Adyatma Putra Pratama

INDIVIDUALS SOCIAL CAREER AS A PURSUIT OF
SELFHOOD IN SAYAKA’S NOVEL CONVENIENCE STORE

WOMAN
FINAL PROJECT
Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirement

for the degree of Sarjana Sastra in English Literature
by
ADYATMA PUTRA PRATAMA
2211416034
ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
FACULTY OF LANGUAGE AND ARTS
UNIVERSITAS NEGERI SEMARANG
2022
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MOTTO AND DEDICATION
Just because you're trash doesn't mean you can't do great things.
It's called garbage can, not garbage cannot.
This Final Project is dedicated for those in need.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Bismillahirahmanirrahim
Praise to Allah SWT for His blessing and mercy. I could not have done everything
without His blessings and guidance. Salutation may be given to Prophet
Muhammad (Peace be upon Him) for the light which surrounds people’s way of
life.
I would like to give my deepest and warmest thanks to my supervisor, Ms.

Prayudias Margawati S.Pd., M.Hum for the guidance and relentless support
throughout the completion of this final project.
My sincerest gratitude devoted to my beloved parents; younger brother and sister;

and family for the unconditional love and never-ending support.
I would like to give my appreciation to all lecturers and staffs of English

Department for the lessons and assistances during my undergraduate years.
My special thanks to my friends for giving me everlasting friendship that surely

will be remembered as ethereal moments and memories.
The last thanks would be given to the reader and researcher who will spend their
time to read and refers to my final project. As this final project itself is far from
perfect, further research into this final project will be needed and is deeply
encouraged to determine the accuracy of my final project.
Semarang, 11 October 2022
Adyatma Putra Pratama
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INDIVIDUALS SOCIAL CAREER AS A PURSUIT OF
SELFHOOD IN SAYAKA’S NOVEL CONVENIENCE STORE
WOMAN
Adyatma Putra Pratama
E-mail: adyatmaputrapratama@gmail.com
Phone number: +6282281492232
Convenience Store Woman tells a story about Furukura Keiko, a 36 years old
woman who has worked zealously as a convenience store worker for over 18 years.
Throughout the story, Keiko's social career are criticized by society for being a
spinster. The constant pressure and stereotype from the others made Keiko
experience personality development. This study aims to know how Furukura
Keiko's personality is portrayed and developed using Elizabeth Hurlock personality
development theory. Thus, the researcher used spinster stereotype to better
understand how the factor can develop Furukura Keiko's personality. The researcher
took a role as a research instrument and chose qualitative research to ensure the
result according to the research problems. The conclusion of this study reveals that
Furukura Keiko experienced personality development. At the beginning of the story,
Keiko is described as a rational and workaholic character. Then her personality
develops into irrational and indolent after she cohabits and quits convenience store
work. The researcher then proposes how spinster stereotype have an impact to
selfhood pursuit that represented in Keiko's character.
Keywords: Sayaka Murata, personality development, spinster, social career,

selfhood
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Table of Contents
COVER……………………………………………………………………………i
APPROVAL………………………………………………………………………ii
DECLARATION OF ORIGINALITY…………………………………………iii
MOTTO AND DEDICATION……………………………………………….....iv
ACKNOWLEDGMENT…………………………………………………………v
ABSTRACT……………………………………………………………………...vi
TABLE OF CONTENTS……………………………………………………….vii
CHAPTER I………………………………………………………………………1
INTRODUCTION………………………………………………………………..1
1.1 Background of The Study ............................................................................... 1
1.2 Reasons for Choosing the Topic ..................................................................... 7
1.3 Statements of the Problem .............................................................................. 8
1.4 Objectives of the Study .................................................................................. 8
1.5 Significance of the Study................................................................................ 9
1.6 Outline of The Study…………………………………………………………..9
CHAPTER II.................................................................................................... 11
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE……………………………………..11
2. 1 Review of Previous Studies………………………………………………….11
2.2 Theoretical Background ............................................................................... 15
2.2.1 Character and Characterization…………………………………………….15
2.2.1.1 Character…………………………………………………………………15
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2.2.1.2 Characterization………………………………………………………….16
2.2.2 Personality Development…………………………………………………..17
2.2.2.1 Conditions Responsible for Personality Change…………………...……18
2.2.3 Spinster in Japan……………………………………………………….......20
2.3 Theoretical Framework of Analysis………………………………………….22
CHAPTER III .................................................................................................. 24
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY………………………………………….......24
3.1 Research Design……………………………………………………………...24
3.2 Object of The Study ..................................................................................... 24
3.3 Role of The Researcher ................................................................................ 25
3.4 Instrument of The Study ............................................................................... 25
3.5 Procedure of Data Collection........................................................................ 26
3.6 Procedure of Data Analysis .......................................................................... 28
CHAPTER IV .................................................................................................. 29
FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION……………………………………………….29
4.1 Main Character’s Personality Development…………………………………29
4.1.1 Furukura Keiko’s Initial Personality……………………………………….29
4.1.1.1 Rational Thinking………………………………………………………...29
4.1.1.2 Workaholic……………………………………………………………….38
4.1.2 Furukura Keiko’s Later Personality………………………………………..49
4.1.2.1 Irrational Thinking……………………………………………………….49
4.1.2.2 Indolent…………………………………………………………………..55
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4.2 How Does The Individuals Social Career Influence Pursuit Of Selfhood in
Convenience Store Woman………………………………………………………………62
4.2.1 Spinster Label in Japan…………………………………………………….62
CHAPTER V .................................................................................................... 77
CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION…………………………………………77
5.1 Conclusion……………………………………………………………………77
5.2 Suggestion……………………………………………………………………78
REFERENCES………………………………………………………………….79
APPENDICES…………………………………………………………………..83
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CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of The Study
Every country has its own certain values, culture, values, and social
condition they hold. Those qualities of a nation, however, can be change
over time. This change comes from both inside or outside influences. Japan
as one of the nations with distinct values that last for many generations is
also affected by the influences. One of the values that changed throughout
time is the Japanese social standing between man and woman in terms of
career path and marital status they have chosen.
We can see these social phenomena even before the Meiji period (1867-
1912). Before the Meiji era, Japanese people has their own religion called
Shinto (Hardacre, 2017, p. 18). Shinto religion believes that women have
supernatural power to communicate directly to God (Bocking, 1997, p. 63).
These beliefs were also strengthened by the fact that Amaterasu, the goddess
of the sun is the ancestor of The Japanese Imperial Family (Kirkland, 1997,
p. 1). The women from those periods have rights and freedom of agriculture,
commerce, or marriage. These beliefs create a matriarchal society that lasted
until the Muromachi period (1336-1573) (Figal, 2002, p. 294).
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The Japanese matriarchal system was then replaced by Neo-
Confucianism in the Tokugawa period (1600-1868). The Confucianism
concept that was brought back by Tokugawa emphasizes human relationship.
A person practicing Confucianism will seek to always act honorably in all
his relationships. This is what Confucianism calls the Five Key
Relationships, which are the relationship of the ruler to the subject; father
to son, husband to wife, elder to younger, and friend to friend. Furthermore,
the teaching emphasizes how a woman should be subject to; as a daughter
to their father, as wife to their husband, as a widow to their sons (Huaihong,
2015, p. 6). Roosiani (2016, p. 74) also comments that how the Japanese
patriarchy sees a woman as, “Sex is solely considered as a mechanism to
maintain family heir so that according to the teachings, the woman
considered as weak, helpless and functioned as a childbearing of the heir”.
Japanese men in traditional society era are allowed to satisfy their carnal
desire to another woman without being judged. This happens as normal at
those times, even they are allowed to keep a concubine in their home as long
as the husband fulfills the responsibilities. On the other hand, a wife should
stay faithful to their husband and never commit adultery. If the wife commits
adultery, then they will be punished either with a divorce or death sentence.
The law about Japanese household then was explained further in Japan Civil
Code in year 1898 which says, “Head of the household has full authority on
the assets of the family wealth and manage the whole family. The family
inheritance system is passed down to the eldest son. The wife has no legal
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authority, and the husband’s practice of keeping concubines was legal”
(Roosiana, 2016, p. 76).
The social standing between man and woman then changed when Japan
opened itself to the West in the Meiji period. As the industrial production in
Japan rapidly rose following the end of World War II, the social standing
between men and women also changes. These phenomena affect woman’s
social standing in society. Even though a woman’s standing is not on par
with a man's but their rights are more favorable than when Japan joined the
war. Okamura (cited by Roosiani 2016, p. 76) emphasizes woman's rights
on Japanese Constitution article 24 which says, “Marriage should be based
only on mutual consent and should be maintained on the cooperation of
rights between husband and wife. As for choosing spouse, enacting of
freehold, inheritance, choice of residence, divorce, and various other
problems that relate to marriage and the family, the laws will be carried out
based on respect for the individual and equality between the sexes”.
The constitution article emphasizes how women gained equality in
managing the household. It means that women are not only doing the chore
at the house but they can work freely. But in the reality, there is still
restriction for working woman like the salary scheme, the promotion, and
work period. The inequality between men and women in the workforce then
made Japanese feminists send their protest and state this practice as a result
of capitalism and patriarchal culture (Widarahesty & Ayu, 2014, p. 188).

