Unconventional Identities: Asperger Syndrome’s Influence on Individuality in Sayaka Murata’s Convenience Store Woman.

Abstract

When societies such as Japan become renowned for their entertainment industry, the focus shifts from the significant challenges Japanese citizens face to a glamorised version of the Japanese society overly focused on the country’s aesthetics rather than the underlying issues. This study focuses on analysing Convenience Store Woman (2016) with the hypothesis that Keiko Furakura, the protagonist, exhibits traits of Asperger Syndrome (AS) that explain her unconventional behaviour. This work addresses the issue of Social Group Categorization and the theory of group consciousness prevalent in Japanese society. It argues that Keiko’s identity development was influenced by Asperger syndrome, setting her apart from her peers. The issue of conformity in Japanese society and its impact on individuals such as Keiko is examined by utilising these theories.