Written by Asako Yuzuki and translated by Polly Barton, “Butter” delves into the complexities of friendship, self-discovery, and adding to taste, just a dash of murder.

Inspired by a real‑life case, the novel follows Tokyo journalist Rika Machida as she investigates Manako Kajii, a gourmet cook convicted in connection with the deaths of three lovers. Although the fatalities were officially ruled suicide, heart attack, and unexplained causes, Kajii’s story becomes a symbol of transgression against social norms.

Machida, a 30‑something and the only woman in her newsroom, sees the case as a chance to make her mark. On a friend’s advice she writes to Kajii requesting the recipe for her famed beef stew. Kajii, imprisoned and awaiting retrial, initially refuses to speak with reporters but is intrigued by Machida’s request and agrees to meet — on one condition: She must dive into the world of gourmet dining. What begins as an assignment turns into a series of gastronomic lessons that reshape Machida’s relationship with food, identity, and societal expectations.

As she becomes more immersed, Machida is alternately fascinated and repelled by Kajii’s unapologetic hedonism and scorn for feminist principles. Once indifferent to food and self‑conscious about her looks, Machida embraces the sensuality and power of uninhibited eating.

Her weight gain invites judgment from colleagues and friends, reflecting broader pressures around body image; yet Kajii’s influence also awakens in Machida a new sense of autonomy.

The story builds to a climax when Machida publishes an article on Kajii, interpreting her life and motives.

Kajii retaliates by publicly accusing Machida of exploitation, revealing that much of what she shared was fabricated to manipulate Machida. This revelation devastates Machida’s career, leaving her disillusioned and questioning the boundaries she crossed.

Yuzuki addresses friendship, misogyny, body image, and the pleasures of food in contemporary Japan with vivid and gentle prose. Her debut novel, a bestseller in Japan, is a slow cooker at 464 pages — one with an appetite for indicting the male-dominated society.