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Widarahesty and Ayu (2014, p. 188) explain further why such
discrimination is still happening to Japanese working woman. She states that
discrimination still happens because many Japanese companies still believe
that the quality and loyalty of female workers are very low. This is because
Japanese women tend to stop once they have a child. According to the
government survey, there is 86% of woman considers keep working after
they gave birth even though they find that it is almost impossible to do so
(https://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2012/06/04/editorials/married-
women-want-to-work/ accessed on 27/12/2021). This dilemma then gave
rise to a phenomenon called the decline in the marriage rate in Japan that
caused the generation gap in Japan. The postponement of marriage emerged
as a social problem in Japan in early 1990, which was later associated with
lower birth rates, said Widarahesty and Ayu (2014, p, 188).
The social problem that arises can be reflected in literary works. It is
because they are what inspire the author either directly or indirectly. Sehandi
(2014, p. 6) said that “Literature is one of the phenomena of culture that is
universal, exists in every society anytime and anywhere”. One of those
literary works itself is novel, according to Merriam-Webster Dictionary
Online (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/novel accessed on
11/08/2022), it said that “An invented prose narrative that is usually long
and complex and deals especially with human experience through a usually
connected sequence of events”. A novel is a piece of literature that reflects
the author's inner life and the things they've learned from life. The author
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may not always feel experienced, but they can still draw on space, time, and
the people around them to represent their ideas. A novel that written itself is
a reflection of human existence by how they represent their ideas through
connecting a provoking character, time, and the world their lives in.
Convenience Store Woman (Konbini Ningen/コンビニ人間) is Sayaka
Murata’s best selling novel. The novel has sold over 1.5 million copies in
Japan. This is also the first Murata’s novel that translated into English and
several foreign language. The novel was published in America
entitled Convenience Store Woman by Grove Atlantic in June and translated
by Ginny Tapley Takemori. The second batch print was produced in July
2018. The novel was also translated into the Italian version entitled La
Ragazza Del Convenience Store in August 2018 and translated by Edizioni
Ejo.
Furukura Keiko, the protagonist of Convenience Store Woman, is a
woman with a peculiar personality. She lacks common human traits like
compassion and empathy as described in the novel. A young child whom
Keiko knew from kindergarten was sobbing over a dead bird. But instead of
being upset and crying about the bird, she asks her mother to make yakitori
because she believes her father enjoys the dish (grilled bird dishes).
However, Keiko's idiosyncrasy continued even after that. Keiko's
teacher was yelling at the top of her lungs because she was upset, so Keiko
pulled down her skirt and underwear to silence her. Nursery school officials
informed Keiko's mother of the incident and suggested that her daughter got
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medical help. The guilt she feels for her actions leads Keiko to withdraw
from society and lead a quite life. Keiko never had a romantic partner in her
life, and she was 36 years old and still single. Her friends begin to suspect
she is hiding something until Keiko brings his male coworker to live with
her in an effort to normalize her eccentric behavior.
Furukura Keiko’s personality and social career that do not match with
anything that happens in society put her under pressure. This pressure
eventually made Furukura Keiko have difficulty interacting with other
people because people see her as not one of them, and thus Keiko wants to
be cured. Those numerous events that Furukura Keiko experienced change
in her personality traits. The researcher decides to conduct this study to
answer the researcher's curiosity regarding the study of literature,
specifically in characters' personality trait. The researcher focuses on
analyzing Furukura Keiko, the main character in this study. The reason the
researcher chose Keiko is that she is one of the characters that went through
personality change.
Furukura Keiko is under a lot of stress because her personality and
social career are conflicted with the current events of society. Furukura
Keiko feels she is not accepted by society and needs to be cured because of
the social isolation she experiences as a result. The social isolation that
Keiko experienced was because Keiko herself grow as an individual with a
peculiar character in her earlier life that made personality development in
Keiko. I as the researcher undertook this research to identify what conflict

