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信仰
世界中の読者を熱狂させる、村田沙耶香の最新短篇&エッセイ
「なあ、俺と、新しくカルト始めない？」
好きな言葉は「原価いくら？」で、
現実こそが正しいのだと、強く信じている永岡。
同級生から、カルト商法を始めようと誘われた彼女は――。
信じることの危うさと切実さに痺れる8篇。
〈その他収録作〉
★生存
65歳の時点で生きている可能性を数値化した、
「生存率」が何よりも重要視されるようになった未来の日本。
生存率「C」の私は、とうとう「野人」になることを決めた。
★書かなかった小説
「だいたいルンバと同じくらいの便利さ」という友達の一言に後押しされて、クローンを4体買うことにした。
自分を夏子Aとし、クローンたちを夏子B、C、D、Eと呼ぶことにする。
そして5人の夏子たちの生活が始まった。
★最後の展覧会
とある概念を持つ星を探して、1億年近く旅を続けてきたK。
彼が最後に辿り着いた星に残っていたのは、1体のロボットだけだった。
Kはロボットと「テンランカイ」を開くことにする。
ほか全8篇。
「なあ、俺と、新しくカルト始めない？」
好きな言葉は「原価いくら？」で、
現実こそが正しいのだと、強く信じている永岡。
同級生から、カルト商法を始めようと誘われた彼女は――。
信じることの危うさと切実さに痺れる8篇。
〈その他収録作〉
★生存
65歳の時点で生きている可能性を数値化した、
「生存率」が何よりも重要視されるようになった未来の日本。
生存率「C」の私は、とうとう「野人」になることを決めた。
★書かなかった小説
「だいたいルンバと同じくらいの便利さ」という友達の一言に後押しされて、クローンを4体買うことにした。
自分を夏子Aとし、クローンたちを夏子B、C、D、Eと呼ぶことにする。
そして5人の夏子たちの生活が始まった。
★最後の展覧会
とある概念を持つ星を探して、1億年近く旅を続けてきたK。
彼が最後に辿り着いた星に残っていたのは、1体のロボットだけだった。
Kはロボットと「テンランカイ」を開くことにする。
ほか全8篇。
160 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2019
11 people are currently reading
902 people want to read
About the author
Sayaka Murata
40 books9,021 followersSayaka Murata (in Japanese, 村田 沙耶香) is one of the most exciting up-and-coming writers in Japan today.
She herself still works part time in a convenience store, which gave her the inspiration to write Convenience Store Woman (Konbini Ningen). She debuted in 2003 with Junyu (Breastfeeding), which won the Gunzo Prize for new writers. In 2009 she won the Noma Prize for New Writers with Gin iro no uta (Silver Song), and in 2013 the Mishima Yukio Prize for Shiro-oro no machi no, sono hone no taion no (Of Bones, of Body Heat, of Whitening City). Convenience Store Woman won the 2016 Akutagawa Award. Murata has two short stories published in English (both translated by Ginny Tapley Takemori): "Lover on the Breeze" (Ruptured Fiction(s) of the Earthquake, Waseda Bungaku, 2011) and "A Clean Marriage" (Granta 127: Japan, 2014).
She herself still works part time in a convenience store, which gave her the inspiration to write Convenience Store Woman (Konbini Ningen). She debuted in 2003 with Junyu (Breastfeeding), which won the Gunzo Prize for new writers. In 2009 she won the Noma Prize for New Writers with Gin iro no uta (Silver Song), and in 2013 the Mishima Yukio Prize for Shiro-oro no machi no, sono hone no taion no (Of Bones, of Body Heat, of Whitening City). Convenience Store Woman won the 2016 Akutagawa Award. Murata has two short stories published in English (both translated by Ginny Tapley Takemori): "Lover on the Breeze" (Ruptured Fiction(s) of the Earthquake, Waseda Bungaku, 2011) and "A Clean Marriage" (Granta 127: Japan, 2014).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
January 15, 2022
I read Sayaka Murata's Convenience Store Woman some time ago and reviewed it here. Re-reading my review in the light of this short story by the same writer I notice how I made the book say something that the author might not have wanted it to say. I talked about how the book is an indictment of conformism in Japan, and while there's certainly such an element in Murata's writing, it is very subtle and nuanced. What I didn't elaborate on at the time of the review, was how Murata's writing weirds things out (I'm deliberately using a term from the short story), how it makes things feel strange, uncanny. Murata is no Chekhov, nor is she a female Julian Barnes. By which I mean: she is not, and does not want, or pretend to be, a humanist writer. She does not say something about humanity, the human spirit or human desire. So what does she say? I'll try to illustrate by a few examples from this short story.
