Culinary Capital: The Intersection of Food and Neoliberal Governance in Asako Yuzuki’s novel Butter

Abstract

This article examines Asako Yuzuki’s novel Butter through the frameworks of biopolitics and neoliberalism, focusing on the main characters, Rika and Kaji. The analysis demonstrates that neoliberalism extends beyond economic considerations, significantly influencing societal norms surrounding diet and body image. Rika embodies the internalisation of these neoliberal demands, grappling with her identity amid societal pressures for self-optimisation. In contrast, Kaji serves as a figure of resistance, questioning the normalisation of body management as a moral imperative. The dynamic between these characters highlights the intricacies of individual agency within the constraints imposed by structural inequalities. Butter critiques the biopolitical imperatives that women face, underscoring the tension between the pursuit of pleasure and bodily autonomy in a competitive environment. By employing theories of biopolitics and neoliberal governance, the novel prompts readers to reflect on the pervasive forces that shape their lives and self-perception.