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Furukura Keiko experienced as the major female character in the novel and
how she finally changed her personality traits because of how an individual
pursuit the selfhood despite the obstacle they faced. As the major character,
Furukura Keiko will be the focus of the researcher's attention. The
researcher picked Keiko because she is one of the characters to undergo a
personality development.
1.2 Reasons for Choosing the Topic
The researcher consider several reasons to chooses personality development
theory and Convenience Store Woman as the research object. The reason is
as follows:
1. Convenience Store Woman is a popular novel by Sayaka Murata about
the life of Furukura Keiko, a woman who is put under pressure by
those around her because she does not conform to the norm. The con-
flict between Keiko and the people around her shows how an adult,
particularly a woman should behave in order to have a good social
career. This situation evoked the researcher's interest in studying soci-
ety, especially Japan, which retains traditional values even as it under-
goes modernization.
2. The researcher chose the theory of personality development because it
is appropriate for analyzing the main character in the novel. Several
factors contribute to personality development, and how they affect
how characters think and act is the focus of the novel. This will help
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the researcher understand the character's personality changes as the
story progresses.
3. The researcher chose Elizabeth Hurlock’s personality development as
the main topic for the research in order to discuss how social pressure
affects individual’s personality development in one of aspect Hur-
lock’s theory. Most people are not aware of this phenomenon and they
still continue to put their social pressure unconsciously. Understand-
ing Japanese modern society from a psychological standpoint is im-
portant because it will help the researcher understand how human psy-
chology works. The psychological standpoint will help the researcher
to understand know how the external cause like social pressure can
affects the individual’s personality when they are placed in a specific
environment.
1.3. Statements of the Problem
The research problems of this study as stated below:
a. How is the personality development described in Convenience Store
Woman?
b. How does the individuals social career influence pursuit of selfhood
in Convenience Store Woman?
1.4. Objectives of the Study
As for the statements on the problems before, this section will states the
objective of the study as stated below:

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1. To described the main female character’s personality development de-
scribed in Convenience Store Woman.
2. To explain how does the individuals social career influence pursuit of
selfhood in Convenience Store Woman.
1.5. Significance of the Study
The significance of this study will be manifested in two aspects: theoretical
and practical. Theoretically, this study is expected to be able to develop
previous studies Hurlock’s personality development studies to broaden the
references in learning and understanding literary works. Practically, this
research is expected to enlight the readers to understand the personality
development and the factors that affects them. The reader will apply the
knowledge in real life to understand and aid others who needs to develop
their personality based on the theory in this research.
1.6. Outline of The Study
This study is systematically organized as follows:
Chapter one is the introduction. This chapter consists of the background of
research, reasons for research, statements of the problem, objectives of the
research, significance of the study, and outline of the research.
Chapter two is the review of related literature. This chapter consists of
the review of previous studies, the review of related literature, and the
theoretical framework.
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Chapter three is the research methodology. This chapter consists of the
research design, the object of the study, the role of the researcher, the type
of data, the procedure of data collecting, and the procedure of data analysis.
Chapter four is the findings and discussion. This chapter consists of the
findings and discussion which answer the statement problems.
Chapter five is the conclusion and suggestion. This chapter presents the
conclusion that the researcher finds regarding the subject matter of the study.
CHAPTER II
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
2.1 Review of Previous Studies
Several researcher used Convenience Store Woman as the object of the

research in previous studies. The researcher collect the studies to get a better
picture of the novel with various approach.
The first study is an undergraduate thesis entitled Analisis Sosiologis

Tokoh Utama Keiko Furukura Dalam Novel “Konbini Ningen” Karya
Sayaka Murata by Dyffrensya Bunga Lorena (2020). The researcher focuses
on how context, social and culture from the family, neighbourhood, and
workplace are exposed by the main character, Furukura Keiko. The
researcher using a descriptive approach to analyze the main character social
problems. The result of research is how social status affects their authority
in the workplaces and how gender is diverting role incredibly in Japanese
society. The researcher also found in cultural problems that Japanese people
tend to be overworked in their workplaces, and marital status is mandatory
at a certain age.
The second study is an undergraduate thesis entitled Keberadaan

Konbini dalam Keseharian Masyarakat Jepang by Budi Hazrian (2017).
The researcher focuses on how konbini (Japanese naming for convenience
store) gives new meaning in the daily life of Japanese society and thus
changing and shifting the old to new meaning that is already owned by the
society. The researcher uses the descriptive analysis method based on the
study of representation by Stuart Hall and supported by the theory that
culture is ordinary by Raymond Williams, which is included in cultural
studies. The result from the study is that concepts such as location,
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operational time, product, equipment /means, to customer service have

contributed to inculcating new cultural meaning into society. However, none
is more dominant than 24-hour operational time policy within a week
without a year-round holiday, which is seen as an effort to enter into all
aspects of Japanese daily life that take place throughout the year, so that
involves many situations and conditions that produce konbini as a solution
to meet the needs in the daily life of the Japanese society.
The third study is an undergraduate thesis entitled Ketertarikan Terhadap
Lawan Jenis Dalam Novel コンビニ人間 (Konbini Ningen) Karya Sayaka
Murata by Deasyah Wida Hakami (2020). The researcher focuses on

analyze the character interest in the opposite sex and factors influencing the
choice to marry or be single in the novel Konbini. The researcher using the
theory of Myers and Baron also Sihotang about the factors that support the
emergence of interpersonal interest and use social elements about problems
that occur in Japan. The researcher then analyze the factors that influence
the choice of marriage or singleness in the novel. The result of the research
is that Furukura Keiko and Shiraha have no feelings of interest in a
relationship with the opposite sex. Therefore, the characters in this novel
have interest problems to the opposite sex. Furukara Keiko chooses the
freedom of her life and lives single. However, on Shiraha side, he is affected
from unilateral decision and lived as single man.
The fourth study is an undergraduate thesis entitled Eksistensi Tokoh

Utama Keiko Dalam Novel Konbini Ningen Karya Sayaka Murata: Sebuah
Kajian Eksistensialisme Jean Paul Sartre by Karina Budisantoso (2019).
The researcher focuses on Keiko's dynamic existence change that can be
researched using the concepts of facticity, reflective and non-reflective
conciousness, and responsibilities that are part of the philosophy of study
existentialism of Jean Paul Sartre. To analyze Keiko’s existentialism, the
researcher analyzes the elements of the novel; theme, character,
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characteristics, and the setting. The result of the study is divided into three
parts. First, the facticity that appeared in Keiko's life was the facticity that
came from her origin, other people, and society. Second, the dynamics of
Keiko's existence were caused due to Keiko's changing level of reflective
consciousness. The level of consciousness Keiko's reflection changes
according to her appreciation of facticity, responsibilities, and the essence
of life. Third, the responsibility that Keiko must bring is that she is ready to
face the risk of being alienated, living a simple life because Keiko
understands the risk of insecurity, and doing her best at work so that it can
be helpful for the world.
The fifth study is an undergraduate thesis entitled Personality