The story begins with a hook: two old schoolmates meet at a class re-union and subsequently one of them, Ishige, tries to lure the other, Nagaoka, into a business project of a scam cult.
‘Hey, Nagaoka, wanna start a new cult with me?’
That's how the story begins. Nagaoka is very suspicious of Ishige's motives and his aptitude for setting up such a cult. In fact, she thinks he's stupid and does not hesitate to say so at various points in the story. Not only is Ishige stupid, other classmates are as well. X is stupid, who's so stupid to buy the cult story, we'll have at laugh at Ishige and his stupid ideas at the tea party tomorrow. So Nagaoka agrees to meet with Ishige because she's pretty sure he has some stupid thing to sell her and she's planning to have a laugh at him with with her mates the next day. Indeed, Ishige tries to bring her into the whole cult thing, and Nagaoka is mostly uninterested until another classmate makes her appearance at the meeting. Nagaoka recalls that this classmate had been involved with a water filter scam a few years ago and had lost her credibility when the scam became known, but something in the other woman's demeanour makes her stay a little bit longer. Eventually, Nagaoka leaves the meeting as she has an appointment at a beauty clinic for a nostril hair whitening procedure and the other woman gives her a lift.
The following day, Nagaoka tells the story of the fake cult to her friends and they all have a laugh at Ishige, as she had predicted. But then we enter Nagaoka's world and get to know more about why she feels intrigued by Ishige and his fake cult proposition despite her groundedness in reality and her sensible nature. Indeed, Nagaoka has an obsession with reality, which started out as an aversion to getting fleeced by unscupulous sellers. As a result of this, Nagaoka developed a habit of checking the cost price on every occasion and warning her friends not to buy X product if it was above that price. For some time, this habit served her well, however, her friends gradually started feeling annoyed by her persistence. She began to lose friends over her inflexibity. People wanted to dream a little, and if that meant spending a bit more, what's the harm. Eventually Nagaoka became isolated from her friends and had to confront the fact that her obsession with reality had backfired. Maybe this new cult could teach her to respond to reality in more imaginative ways.
I'm not going to spoil the ending for you. The short story is available for free here and you can find out for yourselves. For me what stood out was Murata's ability to make the reader enter a world that is harsh, cruel, and devoid of any redemption. Trademark aspects of Convenience Store Woman were present here as well: the pursuit of social and financial advancement at all costs, the exclusion of those who have done less well, the superficiality and cruelty of the Japanese middle classes. But what makes this story different from others with the same message is the power of Murata's storytelling, the perceived absence of feeling at branding others stupid or dumb without any sense of shame or embarassment, a lack of empathy (accentuated by those characters in the story that deserve emphathy). At the same time, there were subtle references to the film Parasite which I loved despite its cruelty and violence. If you enjoyed Convenience Store Woman, you'll fall in love with this!
The story begins with a hook: two old schoolmates meet at a class re-union and subsequently one of them, Ishige, tries to lure the other, Nagaoka, into a business project of a scam cult.
‘Hey, Nagaoka, wanna start a new cult with me?’
That's how the story begins. Nagaoka is very suspicious of Ishige's motives and his aptitude for setting up such a cult. In fact, she thinks he's stupid and does not hesitate to say so at various points in the story. Not only is Ishige stupid, other classmates are as well. X is stupid, who's so stupid to buy the cult story, we'll have at laugh at Ishige and his stupid ideas at the tea party tomorrow. So Nagaoka agrees to meet with Ishige because she's pretty sure he has some stupid thing to sell her and she's planning to have a laugh at him with with her mates the next day. Indeed, Ishige tries to bring her into the whole cult thing, and Nagaoka is mostly uninterested until another classmate makes her appearance at the meeting. Nagaoka recalls that this classmate had been involved with a water filter scam a few years ago and had lost her credibility when the scam became known, but something in the other woman's demeanour makes her stay a little bit longer. Eventually, Nagaoka leaves the meeting as she has an appointment at a beauty clinic for a nostril hair whitening procedure and the other woman gives her a lift.
