Title: The Skirted Man Project
Subtitle: A Social Experiment in a Regional City
Series: Japanesque TS
Author: Yulia Yu. Sakurazawa
Could a skirt liberate a man? Or bind him to an entirely new destiny?
In a provincial Japanese city, a visionary female mayor launches a daring social experiment: encourage male city hall employees to wear skirts. The goals are ambitious: slash air conditioning costs, blur rigid gender lines, and perhaps free both men and women from invisible constraints.
For Aoba Satoda, fleeing the scars of workplace bullying in Tokyo, a temporary city hall job seems like a quiet refuge. But when he becomes entangled in the “Skirt Danshi Project,” his life takes a sharp, irreversible turn. Tasked with more than just tea service, he becomes the reluctant, then famous, embodiment of the mayor’s vision.
As Aoba navigates the awkwardness, the unexpected celebrity, and the simmering resentments the project stirs, he discovers that challenging the symbol of the skirt unravels more than just dress codes. It reshapes perceptions, ignites public debate, and leads him into the orbit of powerful, compelling women who see something unique in him.
“The Skirted Man Project” is a provocative and unconventional novel that dives deep into:
- The absurdity and impact of challenging long-held gender norms.
- The complex interplay of power, identity, and attraction.
- How society reacts when boundaries are deliberately broken.
- A startlingly intimate journey of transformation spurred by external forces and unexpected desire.
Witness Aoba’s evolution from a hesitant participant to a central figure in a social phenomenon, leading to a life-altering connection he never could have predicted. This is a bold, boundary-pushing story that blends social commentary with intense personal drama.
Part of the “Japanesque” Series. Translated by the author from the original Japanese.