Cocoşata

Isawa Shaka has had a muscle disorder since birth. Her spine has a sharp bend. She uses a powered wheelchair. A ventilator helps her breathe. She spends most of her time in a care home room. She takes online courses at a university and writes web articles. She has inherited a large sum of money. This lets her give what she earns to charity. She also posts erotic stories and tweets under a hidden name. Her life shifts when she offers her new carer money to donate sperm.

Saou Ichikawa’s novel looks at sex, disability and power. It does so through Shaka’s anger and desires. It looks at the limits of her body. It also shows the barriers that society puts in her way. These themes take shape through one woman’s daily life.

The novel won the 2023 Akutagawa Prize. It also earned a 2025 International Booker Prize nomination. This edition is part of the Actual series. Monica Tamaș translated it from Japanese. She also supplied notes.