The following day, Nagaoka tells the story of the fake cult to her friends and they all have a laugh at Ishige, as she had predicted. But then we enter Nagaoka's world and get to know more about why she feels intrigued by Ishige and his fake cult proposition despite her groundedness in reality and her sensible nature. Indeed, Nagaoka has an obsession with reality, which started out as an aversion to getting fleeced by unscupulous sellers. As a result of this, Nagaoka developed a habit of checking the cost price on every occasion and warning her friends not to buy X product if it was above that price. For some time, this habit served her well, however, her friends gradually started feeling annoyed by her persistence. She began to lose friends over her inflexibity. People wanted to dream a little, and if that meant spending a bit more, what's the harm. Eventually Nagaoka became isolated from her friends and had to confront the fact that her obsession with reality had backfired. Maybe this new cult could teach her to respond to reality in more imaginative ways.
I'm not going to spoil the ending for you. The short story is available for free here and you can find out for yourselves. For me what stood out was Murata's ability to make the reader enter a world that is harsh, cruel, and devoid of any redemption. Trademark aspects of Convenience Store Woman were present here as well: the pursuit of social and financial advancement at all costs, the exclusion of those who have done less well, the superficiality and cruelty of the Japanese middle classes. But what makes this story different from others with the same message is the power of Murata's storytelling, the perceived absence of feeling at branding others stupid or dumb without any sense of shame or embarassment, a lack of empathy (accentuated by those characters in the story that deserve emphathy). At the same time, there were subtle references to the film Parasite which I loved despite its cruelty and violence. If you enjoyed Convenience Store Woman, you'll fall in love with this!
May 27, 2022
Reality is your illusion that you must live with.
I'm not sure what will entice you to read this short story if this doesn't..
I'm not sure what will entice you to read this short story if this doesn't..
November 4, 2022
Faith is a short story by Sayaka Murata who manages to give food for thought in just a few pages. It explores many themes through the eyes of our female narrator, who is trying to fit in while she knows that her own world view is better. With fast pace and clever writing, Sayaka Murata keeps things interesting and thrilling.
October 16, 2023
‘Hey, Nagaoka, wanna start a new cult with me?’
I shrugged and took a sip from my third caffè latte.
‘That’s a bit vague, isn’t it? What exactly are you trying to rope me into?’
Ishige lowered his voice and leaned in closer. ‘No, no, I’m not trying to rope you into anything. I’m proposing that you and I should start a new business in the form of a cult.’
Murata is always sure to provide with a thought-provoking, chewy, weird read and this short-story isn't an exception to that. I would say that this one is on the lower end of the spectrum of the weirdometer, but still... it's Murata, it's weird even if people don't run around wearing sweaters made from human hair and having sex with curtains.
For me this story was mainly about capitalism, especially capitalistic myths. The story makes excellent links between cults, faith, scams and capitalism and I was SO here for that. But there is also more elements flowing around that make this story both more interesting and messy.
This was pretty great 4,5⭐, would recommend!
Read it for free here: https://granta.com/faith-sayaka-murata/
BRed at WBtM: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
November 19, 2023
『信仰』が私の中では1番。読んでいてだんだん何か正しいのか。それこそ現実が何かわからなくなってくる世界観に主人公とともに、引き込まれる感覚がハマる。
『気持ちだという罪』で、作者の葛藤が素直に書かれているところも私が村田沙耶香さんを好きな理由。社会は色んなことにレーベルを貼って、それを利用して、言うならば、人の生命を消費することに必死。多くの人が、自らが注目されている、成功している時こそ、自分を客観視することが難しいとおもう。でも、こういう書く作業を通して、彼女は内省しているという点に脱帽。
『気持ちだという罪』で、作者の葛藤が素直に書かれているところも私が村田沙耶香さんを好きな理由。社会は色んなことにレーベルを貼って、それを利用して、言うならば、人の生命を消費することに必死。多くの人が、自らが注目されている、成功している時こそ、自分を客観視することが難しいとおもう。でも、こういう書く作業を通して、彼女は内省しているという点に脱帽。
March 26, 2022
قصة قصيرة يابانية متوفرة على النت بشكل رسمي
الشخصية الرئيسية تشوف ان الناس من حولها ينفقوا اموال كثيرة على اشياء ما تستحق، فصاروا الناس من حولها يتركوها لأنها تذكرهم انهم يهدروا المال، مع انهم هم انفسهم يحسوا بالذنب و ان رواتبهم تضيع، بعد ما تحس الشخصية الرئيسية بالوحدة، تسعى هي لمحاولة غسيل دماغها حتى تصير مثل باقي الناس مسرفة بإنفاق المال، لكن مع هذا ما تحس بالسعادة.
