The Factory
The Factory by Hiroko Oyamada is the English-language debut of a notable Japanese writer, published by New Direction Books in 2019. This 116-page translation presents a narrative centered around three workers at a sprawling industrial factory, each engaged in their specific tasks—shredding paper, proofreading documents, and studying moss. As their lives become increasingly dictated by their work, the boundaries between the factory and the outside world begin to blur, leading to existential questions about their purpose and reality.
Readers will find a vivid exploration of the absurdity and meaninglessness often associated with modern workplaces. The Factory delves into themes of identity and existence, interspersed with elements of black humor and absurdism. Through the experiences of the three workers, the narrative raises intriguing questions about their environment and the nature of their tasks, creating a surreal portrait that resonates with the complexities of contemporary life.
Official synopsis Publisher
The English-language debut of one of Japan’s most exciting new writers, The Factory follows three workers at a sprawling industrial factory. Each worker focuses intently on the specific task they’ve been assigned: one shreds paper, one proofreads documents, and another studies the moss growing all over the expansive grounds. But their lives slowly become governed by their work–days take on a strange logic and momentum, and little by little, the margins of reality seem to be dissolving: Where does the factory end and the rest of the world begin? What’s going on with the strange animals here? And after a while–it could be weeks or years–the three workers struggle to answer the most basic question: What am I doing here?
With hints of Kafka and unexpected moments of creeping humor, The Factory casts a vivid–and sometimes surreal–portrait of the absurdity and meaninglessness of the modern workplace.
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