Kristine Ohkubo’s ‘Nickname: Flower of Evil (呼び名は悪の花)’ is a compelling exploration of Japan’s dark past, spotlighting its neglect of women’s rights that still continues even today. Recently honoured as an American Legacy Book Awards Finalist for 2024, this work delves deeply into the controversial life of Abe Sada, whose story epitomised the struggles of women in early 20th-century Japan.
Ohkubo’s masterful narrative reveals the harsh realities faced by women during a time of intense modernisation that began after the Meiji Restoration. Through the lens of Abe Sada’s infamous crime, the book examines gender inequality and societal pressures that led to her desperate actions. She was, indeed, a victim of our dark history.
This work is a reminder of the ongoing issues of gender inequality in one of the most “developed” countries in the world. As always, Ohkubo uncovered the truths hidden in the shadows of the past to give a voice to those who had no voice.
English Rakugo NZ 