بكيت و انا اقرا القصة كانت جداً مؤثرة
القصة تكلمت عن الاحساس بالوحدة اللي يحسو فيه الاشخاص اللي يرفضوا التصرفات الخاطئة اللي يقوم فيها المجتمع من حولهم.
الشخصية الرئيسية تشوف ان الناس من حولها ينفقوا اموال كثيرة على اشياء ما تستحق، فصاروا الناس من حولها يتركوها لأنها تذكرهم انهم يهدروا المال، مع انهم هم انفسهم يحسوا بالذنب و ان رواتبهم تضيع، بعد ما تحس الشخصية الرئيسية بالوحدة، تسعى هي لمحاولة غسيل دماغها حتى تصير مثل باقي الناس مسرفة بإنفاق المال، لكن مع هذا ما تحس بالسعادة.
بكيت و انا اقرا القصة كانت جداً مؤثرة
القصة تكلمت عن الاحساس بالوحدة اللي يحسو فيه الاشخاص اللي يرفضوا التصرفات الخاطئة اللي يقوم فيها المجتمع من حولهم.
August 11, 2024
Not as good as some of Murata’s other works but I am still a huge fan. Good jump scare in this!
January 17, 2026
givememymoneyback!
January 29, 2022
No good can come of Sayaka Murata characters driving into mountainous forest...
The protagonist, Nagaoka, here reminds me of those of the other two Murata novels I've read - a socially critical, deadpan woman who still lets herself go along with almost anything offered to them.
I like how she turns her cynical gaze on herself, after (tiringly) criticizing her friends and acquaintances. While Nagaoka's criticisms ring true, they create a social distance and sense of superiority to her. You get the sense that there needs to be a give and take when interacting with people.
Nagaoka has a bit of arrogance, and the twist that she decides to join the new 'cult' is an interesting way to play out her working through this arrogance. The climax's humor is purposefully exaggerated. Logical and entertaining. To me it feels like it emphasizes that it's never straightforward that someone is being duped into an MLM because they're an 'idiot' - maybe it's a source of dopamine, maybe it provides comfort for their life circumstances. the story conveys the value of a more broad-minded eye towards weird human behaviors. (Although one that still allows room for improvement for people: the cult dude in this story clearly needs to work some problems out, having gone into debt for a low-value watch, trying to pay it off by running new age scams)
The protagonist, Nagaoka, here reminds me of those of the other two Murata novels I've read - a socially critical, deadpan woman who still lets herself go along with almost anything offered to them.
I like how she turns her cynical gaze on herself, after (tiringly) criticizing her friends and acquaintances. While Nagaoka's criticisms ring true, they create a social distance and sense of superiority to her. You get the sense that there needs to be a give and take when interacting with people.