Development of Maleficent as Seen in Elizabeth Rudnick's Maleficent by
Yunda Anissa (2017). The researcher focuses on analyzing Maleficient's
personality development, the main character of Elizabeth Rudnick's
Maleficient. To analyze Maleficient personality development along with the
influence that factors her development. The author chooses the
psychological approach and personality development by Elizabeth Hurlock.
The result of Annisa’s study is that the main character experiences
personality development. Her personality at first is described as spiteful,
wicked, impatient, bad-tempered, and depressed. After meeting another
main character Princess Aurora, Maleficent becomes strong, brave,
regretful, loving, and caring. Four factors influence her personality
development; strong motivation, the change in roles, the chages in self-
concept, and the changes in significant people.
The sixth study is an undergraduate thesis entitled Personality

Development of Edmund Pevensie as Seen in C.S Lewis’s The Chronicles of
Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe by Antonia Rosa Gravita
(2016). The researcher concentrate on analyzing Edmund Pevensie’s
personality development on the C.S Lewis’s The Chronicles of Narnia: The
Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. The researcher tried to analyze
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Edmund Pevensie personality development along with influence that

become factor of his development. The author chooses the psychological
approach and personality development theory by Elizabeth Hurlock. The
finding of research is the main character experiences personality
development. His personality at first is described as bad-tempered, spiteful,
selfish, and traitorous. However, after having a bad experience with the
Witch, Edmund Pevensie becomes brave, regretful, loving, and caring. Four
factors influence his personality development; The changes in roles, the
strong motivation, the changes in self-concept, and the changes in
significant people.
The seventh study is an undergraduate thesis entitled The Influences of

Holden’s Alineation and Cynicism on Holden’s personality Development in
J. D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye by Yohanes Bayu Wijaya (2012).
The researcher focuses on analyzing the influence of family and
environment that developed Holden’s personality. The researcher tried to
analyze factors that influenced Holden Caulfield personality and describe
his personality development. The author uses a psychology as the approach
and the of alienation and cynicism theory to reveal Holden’s personality.
The finding of research is the main character experiences personality
development. Holden’s mindset is mature because alienation and cynicism
influence. In addition, Holden’s mindset become mature is because his
family bring the positive influence.
The eight study is an undergraduate thesis entitled The influence of Amir

Khan’s Personality Development in Facing His Conflicts As Seen in Khaled
Hosseini’s The Kite Runner by Ribka Gunarto (2012). The researcher
analyses the personality development of main characters in facing his
conflicts. The author utilize psychological approach, character and
characterization theory, conflict theory, and personality development theory
by Elizabeth Hurlock. The finding of research is the main character
experiences personality development. Amir’s characteristics change from
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envious, selfish, pessimistic, childish, cowardly, and rich before moving to

America. Instead, he became an ordinary person, optimistic, caring,
opinionated, and responsible after moving to America. Three conflicts
develop his personality; Amir versus Assef, Amir versus Hassan, and Amir
versus Baba. These conflicts made Amir be brave and overcome his
conflicts.
Those all are previous studies using Convenience Store Woman novel by
Sayaka Murata. The researcher concludes that their main concerns are
different from the topic has been chosen for this final project. Most of the
research discuss about Convenience Store Woman novel with social issues
like the research from Lorena (2020), Hakami (2020). In addition, some of
them also discuss about culture like Hazrian (2017) or existentialism like
Budisantoso (2019). Meanwhile, the rest of researcher discuss about
personality development as presented by Anissa (2017), Gravita (2016),
Wijaya (2012), and Gunarto (2012). To make a diversity and enrich the
perspective of the main object studies, the researcher takes on another aspect
of the novel that has not been analyzed or discussed on another studies. The
researcher decides to take on Furukura Keiko’s personality development as
the main character as seen in the novel. In addition, this study will reveal
the reason and motivation behind the personality changes.
2.2 Theoretical Background

2.2.1 Character and Characterization
2.2.1.1 Character
One of the essential elements in the novel is character. The story without
characters will not progress since they are the central core of the story.
Rohrberger and Woods (1971, p. 20) say that character is the one who acts
out in a particular place and time (setting) in some conflict in a pattern of
event. Subhan (2003, p. 8) classifies a character into three categories;
antagonist, protagonist, and supporting character. The protagonist is the
central character of the story, where the story is centered around them.
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Meanwhile, the antagonist character is the one whom a hurdle to the

protagonist to make a conflict. In addition, supporting character has the role
of supporting characters whether they are protagonist or antagonist. Support
character also does not have any particular roles in moving the plot as the
protagonist does.
In addition, Perrin (as cited in Arp and Jhonson's, 2009, p. 164-165)
divides characters into types according to the development of the character:
a. Dynamic character
Perrin (2009, p. 165) quoted that a dynamic protagonist is a character who
leads the plot significantly. The characters will experience changes
throughout the story due to protagonist characters encountering several
conflicts on their journey. The changes are significant and not minor,
whether positive or negative.
b. Static character
Perrin (2009, p. 164) says that a character who does not go undergo a change
is a static character. Static characters' personalities remain the same at the
end of the story since they do not develop as they appear in the beginning.
2.2.1.2 Characterization
Kate Grenville (1990, p. 36) Says that characterization is a process to alter
real-life people into characters in fiction. She also brings her definition
regarding characterization as everything the writers do to build the
characters they want (1990, p. 36). Murphy (1972, p. 161-173) then
categorized nine characterization methods from how an author describes
characters. Those classifications are explained below:
a. Personal Description
The author depicted the characters from their appearance, such as face, skin,
eyes, and style clothes.
b. Character as Seen by Another
The author depicts the characters through the views or opinions of other
characters.
c. Speech
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The author depicts the characters by saying or speaking the language or

dialogue used in the conversations.
d. Past Life
The author depicts the characters through the character experiences in the
past.
e. Conversation of Others
The author depicts the characters from what one character says about
another character.
f. Reactions
The author depicts the characters by showing the characters reactions to the
story's events.
g. Direct Comment
The author depicts the characters by giving direct comments and a chance
for the readers to imagine the quality of the characters from the author's
comments.
h. Thoughts
The author depicts the characters by giving the readers information about
what the characters feel and think.
i. Mannerism
The author depicts the characters explicitly or implicitly about the negative
or positive qualities or manners that the characters have.
2.2.2 Personality Development

