Synopsis
The story unfolds from the perspective of Natsuko, a woman in her thirties living in Osaka. It begins with her sister Makiko and her daughter Midoriko arriving in Tokyo.
Makiko has a strong desire to undergo breast augmentation surgery, driven by her age, a wavering confidence as a woman, and a sense of stagnation in her life. Meanwhile, adolescent Midoriko has distanced herself from her mother and barely speaks to her. She resents her changing body and feels uncomfortable living as a woman.
As the three spend several days together, the female body, the mother-daughter conflict, and the ineffable loneliness emerge. Makiko’s desire to “change her breasts” and Midoriko’s refusal to “change her body.” Faced with these contrasting views, Natsuko herself quietly reexamines what it means to be a woman.
Review
I felt that “Breasts and Eggs” explores the difficult realms of women’s bodies and minds with Mieko Kawakami’s unique sharpness and humor. While the story deals with the seemingly straightforward theme of breasts, beneath it lies universal questions such as “how do we accept our own bodies” and “how do we confront the images society imposes on women?”
Makiko’s desperation can sometimes seem comical, but the loneliness and anxiety behind it are painfully real. Midoriko’s silence also lingers in the heart as a symbol of the anxiety unique to adolescence and the unspoken rejection. The relationship between the three never changes dramatically, but it is this “unchangeability” that is so realistic that it leaves a lasting impression after reading.