Nagaoka has a bit of arrogance, and the twist that she decides to join the new 'cult' is an interesting way to play out her working through this arrogance. The climax's humor is purposefully exaggerated. Logical and entertaining. To me it feels like it emphasizes that it's never straightforward that someone is being duped into an MLM because they're an 'idiot' - maybe it's a source of dopamine, maybe it provides comfort for their life circumstances. the story conveys the value of a more broad-minded eye towards weird human behaviors. (Although one that still allows room for improvement for people: the cult dude in this story clearly needs to work some problems out, having gone into debt for a low-value watch, trying to pay it off by running new age scams)
December 25, 2022
「信仰」騙されるのも才能。
「生存」現実と大差ない世界な気がした。
「土脉潤起」文明社会で生まれ育って野生化するのはなかなか難しそう。
「彼らの惑星へ帰っていくこと」自分にとってのイマジナリー宇宙人って何かな？
「カルチャーショック」均一とカルチャーショックという二分化はおもしろい。
「気持ちよさという罪」クレージーさやかってあだ名だったのか。
「書かなかった小説」飛び飛びのシーンで書かれてるのがおもしろかった。もし自分のクローンがいたら人生譲って自分は一生引きこもっていたい笑。
「最後の展覧会」一番好きだった。
「生存」現実と大差ない世界な気がした。
「土脉潤起」文明社会で生まれ育って野生化するのはなかなか難しそう。
「彼らの惑星へ帰っていくこと」自分にとってのイマジナリー宇宙人って何かな？
「カルチャーショック」均一とカルチャーショックという二分化はおもしろい。
「気持ちよさという罪」クレージーさやかってあだ名だったのか。
「書かなかった小説」飛び飛びのシーンで書かれてるのがおもしろかった。もし自分のクローンがいたら人生譲って自分は一生引きこもっていたい笑。
「最後の展覧会」一番好きだった。
December 30, 2023
Interesting ideas as always, not my favorite, but I like when she does sympathetic annoying characters.
November 16, 2025
✅ The Book in 3 Sentences
信仰 is a collection of eleven short stories and essays by Sayaka Murata. Through characters who cling to “reality” in extreme ways or who waver between belief and doubt, the collection examines how fragile (and how powerful) our personal faiths can be. It’s a quiet yet piercing exploration of the boundary between the everyday and the surreal, and of the values we accept without noticing.
✅ Impressions
- How I Discovered It
When I visited my junior high school last month for its anniversary celebration, I caught up with a classmate who now teaches Japanese literature there. During our conversation, she recommended several short story collections she thought I’d enjoy, including this one.
- Who Should Read It
Those who enjoy short fiction that provokes reflection rather than offering easy conclusions
Those interested in themes of belief, identity, and the tension between personal and societal “truths”
Those drawn to stories that question dominant narratives and expose the ambiguities we often overlook
✅ How the Book Changed Me
- This book reminded me how flexible our interpretations of reality can be—and how deeply human it is to choose what we want to believe. We don’t usually seek out pain; we gravitate toward beliefs that make our world bearable. Murata’s stories made me realize that the things we choose to trust don’t need ranking or justification. They simply reveal what we need.
- I was also struck by how sharply Murata observes the contradictions people overlook in daily life—the gaps, ambiguities, and unspoken assumptions we learn to ignore. Her stories reminded me that understanding another person requires effort and humility. Our “human strength” lies not in certainty, but in the willingness to see someone’s background, context, and invisible burdens.
- Finally, I felt deeply inspired by Murata’s craft. Short stories demand precision: character, world, and theme must harmonize within limited space. Yet her stories expand far beyond their frames, stretching in unexpected, imaginative directions. I learned a lot from how she constructs that sense of freedom, sometimes from just a single opening sentence.
✅ My Top 3 Quotes
- 「そりゃ、ミキが正しいのかもしれないよ。でも、それがなおさら嫌なの。『現実』って、もっと夢みたいなものも含んでるんじゃないかな。夢とか、幻想とか、そういうものに払うお金がまったくなくなったら、人生の楽しみがまったくなくなっちゃうじゃない？」(“Maybe Miki’s right. But that’s exactly what I hate. Isn’t reality supposed to include dreams, illusions, and fantasies too? If we stop spending on those, wouldn’t life lose its joy entirely?”)
- 「笑われて、キャラクター化されて、ラベリングされること。奇妙な人を奇妙なまま愛し、多様性を認めること。この二つは、ものすごく相反することのはずなのに、馬鹿な私には区別がつかないときがあった。」(“Being laughed at, turned into a character, labeled. And loving someone strange without changing them, accepting their difference. These two things should be entirely at odds, yet there were times when I couldn’t tell them apart.”)
- 「無知とは悍ましい。つまり、あのときの私は、そんなことにすら気が付かなかった。彼女と笑い合いながら、透明な世界で会話をしているような気持ちになっていた。残酷な出来事も、自分を取り囲む特権も、なにもない透明な世界に自分たちは立っている。そういうおそろしい感覚を、私はごく自然に抱いていた。」(“Ignorance is horrifying. At the time, I didn’t even notice it. As we laughed together, I felt as if we were talking in a transparent world, with no cruelty, no privileges surrounding us. I accepted that terrifying feeling without question.”)