The researcher uses a psychological approach since this study analyzes
the character's personality development. Based on Rohrberger and Woods
(1971, p. 13), the psychological approach is an approach to explain the
character's personality in the story and contains something related to the
feeling of fantasy through ideas and behavior. Therefore, the researcher used
this approach because emotions are one of the ways of thinking about
psychology. The researcher can see the character's description, and the
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relationship between the character's personality and the character is from the
novel.
Elizabeth Hurlock (as cited by Laba, 2012, p. 12) explains that the term
"personality" is a word derived from Latin "persona," which means "mask."
Greek actors used masks to hide their identity when they were on stage.
Romans later adopted this dramatic technique then denoted it "as one
appears to others," not as one is. Gordon W. Allport of Harvard University
stated another definition of personality. Allport proposed personality in short
definition as "the dynamic organization within the individual of those
psycophysical system that determine his characteristic behaviour and
thought" (as cited by Laba, 2012, p. 12). From the explanation above, we
can see that personality makes people different. Every person in the world
has a different personality, making them an individual identity for humans.
Hurlock (as cited by Anissa, 2017, p. 15) characterizes changes in the
personality into three major classifications. The first classification is
personality changes for the better and the worse. The second classification
is personality changes for quantitative and qualitative. The third
classification is that personality changes occur slowly and rapidly.
2.2.2.1 Conditions Responsible for Personality Change

Personality changes may or may not be interrelated depending on the person
that experiences the causes themselves. According to Hurlock (as cited by
Anissa, 2017, p. 16), several conditions are responsible for personality
change. They are changes in self-concept, changes in roles, changes in social
pressure, changes in significant people, changes in the environment, strong
motivation, and physical changes. Those points will be explained below.
a. Physical Changes
Hurlock (as cited by Anissa, 2017, p. 16) explains that the physical changes
may come from illness or maturation, injuries, or other conditions of an
individual. An individual unfavorable physical condition, such as being
overweight or illness are, often affects personality change as they are not
19
going fit to their self-concept. Accepting illness and revising self-concept is

the cause of personality change.
b. Changes in The Environment
Change in personality also can be caused by changes in the environment.
Hurlock (as cited by Anissa, 2017, p. 16) says that there are four things the
environment must do to improve the personality changes. The first is that
they must improve an individual status. The second is that they must enable
individuals to balance their environment. The third is that change must
enable individuals to come closer to their self-ideal. The fourth is that the
environment must aid an individual to see themselves as more realistic and
revise their goals to keep their abilities.
c. Changes in Significant People
Hurlock (as cited by Anissa, 2017, p. 17) comments that an individual's
personality change can be affected by significant people. An individual can
increase the self-motivation in changing their personality when the
significant people of the individual have changed. The significant people's
attitude and the value with other individuals are changed depending on the
significant people themselves. The significant changes in personality to the
individual indicate a tremendous difference in their personality.
d. Changes in Social Pressure
Hurlock (as cited by Anissa, 2017, p. 17) quotes that certain aspects of the
personality can be changed through intense social pressure. Every people
desires to be accepted in society regardless of where their life. The person
will change their personality when the social pressure does not allow
someone to be accepted in society.
e. Change in Roles
Change in roles has a significant impact on the individual. The individual’s
personality will be better if the changes in a role are more favorable. The
individual changes depending on how the new roles are suitable with their
needs or not (Hurlock as cited by Anissa, 2017, p. 17).
f. Strong Motivation
20
Changes can be affected when the motivation to improve the personality is

strong enough. People are usually motivated to change their personalities to
improve their social relationships to get acceptance from society.
Individuals will change their personalities to be better if society cannot
accept them (Hurlock as cited by Anissa, 2017, p. 17).
g. Change in Self-Concept
It requires tremendous self-insight to change the self-concept since it is not
easy. The entire personality will change when the self-concept of individual
changes. Hurlock (as cited by Anissa, 2017, p. 18) mentions several
conditions that facilitate self-concept changes. The first is to see oneself as
it is through introspection. The second is gaining new self-insight with self-
disclosure to those with respect and confidence. The third is ignoring the
unfavorable aspect of the environment and changing from an environment
that fosters a favorable self-concept. The fourth is until one becomes
accustomed to it, likes it, and accepts it; the patient has to practice trying to
see oneself according to the new self-concept.
2.2.3 Spinster in Japan
2.2.3.1 Spinster in Japan
To make it easier to understand, the researcher will present the term spinster
and its associations within the cultural contexts of western societies before
we jump to spinster in Japanese society. Ann Wan-lih Chang, in his journal,
writes that Spinsters are the term to refer to a woman who earns their living
by working as a spinner. The word then becomes a synonym to refer to a
woman who is usually long past their age for marriage. Thus, they had to
earn their keep in their parent's home by weaving and spinning (2015, p. 47).
Although the primary definition of the term spinster is someone (usually a
woman) who spins thread or yarn or who practices spinning as a regular
occupation, the secondary definition refers to a woman who is beyond the
usual age for marriage, according to the New Oxford Dictionary of English
21
and the Webster's New World Dictionary of the American Language. In

general, the word spinster may be used as a negative way to refer to single
women (Weigle as cited by Chang, 2015, p. 47).
Mustard also adds that the spinster stereotype also tends to demonize and
mock single women as infertile, middle-aged, dull, depressed, and is longing
to be like other normal women (as cited by Chang, 2015, p. 48). The pathetic
single woman who longs and envies to be like other normal women made
them into a stereotype. It can be concluded that a single woman’s life is
never complete without marriage. The majority of society would frown upon
the idea that a single woman can enjoy a fulfilled life outside marriage.
Mustard (as cited by Chang, 2015, p. 45) explains that the social norm
shaping women into natural wives and mothers serves, in effect, as a means
of social control over women. Representations of a negative image of single
women as spinsters in Japanese society indicate the continuing social
marginalization and discrimination that this distinctive (single women)
group experiences as a result of abnormality from conventional society in
Japan. At the start of the introduction, Yamaguchi (2004, p. 109) present her
findings of spinster stereotype in Japan; they are called makeinu (loser dogs)
and onibaba (demon hags).
Sakai Junko coins Makeinu or loser dogs in her best-selling book,

