, the audio was great, the translation was great (because it was just seamless and invisible), some stories were better than others - which is to be expected - and the feminism in the stories was more in a forefront that I was expecting. The stories are also inter-linked, some in more obvious way than others and I just really enjoyed that aspect.

My favourites are Smartening Up short-story that reminded me a little bit of the unhinged treasure that is Sayaka Murata. It is a story about a relationship to your body-hair, which yeah... is a topic I enjoy a lot lately. The second favourite being Quite a Catch which is a story about catching yourself a ghost girlfriend in the river. I do love sapphic stories and this one was just delicious.

The only story that wasn't enjoyable to me was The Jealous Type where we spend most of our time in a head of very toxic person and it was just uncomfortable. Definitely though, there wasn't short-story that I would hate, on the contrary I enjoyed most of them - although knowing the original stories better would have probably helped. There are some notes explaining some of the context, but I could use more of it honestly. (I also feel like that maybe in my edition - the yellow one - the notes were shorter? They felt longer in the audio, but I didn't actually check.)


Would recommend, although this definitely isn't a horror collection. There are some spooky elements (like ghosts), but... they really don't do scary stuff? Will definitely read more Aoko Matsuda when more is available!

Free short-stories by Matsuda: https://granta.com/contributor/aoko-m...
BRed at WBtM: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Arthur Marchetto · Rating 4 out of 5]

Uma proposta muito interessante para revisitar as figuras femininas das narrativas tradicionais japonesas. Sem caminhar por questões do sagrado feminino, como outros propostas parecidas, Matsuda questiona como as mulheres são retratadas em diversos tipos de histórias: peças de teatro (em sua maioria, kabuki), histórias folclóricas e outras formas orais, como o rakugo.

Os contos são bastante regulares, com dois ou três me parecendo fora da curva, e abordam as releituras de formas menos óbvias ou assustadoras. Também é interessante como Matsuda faz uma espécie de costura entre todas as histórias até que, aos poucos, o aspecto episódico da coletânea se transforma em algo mais complexo e interligado.

As notas presentes no final do livro também enriquecem os diálogos que Matsuda propõe no livro.

[Rosamund Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

This collection of interconnected stories focuses on traditional Japanese tales, stories from kabuki theatre, and creatures from Japanese myth and legend. Feminist retellings of traditional stories are nothing new, but it's interesting to read them from a Japanese point of view, particularly as most of the stories are new to me. Mastuda approaches the stories in different ways, putting traditional characters into a modern context, or examining the life of ghosts after the people they originally haunted have moved on. I liked the straightforward style of writing, and found these stories quirky and entertaining, but few of them gripped me, and I didn't find them very emotionally rich.

[Netanella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable collection of modern stories based upon Japan folk stories and ghost stories.

Group read over at Worlds Beyond the Margins: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[hans · Rating 4 out of 5]

A startling collection-- a mashup of myth and modern short fictions inspired by the traditional Japanese ghost and yōkai tales. Oddly interesting and witty.

Love that it includes the notes of each adapted folktales at the back, which some tales and legend honestly too devastating and cruel but somehow Matsuda retelling it with combination of surreal and cynical making it more enjoyable and phenomenal.

A ghostly nagger aunt and a dude at loose ends after the suicide of his mom, strange saleswomen popped up suddenly in your living room selling lanterns, a silent babysitter who babysits and cleans while the single mom is out working, a lover ghost who visits every night for a bath, a dead wife promised to come back before the husband remarried (Having A Blast was actually a fun story though at first I thought she gonna haunt the husband) and my most favorite about a temple calligrapher who writes on temple stamps for visitors' shuinchō.

That magical pinch of some with interlinked narrative and characters (I've seen Mr. Tei the most-- he's a manager at a company that said to produce goods and offer range of different services, if you're lucky and has talent no matter you're dead or alive, you could probably get recruited), of culture and observations, despair and strength.

"People assume that ghosts must be up to their eyes in resentment and all, but that’s a misperception. I feel as if I had a lot more grudges when I was alive than I do now."

The advertisement lookalike narrative somehow adding more amusement to my reading especially The Jealous Type story, it feels like I am reading a pamphlet of Mr Tei's company with his employees experiences and recommendation. Nevertheless I love most of the stories and Matsuda's style is sort of whimsical but poignant, a great unusual spirited stories where humans are consoled, challenged and guided. "Where do souls go after they’ve disappeared, I wonder?"

[Sahitya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably more of a 3.5 but I’m rounding up.

This is another surprise addition to my read list this year. I think I saw this collection being mentioned somewhere after being nominated for an award, and as it’s stories are inspired from Japanese folklore and legends, I couldn’t resist picking it up.

I thought it was quite interesting that each of these seemingly different stories are connected and the writing was very engaging. Most of the stories were enjoyable to read too even if I didn’t always understand what the author was trying to convey through them. And as most of these are ghost stories, it isn’t surprising that loneliness and grief seems to be the common thread across most of them. But I also liked that the author depicts the various kinds of issues women face in their lives, and what they are able to accomplish when they decide to challenge the age old norms and take their destiny into their own hands. And the notes at the end with details about each legend or folktale that inspired these stories was a wealth of knowledge I really appreciated.

I also listened to the audiobook and Sarah Skaer’s narration is pretty fun. I particularly loved her various voices and accents, as well as exclamations whenever they were warranted. I think I enjoyed the book more because of the narration. Definitely recommend it to anyone who would want to explore slightly offbeat, whimsical, and sometimes unexpectedly funny supernatural stories.

