Abstract

This interview essay delves not into the glamorous success stories of celebrities or influencers, but into the unvarnished lives of "ordinary" people, sharing stories you rarely get to hear. It gently challenges the established "norms of happiness." It explores fundamental questions: Who do we connect with, where do we live, how do we protect our dignity, and what do we live for? The book features the personal accounts of eight women, aged 20s to 50s, who chose to remain anonymous, each navigating a colorful and varied life course: changing jobs, starting a business, remarrying with children, childbirth, fertility treatments, child-rearing, non-permanent residency, moving overseas, and pre-senior shared housing. In a world where "ordinary" and "obvious" have crumbled, and where no one offers definitive answers, this is a story of the light and shadow experienced by women who have claimed their decisions and unavoidable choices as their own. The latter half of the book features the author's candid responses to reader questions about love, marriage, work, friendship, and mental health.

Author’s Information

A columnist and graduate of the University of Tokyo. She is a humble office worker and at the same time, is a nightlife expert. She writes mainly for online media about love, careers, and women's lifestyles. She also broadcasts a podcast called "Jealousy Kurumi's Buttagiri!" in which she answers questions sent in by her followers. Her first book, "The Equation of Love is Harder than the University of Tokyo Entrance Exam" (Shufunotomo), became a hot topic on social media for its love theory and life philosophy, and has been reprinted. 60,000++ followers on Twitter.