Makeinu no Touboe (Howl of the Loser Dogs). This neologism refers to a
single woman in their 30s without children. The word makeinu quickly
gained national attention and is now widely used in the media and everyday
conversation. Makeinu, as word has spread and become part of the common
language for mocking single women in their 30s for failing to find marriage
partners (Yamaguchi, 2004, p. 109).
Another term, onibaba or demon hags, are coined by Misago Chizuru in

her best-seller book, Onibaba-ka suru Onna-tachi (Women who are
Becoming Demon Hags). This word also refers to women who are
unmarried and childless. Misago Chizuru explains that the word is from an
22
old folktale of the onibaba, in which a lonely demon hag attacks a lost boy
at night. Onibaba is a tale about unmarried, post-menopausal women who,
because they did not assume their appropriate roles in society and did not
have the chance to release their sexual and reproductive energies, end up
sexually assaulting young men. She warns that the number of onibaba,
which she broadens the meaning to include nasty older women, is increasing
and attempts to explain how to avoid becoming one (Yamaguchi, 2004, p.
109).
The pejorative term from these books tells us that social attention is
focused on single women. Women are still judged in terms of their
reproductive capacity because society considers the low birth rate is the fault
of women than men. This ideology can be seen when Tokyo Governor
Ishihara Shintarou remarks that ‘such useless human beings are extremely
harmful for the whole planet’ and ‘it is sinful and wasteful for women to live
beyond menopause’ (Yamaguchi, 2004, p. 110).
2.3 Theoretical Framework of Analysis

In this study, the researcher would like to explain the theories used to answer
the study's research questions. The object of this study is a novel entitled
Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata. The data from the novel will
be analyzed with character and characterization theory to understand what
sort of Furukura Keiko is. The researcher later will analyzing the personality
development that Keiko experience with personality development theory.
Keiko’s personality development will analyzed with Elizabeth Hurlock’s
and Murphy’s character and characterization. These approaches will
determine what kind of factor that led Keiko’s personality development. The
last is analyzing how Keiko correlation between Keiko’s personality
development with the spinster stereotype in order to reveal Keiko’s social
career as an individual pursuit of selfhood.
23
Convenience Store Woman by

Sayaka Murata
Character and Characterization

Theory by Murtagh John Murphy
Personality Development
Theories by Elizabeth Hurlock
Spinster Stereotype in Japan
Social Career as An Individual

Pursuit Of Selfhood
Figure 2.1 Theoretical Framework

CHAPTER III
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.1 Research Design
According to Creswell (2014, p. 41), Research designs are types of inquiry

within qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches that provide
specific direction for procedures in a research design. The researcher then
decided to use qualitative research for this study since this method are the
most appropriate to conduct the study.
Creswell in his book Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative and

Mixed Methods Approaches said that qualitative research is a means for
exploring and understanding the meaning individuals or groups ascribe to a
social or human problem. The process of research involves emerging
questions and procedures; collecting data in the participants’ setting;
analyzing the data inductively, building from particulars to general themes;
and making interpretations of the meaning of the data. The final written
report has a flexible writing structure (Creswell, 2014, p. 32).
The qualitative research is especially useful when the researcher does not
know the important variables to examine. This type of approach may be
needed because the topic is new, the subject has never been addressed with
a certain sample or group of people, and existing theories do not apply with
the particular sample or group under study (Morse cited by Creswell, 2014,
p. 50).
3.2 Object of The Study
The object that the researcher will be going to used is Convenience Store
Woman by Sayaka Murata. The object of the study will be divided into two;
24
25
formal object and material object. Formal object is the perspective or the point
of view from which a discipline approaches its material object (Obi-Okogbuo,
2015, p. 131). On the other hand, material object is science, the scientific
enterprise (Obi-Okogbuo, 2015, p. 139).
The material object of the study the novel entitled Convenience Store
Woman by Sayaka Murata which originally written in Indonesia in 2016 and
translated into English by Ginny Tapley Takemori in 2018.
The formal object of the study is the novel Convenience Store Woman
which uses personality development of the main character as a way of reveal
the social problem in three aspects: immature, freeter, and spinster. This can
be seen in the form of monologue and dialogue between the characters, words,
phrases, and sentences.
3.3 Role of The Researcher
The researcher will take the role as a data collector, data analyzer, data
organizer, and data reporter.
First, the researcher will collect the data through by reading the novel and
identifying the data in the form of words, phrases, sentence, and paragraphs
related to the study. To support the research, the researcher will collect data
from various sources, such as books, journals, thesis, and internet.
Second, the researcher will analyze the collected data thoroughly in order
to answer the research problems.
Third, the researcher will organize the data after analyzing the data in
order to sort out data that collected by researcher from various resources.
The last is as a data reporter, the researcher will conduct the last
procedure which is reporting the result of research problems stated before.
3.4 Instrument of The Study
Creswell in his book explain the qualitative study as the research takes place
26
in the natural setting, relies on the researcher as the instrument for data
collection, employs multiple methods of data collection, is both inductive
and deductive, is based on participants’ meanings, includes researcher
reflexivity, and is holistic (Creswell, 2014, p. 261). It means that in this study,
the researcher will take a role as the instrument of the study.
The researcher as instrument also emphasized further by Turato that
researchers are themselves a research instrument as they use their sensory
organs to grasp the study objects, mirroring them in their consciousness,
where they then are converted into phenomenological representations to be
interpreted (as cited in Pezalla, et al, 2012, p. 167). Thus, the researcher will
have a prominent role as the instrument of the study.
3.5 Procedure of Data Collection
After collecting the data of the research and formatting the instrument of the
study, the last step are analyzing the data and forming a structured argument.
This section, procedure of data analysis, provides an insight of how the
researcher created a systematic procedure of the data analysis and forming
the structured argumentation. This part of the research will be beneficial for
the reader to find the systematic flow to answer the research question.
The first step is reading the novel. The researcher collects the data by
reading the novel thoroughly. The researcher tried to understand the content
of the novel to reveal the phenomenon that happened in the novel.
The second step is identifying data by categorizing the content in the

novel. The researcher then identifies the content to put them into categorizes
that related to research problem.
The third step is inventorying the data by organize them into order. The
researcher will use table to put the data for research convenience.
The fourth step is classifying the data in order categorize the data into
based on the research problem.
27
The fifth step is selecting data from data already classified that related to
the research problem.
The last step is reporting the data after selecting data to present the
finding in the form of qualitative research.
Table 3.1. Table of Keiko’s initial personality
Classification of Keiko’s initial Citation Explanation

personality changes
personality
Table 3.2. Table of Keiko’s later personality
Classification of Keiko’s later Citation Explanation

personality changes
personality
Table 3.3. Table of Spinster Stereotype in Japan
Spinster stereotype in Citation Explanation

Japan
28
3.6 Procedure of Data Analysis

The researcher will doing close reading on the novel and select citation that
appropriate to the research. Then, the researcher applied personality development
theories and spinster label to every qualified citation on the tables. After
organizing citation, the researcher analyzed the data and report them into an
explanation column.
CHAPTER IV
FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION
4.1 Main Character’s Personality Development
This chapter contains analysis which answer the research problems that the
researcher has presented in chapter one. The following section will be divided
into two main sections, each having two sub-sections. This chapter is
discusses Furukura Keiko’s initial personality and the two qualities she had
before developing her personality. The second section will describe Furukura
Keiko’s later personality and the two qualities she had after developing her
personality. At the end of the second section, the discussion is focused on
factors that influence Furukura Keiko’s personality development.
4.1.1 Furukura Keiko’s Initial Personality
This section aims to describe Furukura Keiko’s personality before she

experienced personality development. The researcher describes Keiko’s
initial personality through how the author portrays the character in the novel.
4.1.1.1 Rational Thinking
Throughout the story, the author describes Keiko as a rational-thinking person.

