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ⓘ About Mieko Kawakami
Mieko’s writing is known for its insight into the female body, the dilemmas on modern society, ethical questions, as well as for its poetic qualities. Her novels have been translated into many languages and are available all around the world. She has received many prestigious literary awards in Japan, which includes the Murasaki Shikibu, the Akutagawa Prize, and the Tanizaki Prize. “Breasts and Eggs” is the first stand alone novella and was released in 2016. In a poor suburb of Tokyo, on some hot day during the summer, we meet three different women, Natsu (age thirty), Makiko (Natsu’s older sister), and Midoriko (Makiko’s teen daughter). Makiko, who is an aging hostess that despairs the loss of her looks, has gone to Tokyo in order to look further into breast enhancement surgery.
All Book Series by Mieko Kawakami
The Penguin Book of the International Short Story
Latest in the series · book 4 of 4 · published 2026
? Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Mieko Kawakami?
Mieko’s writing is known for its insight into the female body, the dilemmas on modern society, ethical questions, as well as for its poetic qualities. Her novels have been translated into many languages and are available all around the world. She has received many prestigious literary awards in Japan, which includes the Murasaki Shikibu, the Akutagawa Prize, and the Tanizaki Prize. “Breasts and Eggs” is the first stand alone novella and was released in 2016.
Which Mieko Kawakami series should I start with?
Mieko Kawakami's books stand alone rather than forming a numbered series, so there is no reading order to follow. The natural first pick is Heaven (2009).
How many books has Mieko Kawakami written?
Mieko Kawakami has 9 books catalogued in this guide, published between 2009 and 2026. They are filed under 3 categories rather than in numbered series — chiefly Anthologies, Standalone Novels and Short Stories/Novellas.
In what order should Mieko Kawakami's series be read?
No reading order is needed: none of the 9 books catalogued here do not form a numbered series, so any title can be picked up first. Within each category they are listed by publication year.
How are Mieko Kawakami's books organised into series?
This guide splits Mieko Kawakami's 9 books into categories rather than numbered series: Anthologies (4 books); Standalone Novels (3 books); Short Stories/Novellas (2 books).