'Is what you wrote a good novel or a bad novel?'

This is the new work of author Natsuo Kirino, winner of the Naoki Prize, Edogawa Ranpo Prize, Japan Mystery Writers Association Award, Tanizaki Junichiro Award, Yomiuri Literary Award, and more, for his work that tackles serious social issues such as discrimination against women, domestic violence, and child abuse. It contains the question, "Who obstructs freedom of expression and desires a society where only pretty, correct, and beautiful words spread?"


Matsu, a writer who has published works based on the subject of pedophilia, receives a summons from an organization calling itself the Literary Ethics Committee and is imprisoned in an isolated building on a beach with no cell phone or internet access.
The reason for the detention, the committee said, was complaints from readers who found the novel's scenes featuring men sexually objectifying children objectionable.


The Literary Ethics Committee's demands were simple.
To write only beautiful stories that anyone can relate to.
No objections will be accepted and any resistance will result in an extension of the confinement period.
Writers who write obscene, violent, criminal, or critical material are confined here and treated poorly, but if they write what the committee wants, their treatment changes.
What will be the fate of the writer who stands at the crossroads of rehabilitation and struggle?

Author Natsuo Kirino depicts the “near future of Japan” through people who pick on the author by taking a single line from a character’s mouth and saying things like “This is misandry” or “Isn’t that discrimination against women” as if the author actually hates men and discriminates against women, and the media that fan the flames of this trend as “controversy” without any verification.

Subpoena B98
Dear Matsu Yumei (Matsushige Kanna)
The Cultural Ethics Improvement Committee of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, Bureau of Cultural Affairs, sent you a petition on March 1st requesting you to appear before the deliberation committee to deliberate on the reader's complaint against you and hear your reasons.
However, since the specified period has passed without a response, we request that you appear at the following location on the date below.
There are some classes planned here.
Please provide me with the accommodation supplies.
If you are unable to appear due to illness or other unavoidable circumstances, please submit a request for a date change to the committee office immediately, attaching a document proving your personal circumstances, such as a doctor's note.
Date: June 27, 1:00 PM
Location: JR Line C Station ticket gate
Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, Cultural Affairs Bureau, Cultural and Arts Ethics Improvement Committee
--- p.14


“Expression is free, but not everything is free.
If not, everything in this society will go astray.
These days, crime is rampant and sexual crimes are also on the rise.
Moreover, it is becoming more vicious and younger.
There has also been an increase in video-induced murders and suicides.
Some say that the cause of these things is unbridled comics and novels.”
--- p.65


“You are so cool.
Readers hate cold writers.
“Everyone is doing a nice job of providing fan service on Instagram and Twitter.”

--- p.133