信仰 is a collection of eleven short stories and essays by Sayaka Murata. Through characters who cling to “reality” in extreme ways or who waver between belief and doubt, the collection examines how fragile (and how powerful) our personal faiths can be. It’s a quiet yet piercing exploration of the boundary between the everyday and the surreal, and of the values we accept without noticing.
✅ Impressions
- How I Discovered It
When I visited my junior high school last month for its anniversary celebration, I caught up with a classmate who now teaches Japanese literature there. During our conversation, she recommended several short story collections she thought I’d enjoy, including this one.
- Who Should Read It
Those who enjoy short fiction that provokes reflection rather than offering easy conclusions
Those interested in themes of belief, identity, and the tension between personal and societal “truths”
Those drawn to stories that question dominant narratives and expose the ambiguities we often overlook
✅ How the Book Changed Me
- This book reminded me how flexible our interpretations of reality can be—and how deeply human it is to choose what we want to believe. We don’t usually seek out pain; we gravitate toward beliefs that make our world bearable. Murata’s stories made me realize that the things we choose to trust don’t need ranking or justification. They simply reveal what we need.
- I was also struck by how sharply Murata observes the contradictions people overlook in daily life—the gaps, ambiguities, and unspoken assumptions we learn to ignore. Her stories reminded me that understanding another person requires effort and humility. Our “human strength” lies not in certainty, but in the willingness to see someone’s background, context, and invisible burdens.
- Finally, I felt deeply inspired by Murata’s craft. Short stories demand precision: character, world, and theme must harmonize within limited space. Yet her stories expand far beyond their frames, stretching in unexpected, imaginative directions. I learned a lot from how she constructs that sense of freedom, sometimes from just a single opening sentence.
✅ My Top 3 Quotes
- 「そりゃ、ミキが正しいのかもしれないよ。でも、それがなおさら嫌なの。『現実』って、もっと夢みたいなものも含んでるんじゃないかな。夢とか、幻想とか、そういうものに払うお金がまったくなくなったら、人生の楽しみがまったくなくなっちゃうじゃない？」(“Maybe Miki’s right. But that’s exactly what I hate. Isn’t reality supposed to include dreams, illusions, and fantasies too? If we stop spending on those, wouldn’t life lose its joy entirely?”)
- 「笑われて、キャラクター化されて、ラベリングされること。奇妙な人を奇妙なまま愛し、多様性を認めること。この二つは、ものすごく相反することのはずなのに、馬鹿な私には区別がつかないときがあった。」(“Being laughed at, turned into a character, labeled. And loving someone strange without changing them, accepting their difference. These two things should be entirely at odds, yet there were times when I couldn’t tell them apart.”)
- 「無知とは悍ましい。つまり、あのときの私は、そんなことにすら気が付かなかった。彼女と笑い合いながら、透明な世界で会話をしているような気持ちになっていた。残酷な出来事も、自分を取り囲む特権も、なにもない透明な世界に自分たちは立っている。そういうおそろしい感覚を、私はごく自然に抱いていた。」(“Ignorance is horrifying. At the time, I didn’t even notice it. As we laughed together, I felt as if we were talking in a transparent world, with no cruelty, no privileges surrounding us. I accepted that terrifying feeling without question.”)
December 18, 2024
A collection of short stories by Sayaka Murata. Each story is rich with her style of “what if?” world premises that may seem outlandish at first but poke profoundly at the contradictions of our society. While the first two stories (particularly the titular “Faith”) were very enthralling and show off everything that I love about Sayaka Murata’s grotesque yet normal world telling, many of the other stories seemed more like drafts of books or other short stories that never truly were finished or polished. Ironically, the short story that was literally called “the unwritten story” was pretty good despite it being a bunch of different cuts from what may have been the plans for a novel. Ultimately, the first two and to some extent the last two stories were good, but maybe I am just not the greatest short story enthusiast for some of them did not hit, thus leading me to give this around a 3 to 3.5 star rating.