This quality, however, does not fit in with society's standards to become their
full-fledged member. When Keiko met the standard, people around her
became happy because this signals her normality.
So the manual for life already existed. It was just that it was
already ingrained in everyone's heads, and there wasn't any need
to put it in writing. The specific form of what is considered an
"ordinary person" had been there all along, unchanged since
prehistoric times I finally realized.
29
30
"Keiko, I'm so happy for you. You've been struggling for so long,
but at last you've found someone who understands ..."
She was getting carried away with making up a story for herself.
She might just as well have been saying I was "cured." If it had
been that simple all along, I thought, I wish she'd given me clear
instructions before, then I wouldn't have had to go to such lengths
to find out how to be normal. (Murata, 2018, p. 69)
This analysis is in part of Hurlock’s classification personality
development which is a change for the better and worse. The dear example
that describes the clash between Keiko's rational thinking versus society's
standard is when she realizes that the convenience store manual, which
represents a guide for Keiko's life, is already ingrained in everybody's mind.
Keiko finally understands why everyone wants to shun, cure, or disown her
because being rational does not meet the standard society wants. In Keiko's
whole life, she will face several problems due to her rationality, which drives
her to experience personality development. In the following example, we will
see how this paragraph corresponds with Keiko's current state. Rational
thinking also signifies a better aspect in Hurlock’s classification which is a
personality changes for the better and the worse.
If we trace back in time, Keiko had shown rational thinking even when
she was in nursery school. She argued that the dying animals could be eaten,
regardless of other people's views.
“What’s up, Keiko? Oh! A little bird… where did it come from I
wonder?” she said gently, stroking my hair. “The poor thing. Shall
we make a grave for it?”
“Let’s eat it!” I said.
“Keiko!” my mother exclaimed reprovingly, finally coming to her
sense. “Let’s make a grave for Mr. Budgie and bury him. Look,
everyone’s crying. His friend must be sad he died. The poor little
thing!”
“But it’s dead. Let’s eat it!” (Murata, 2018, p. 5-6)
development which is a change for the better and worse. Unbeknownst to her
31
mother's pity for the deceased bird, little Keiko tells her mother that the
rational thing to do after an animal dies is to eat them. Keiko does not develop
her empathetic side since her childhood due to her rational thinking traits and
mother inability to explain the common sense to Keiko. Because of this,
Keiko does not cry or mourn. It means that the reasoning and act she conducts
are not based on feelings that make up her common sense but purely on
rational thinking. Keiko does not care with animal is the result of her inability
to understand empathy like her peers due to her rational thinking traits and
her mothers absence guidance. Rational thinking also signifies a better aspect
in Hurlock’s classification which is a personality changes for the better and
the worse.
Keiko cannot understand why her friends and mother buried the bird and
scattered it with flowers, thinking they had lost their minds.
“Everyone was crying for the poor dead bird as they went around
murdering flowers, plucking their stalks, exclaiming, “What
lovely flowers! Little Mr. Budgie will definitely be pleased.”
They looked so bizarre I thought they must all be out of their
minds (Murata, 2018, p. 6-7).
development which is a change for the better and worse. If a person would
reason, killing creatures for other creatures still counts as killing. Here, Keiko
questions why everyone becomes sad when a little bird dies but not when they
pluck the flowers that share the same fate as the bird. She concludes that
everyone except her is weird based on her rational value. Keiko, in her
childhood, could not understand empathy or common sense. It is
understandable when such a thing is bizarre to her because she thinks it is
irrational. Rational thinking also signifies a better aspect in Hurlock’s
classification which is a personality changes for the better and the worse.
In primary school, Keiko began to take her rational problem-solving

further by using a violent method. She believes that she can solve the problem
as long as they are rational, even though it means that she has to use violence.
32
“Everyone was saying to stop them, so that’s what I did.”

Violence was wrong, the bewildered teachers told me in
confusion.
“But everyone was saying to stop Yamazaki-kun and Aoki-kun
fighting! I just thought that would be the quickest way to do it,” I
explained patiently. Why on earth were they so angry? I just
didn’t get it. (Murata, 2018, p. 7)
development which is a change for the better and worse. Keiko thought the
quickest way to silence the unruly boys in her school was to hit them with a
shovel. Her way of solving problems shows her intention in the first place to
make them quite whatever it takes. Keiko’s rational thinking by choosing
violence was her view of the quickest result in the face of her problem. She
does not get why the teacher reprimands violence as wrong because she does
not see the other way to make the same result as she does. Hence, she wonders
why the teachers are angry with her. Rational thinking also signifies a better
aspect in Hurlock’s classification which is a personality changes for the better
and the worse.
Decency is a concept that Keiko could not understand as part of common

sense in order to live in society. However, Keiko confronts her upset teacher
from a TV show knowledge because she thinks it is rational regardless of how
that affects her teacher's morals.
She wouldn't calm down even when everyone started begging,

