Where The Wild Ladies Are

Witty, inventive, and profound, Where the Wild Ladies Are is a contemporary feminist retelling of traditional ghost stories by one of Japan's most exciting writers.

In a company run by the mysterious Mr Tei, strange things are afoot incense sticks lead to a surprise encounter; a young man reflects on his mother's death; a foxlike woman finally finds her true calling. As female ghosts appear in unexpected guises, their gently humorous encounters with unsuspecting humans lead to deeper questions about emancipation and recent changes in Japanese women's lives.

Short-listed for Ray Bradbury Prize for Science Fiction, Fantasy and Speculative Fiction 2021

"This was an amazing read. A troupe of women are sent in from another world in order to help relieve the angst of the people in this world." Hiroko Kitamura, Hon no zasshi sha
"Turning one's back on despair and instead channelling all one's energy into living as one's true self is what gives one the strength to take on spectral form. This is a call to power to live with sufficient conviction to become ghosts." Akiko Ohtake, Asahi shimbun

"An enjoyable and satisfying read, coming out of a sense of discomfort and unease around gender inequality. This is a short story collection where classic works from rakugo and kabuki are developed in the author's unique style." Asayo Takii, Nami

Polly Barton is a Japanese-English translator and writer based in the UK. Her translations include 'Butter' by Asako Yuzuki, 'So We Look to the Sky' by Misumi Kubo, 'Spring Garden' by Tomoka Shibasaki, and 'There's No Such Thing as an Easy Job' by Kikuko Tsumura. Her translation of 'Mild Vertigo' by Mieko Kanai was awarded a 2023-2024 Lindsley and Masao Miyoshi Translation Prize. She is the author of 'Fifty Sounds' and 'Porn: An Oral History', both published by Fitzcarraldo Editions.

Witty, inventive, and profound, Matsuda Aoko's collection of linked stories is a contemporary feminist retelling of traditional Japanese ghost stories. As female ghosts appear in unexpected guises, their gently humorous encounters with unsuspecting humans lead to deeper questions about emancipation and recent changes in Japanese women's lives.

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