Sayaka Murata at Manchester Literature Festival

  • DATE

    18 October 2025

  • TIME

    7:00 pm to 8:15 pm

  • AGES

    All ages welcome

  • PRICE

    £12/£10

  • VENUE

    Manchester Central Library
    St Peter's Square, Manchester, M2 5PD

Sayaka Murata, the internationally acclaimed author of Convenience Store Woman and Earthlings, joins us to discuss her provocative and visionary new novel, Vanishing World.

In a society where sex, love and parenting have been reimagined, Amane—born from a taboo act of love—struggles to conform. As an adult, she explores anime relationships and sanctioned extra-marital sex, until she and her husband join Paradise-Eden: a utopian experiment of mass insemination, artificial wombs, and collective child-raising. But can this bold experiment build the brave new world Amane desires, or will it push her to breaking point?

Presented in partnership with Centre for New Writing and Creative Manchester. Supported by The Japan Foundation and Japan House. Sponsored by The Edwardian, Manchester.

Sayaka Murata has sold over two million books worldwide and won many of Japan’s literary prizes including the Akutagawa Prize and Mishima Yukio Prize. A literary phenomenon, her work has been translated into more than 30 languages. She has been named Vogue Woman of the Year.

‘Murata’s skill is in turning round the world so that the abnormal, uncivil or savage paths appear – if momentarily – to make sense’ Financial Times

Wheelchair Users and those with other access needs requiring a free Essential Carer ticket should contact the Quaytickets Box Office on 0161 876 2015 to purchase tickets.