Butter by Asako Yuzuki

Details
Hi everyone!
For our April book club, we will be reading and discussing
Butter by Asako Yuzuki

Synopsis
The cult Japanese bestseller about a female gourmet cook and serial killer, and the journalist intent on cracking her case, inspired by a true story
There are two things that I simply cannot tolerate: feminists and margarine
Gourmet cook Manako Kajii sits in the Tokyo Detention House convicted of the serial murders of lonely businessmen, whom she is said to have seduced with her delicious home cooking. The case has captured the nation’s imagination, but Kajii refuses to speak with the press, entertaining no visitors. That is until journalist Rika Machida writes a letter asking for her recipe for beef stew, and Kajii can’t resist writing back.
Rika, the only woman in her news office, works late each night, rarely cooking more than ramen. As the visits unfold between her and the steely Kajii, they are closer to a master class in food than journalistic research. Rika hopes this gastronomic exchange will help her soften Kajii, but it seems that Rika might be the one changing. Do she and Kajii have more in common than she once thought?
Inspired by the real case of a convicted con woman and serial killer—the “Konkatsu Killer”—Asako Yuzuki’s Butter is a vivid, unsettling exploration of misogyny, obsession, romance, and the transgressive pleasures of food in Japan.

Background
Butter is inspired by a real-life crime in Japan known as the “Konkatsu Killer” case, which shocked the country in the late 2000s.
Beyond the crime itself, the novel reflects contemporary Japanese society, where women are often judged for their bodies, appetites, and choices.

Through food, desire, and media obsession, Butter explores misogyny, beauty standards, and the pressure placed on women—making it not just a crime novel, but a sharp social portrait of modern Japan.

About the Author
Asako Yuzuki was born in Tokyo in 1981.
Her English-language debut, Butter, became an international bestseller and was selected as Waterstones Book of the Year 2024, as well as winning the British Book Awards 2025 Debut Fiction Award.
She also received the Yamamoto Shūgorō Award for Hooked.

Book Details
Length: approximately 464pages
Price: Kindle ¥2191 (about USD $13.97)

Join Us!
Our online book club will take place on
Sunday, April 19th, 2026
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM (Japan time)
You can join even if you don’t have a Jitsi account by clicking the URL provided on the right.
Please do not click “Join in app”—simply select “Join in browser.”

What We’ll Do
You don’t need to finish the book to participate—though reading it will certainly enrich the discussion! Bring a cup of coffee or tea and share your favorite passages, thoughts, and questions. We’ll use a discussion guide based on the novel to help structure our conversation.

Important to Know
✓ For smooth communication and security, please keep your camera on during the session. If your camera is off or your face is not visible, you may be removed from the call. Thank you for your understanding.
✓ There is no entrance fee or membership fee.
✓ Participants come from diverse backgrounds—please be respectful of different perspectives.

We would love for you to join us!
We look forward to discussing this beautiful novel together and spending a wonderful time with everyone.