Smartening Up

While I can’t say I understood everything in this story, I loved the message that a woman shouldn’t have to change herself, both appearance and personality wise, just to get a man; nor should she excuse bad behavior from them just for the sake of companionship. The commentary on body hair was definitely very interesting too, and exactly what I always felt.

The Peony Lanterns

I thought it was a bit funny but another story where I wasn’t sure what was happening. Maybe it was just about the push the main character needed to stop his wallowing and look for a new job.

My Superpower

I thought this was a great story about how we shouldn’t judge people on their appearance because we know nothing about what’s happening with them; and we should never forget that while we are judging someone, we are being judged in return.

Quite a Catch

I didn’t expect to read a story of a woman who finds herself disillusioned by the men in her life and ultimately finds love with a ghost. It was surprisingly sweet and earnest.

The Jealous Type

I’m seriously not sure how I feel about this story of an extremely possessive and jealous woman. It felt a bit cathartic in the beginning but then it devolved into too much destruction.

Where the Wild Ladies Are

The story of a young man trying to get through life after the tragic loss of his mother, and a mom who doesn’t want her son to suffer from grief. This was both bittersweet and warm but weird at the same time.

Loved One

Another story of grief and loneliness but I thought the main character’s relationship with her cat was endearing and I wasn’t surprised by her choices at all.

A Fox’s Life

I’m not sure if it was the author’s intent but I thought this story was about how demure women are considered the good ones and women who live banal existences without making waves are preferred. But it does end on the note that things are changing, especially because are no longer content with playing invisible roles.

What She Can Do

A very understandable tale about a young single mother struggling to get by while also facing the criticisms from everyone for making the decision for divorce. This is a story that clearly focuses on the childcare and support such mothers need.

Enoki

Another story about the struggles of motherhood and how humans tend to sexualize everything without any meaning or purpose, except perhaps to get some perverse joy out of it. I liked the twist at the end.

Silently Burning

This story is the perfect description of “don’t judge a book by its cover”. And how women are always underestimated but then elicit surprises when they naturally exceed expectations.

A New Recruit

This can be considered a story about memories and nostalgia, and how important it can be to keep them close to our heart.

Team Sarashina

This was a tale about how formidable a united group of women can be if they decide to strive for winning and aren’t scared of what anyone else will think about it.

A Day Off

I could totally empathize with the main character here who supports women being harassed or molested, and is just in despair because she doesn’t know if a life without all this is possible for any woman to find.

Having a Blast

I think this one really depicted how a wife and husband can view their marriage and relationship very differently. Very interesting take on how the women might feel after they no longer have a husband to take care of.

The Missing One

A young woman trying to run her own business because she wants to work for herself, and trying to imagine all the worst possible scenarios so that she wouldn’t be surprised when something bad happened, seemed like a very realistic character to me. I also loved the little bit of history weaved through this story along with a lovely meet cute.

On High

Interesting story of kind of a guardian angel (or ghost) staying on to guard the castle as well as the town, but feeling lonely because she has been doing it for too long and wondering maybe if she should give it up.

[Story · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars. A couple of very good stories in this collection but the rest left me cold.

[Afi (WhatAfiReads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a wild ride for 17 collection of short stories, and honestly, overall , I loved the idea and the whole arrangement of the book and how it came together at the end.

Personal Ratings : 4🌟

Before delving into this book, my advice is to go to the last page and read some of the folklores and legends of the Japan before diving into each story as you will get more understanding of what the author was pointing out in some of her stories.

The collection of stories are a mix of legends, told in quite an interesting way. Some are told in the perspective of the ghosts, some are told in the perspective of a human that can see ghosts and some are stories from encounters of the unknown. The author has quite a roundabout way in telling the story but I liked that on the surface, it seemed like an ordinary retelling, but when dived in deeper, its more on the social commentary especially, how everything that the folklores have in common was the Abuse on Women and how it centres around the Misconceptions and Mistreatment that Women had to face . In some ways, most horror tales or of women ghosts haunting for vengeance, and its all due to the cruelties of men, that is highlighted in each story, subtly and indirectly.

While there are some stories that are just subpar, there are some really well-written ones that actually made me teared up. One of my favourites and most memorable in this book was Enoki where it originated from the legend of the hackleberry tree.

"nowadays, with the humans' deep-rooted devotion to the religion of breastfeeding, women still suffer a lot, but the invention of formula must have improved the situation at least a little. There is a big difference between having something to serve as a replacement when the chips are down and having no such thing. Having other options is crucial. Women suffered in the past because they had none."

Enoki hits me the hardest as it showed how, even in the modern age, there are women still suffering from the societal standards in raising their children and even some women had been exploited. This story was the highlight in showing that legends are there to teach us a lesson, even if its told in a horrific way, it showed that ghosts and yokais are made of souls that seeked for vengeance, specifically if they has been wronged in their past life.

Some other stories that really stood out to me were :
1) Smartening Up
2) The Peony Lanterns
3) My Superpower

These four stories really resonated with me, and the other stories are an interesting touch to the whole narrative of the collection of short stories.

Overall, it was quite an interesting read, and one that had left me with goosebumps at some. Would love if some of the stories were explained more in detail especially in legendary part of the tale, but overall, the execution was quite smooth. Loved that there are some recurring characters in the chapters and its all somehow interconnected in a sense, which for me is quite an interesting way to curate the story.