March 1, 2025
Oh Sayaka Murata you freak I love you. This is short but packs a massive punch filled with all of the bizarre stuff that you’ll be expecting if you’ve read her other work. Also features some very interesting commentary on the meaning of reality and how cults function (a topic which I am super interested in so this is the crossover of the century for me). Iconic. I will read anything Sayaka does x
February 10, 2021
‘I see reality! A collective delusion in abnormal circumstances! Abnormal pleasure due to the dopamine in our brains! Illusions projected by the brain to avoid the abnormal conditions! I see the reality!’
Between reality and scam cults, it's all a delusion: are there really differences?
Between reality and scam cults, it's all a delusion: are there really differences?
January 28, 2022
(short story #4) (I'm trying to read one short story per week this year)
In the style of Convenience Store Woman, even if with different characters and themes. That is: weird, funny, and very accurate on the depiction of some specific people/trends of society nowadays. Plus a near-end epiphany.
In the style of Convenience Store Woman, even if with different characters and themes. That is: weird, funny, and very accurate on the depiction of some specific people/trends of society nowadays. Plus a near-end epiphany.
July 9, 2022
『信仰』ISBN978-4-16-391550-0読了。
「信仰」騙されるのも才能。
「生存」現実と大差ない世界な気がした。
「土脉潤起」文明社会で生まれ育って野生化するのはなかなか難しそう。
「彼らの惑星へ帰っていくこと」自分にとってのイマジナリー宇宙人って何かな？
「カルチャーショック」均一とカルチャーショックという二分化はおもしろい。
「気持ちよさという罪」クレージーさやかってあだ名だったのか。
「書かなかった小説」飛び飛びのシーンで書かれてるのがおもしろかった。もし自分のクローンがいたら人生譲って自分は一生引きこもっていたい笑。
「最後の展覧会」一番好きだった。
「信仰」騙されるのも才能。
「生存」現実と大差ない世界な気がした。
「土脉潤起」文明社会で生まれ育って野生化するのはなかなか難しそう。
「彼らの惑星へ帰っていくこと」自分にとってのイマジナリー宇宙人って何かな？
「カルチャーショック」均一とカルチャーショックという二分化はおもしろい。
「気持ちよさという罪」クレージーさやかってあだ名だったのか。
「書かなかった小説」飛び飛びのシーンで書かれてるのがおもしろかった。もし自分のクローンがいたら人生譲って自分は一生引きこもっていたい笑。
「最後の展覧会」一番好きだった。
March 10, 2023
*3.5 stars*
A woman who lives in a state of reality finds that her friends are angry with her for trying to convert them to her way of thinking, so she decides to attend a seminar hoping to change her thoughts and desires to living in a state of illusion.
A woman who lives in a state of reality finds that her friends are angry with her for trying to convert them to her way of thinking, so she decides to attend a seminar hoping to change her thoughts and desires to living in a state of illusion.
July 2, 2025
I quite enjoyed the first couple of stories, especially the eponymous one. However, it went downhill pretty fast from there. I really enjoy her novels, and maybe it would have been better if she had just expanded 信仰 (the story) into a short novel instead of what became this book.
July 5, 2025
this short story was so fucking werid i rember reading this during my biology exam 3 study breaks. made breaks and studying worth looking foward towards.
its about cults and girls smashing the face of a guy.
its about cults and girls smashing the face of a guy.
February 12, 2022
Story of a woman who has fed up with reality and wanted to live in illusion. For that went to attend the faith classes but end up remaining in reality.
May 17, 2022
(3.5/5)
reality is your brainwashing. it's the illusion you will spend your life with.
reality is your brainwashing. it's the illusion you will spend your life with.
January 25, 2023
This was okay. It has a clear message: your illusion is your reality, your reality is your illusion. I like that. Truly. I just felt this was one of the weaker short stories of Murata's.
May 16, 2023
“Reality is your illusion that you must live with.”
so good but so short😭
so good but so short😭
June 1, 2023
This story made me realize how funny Sayaka Murata is.
June 28, 2023
the ending!!!
July 27, 2023
A clever and darkly funny short story about cults, reality and the lies we tell ourselves.
October 25, 2023
Read here: Faith
February 15, 2024
It's good food for thought regarding reality!
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