Hunchback

DEBUT Ichikawa’s bestselling, award-winning debut novel was first published in Japan in 2023. Now translated into English, it presents readers with a glimpse into the life of Shaka, a middle-aged woman diagnosed with myotubular myopathy, a congenital muscular disorder. She lives in a group home, where she has caregivers, uses an electric wheelchair, and primarily communicates through texts and gestures. An only child, Shaka received a substantial inheritance upon the death of her parents and has no financial concerns, but she publishes successful erotic ebooks and donates her earnings to shelters and food banks. Using social media as an outlet, she reveals her desire to become pregnant, and the opportunity presents itself through a caregiver. With a wry sense of humor, Ichikawa successfully uses Shaka’s story and vivid imagination to bring the lives of people with disabilities to the forefront (Ichikawa herself has congenital myopathy), while taking a no-holds-barred look at sexuality and desire.