"We're sorry, Miss!" "Please stop, Miss!" So in order to shut her
up I ran over and yanked her skirt and knickers down. She was so
shocked she burst into tears, but at least she became quiet.
The teacher from the next class came running in and asked me
what had happened, so I explained that I'd once seen on TV how
a grown-up woman who was all worked up went quiet after
someone took her clothes off. But then they held another teachers'
meeting and my mother was summoned again. (Murata, 2018, p.
7-8)
development which is a change for the better and worse. Keiko, in her
33
childhood, absorbs various information around her; this includes everything

that needs parental control, like a TV show. Children in their early days tend
to act whatever they please, and Keiko is no exception. Unfortunately, Keiko
has already started her rational thinking without a moral compass from adults,
causing a ruckus in her school. Keiko’s rational solution and unsupervised
morals from adults resulted in teacher sexual harassment that Keiko thought
was normal. Rational thinking also signifies a better aspect in Hurlock’s
As Keiko grew old, she understood her predicament and tried to devise a
solution.
“But as I grow older, being so quite apparently became a problem

in itself. As far as I was concerned, tough, keeping my mouth shut
was the most sensible approach to getting by in life. Even when
my teachers wrote in my school report that I should make more
friends and play outside more, I doggedly refused to say anything
than absolute necessary.” (Murata, 2018, p. 8-9).
development which is a change for the better and worse. Keiko then tried to
reduce her communication with others as much as possible. She thinks that it
is the most sensible to do. Fixing something loud by making them quiet is a
rational thing for Keiko, but not in this case. Keiko’s growing calmness
became a problem to other people, too. Her habit of saying anything more
than necessary was an extreme countermeasure for other people. In Keiko’s
school report, the teachers made a note to her to make friends, play outside
and to socialize; something that Keiko could not grasp with her rational
thinking process. Rational thinking also signifies a better aspect in Hurlock’s
Keiko's rational thinking is something natural even until she reaches

thirty-six years old. Keiko looked back and recalled that she does not know
how to be a normal human.
34
“When I first started here, there was a detailed manual that taught
me how to be store worker, and I still don’t have a clue how to be
a normal person outside that manual.” (Murata, 2018, p. 15)
development which is a change for the better and worse. Keiko thinks that
something requires a manual in order to function correctly. To be a good store
worker, the employee needs a manual that teaches them. The same thing goes
for how Keiko wants to be a normal human. Keiko wonders how she became
a misfit and concludes that she does not have a manual to be a normal human.
She believes that a manual is a rational way of becoming something or
someone; without a manual, everything will go astray. Rational thinking also
signifies a better aspect in Hurlock’s classification which is a personality
changes for the better and the worse.
Social cues or customs are an alien to Keiko. In her egocentric thinking,

Keiko cannot see why visiting her family is important. Because for her, the
only important thing is herself and her well-being. This egocentric thinking is
supported by her rational thinking that made Keiko validate her thoughts.
“As far as I was concerned, though, there wasn’t any difference

between Miho’s child and my nephew, and I didn’t understand the
logic of coming out all the way here just to see him. Maybe this
particular baby should be more important to me than the others.
But so far as I could see, aside from a few minor differences they
were an animal called baby and looked much the same, just like
stray cars all looked much the same.” (Murata, 2018, p. 39-40).
development which is a change for the better and worse. Keiko, who cannot
understand social cues or customs, questions why she should come out all the
way to see her nephew. After all, Keiko sees everyone as a human being and
treats them equally regardless of age, gender, or their background. Whenever
someone got some priorities as her nephew does, she questions why he should
be special; if he is, how would he affect her? Keiko, who sees everything with
her rational thinking, cannot grasp the social cue normal humans would do:
to enjoy with their family's accompany. Rational thinking also signifies a
35
better aspect in Hurlock’s classification which is a personality changes for the

better and the worse.
Effective and efficient is the motto of Keiko's rational thinking. She

learned in her past that if the method proved to work, she will do it again.
“When something was strange, everyone thought they had the

right to come to stomping in all your life to figure out why. I found
that arrogant and infuriating, not to mention a pain in the neck.
Sometimes I even wanted to hit them with a shovel to shut them
up, like I did that time in elementary school.” (Murata, 2018, p.
40).
development which is a change for the better and worse. Promoting violence
is not what Keiko chooses as an option when solving a problem. Her
environment from the past until the present does not provide enough options
to solve the problem. We can take diplomacy as a way of solving a problem
without violence. Diplomacy is surely not efficient like violence is but they
prove to be effective and harmless. Keiko's mimicking of a person around her
should be enough to make her solve the problem. However, without an actual
role model, all she can do is to instil her ideology without thinking about the
consequence. Rational thinking also signifies a better aspect in Hurlock’s
Results are the essence of being rational. Without them, the intention they
have before conducting an act would mean nothing. Keiko thinks that
whatever her method is, the result is to make the baby quiet.
“The baby started to cry. My sister hurriedly picked him up and

tried to soothe him. What a lot of hassle I thougt. I looked at the
small knife we’d used to cut the cake still lying on the table: if it
was just matter of making him quite, it would be easy enough. My
sister cuddled him tightly to her. Watching them, I wiped some
cream from the cake off my lip.” (Murata, 2018, p. 41).
development which is a change for the better and worse. Everyone with
common sense would find Keiko’s way of thinking eerie. She would not
36
hesitate to stab the baby to make him silent. This is another aspect that makes
Keiko a result-oriented person; being rational means abandoning morals and
ethics to achieve their goals. People with common sense would find this way
of thinking brutal even though it is rational. Keiko demonstrates how she
delivers the best result whenever the problem comes, a dear example of her
being rational. Rational thinking also signifies a better aspect in Hurlock’s
Despite being an aggressive person, Keiko knows when something

violates her value. In this case, we can see that a rule is essential to Keiko's
rational thinking.
“It was fundamental rule never to carry your phone around while
at work. I couldn’t understand why he’d violate such a simple
directive.” (Murata, 2018, p. 44).
development which is a change for the better and worse. We have never seen
Keiko protecting her code throughout the story since then. The author usually
depicts her as aggressive, not defensive. Manual is a manifestation of Keiko
being rational. In the manual, there are several rules that a store worker must
obey to be a good employee. Keiko pitying someone who violates such a rule
exemplifies how she has never violated a manual’s rule before. It is because
she thinks that violating the rule means she would be against nature as a
rationalist. Rational thinking also signifies a better aspect in Hurlock’s
Keiko considers people who break the rule as idiots. She belittles
everyone for becoming irrational since they are not following manuals or
rules.
“I was willing to overlook his slacking off and even how he would
secretly eat the food out for disposal, but there was a woman
customer, a regular, who’d forgotten her parasol and came back
to get it, and he started behaving all stalkerish toward her, copying
her phone number from delivery service slip and trying to find out
where she lived. Mrs. Izumi here realized what was going on I
37
checked the security video right away. So I talked to him and told
him to leave”.
“What and idiot, I thought. Store workers sometimes break little
rules, but I’d never heard of anything as ugly as this. It was just
lucky it hadn’t become police matter.” (Murata, 2018, p. 49-50).
development which is a change for the better and worse. Convenience stores
have become a part of Keiko right now, which includes everything within it.
With that in mind, she also will stick her value or qualities in it. Keiko judges
people who break the rules. She despises those people who disturb the
convenience store order, like stalking the customers. It seems normal to see
Keiko's commentary; however, as a rationalist, she deemed the act illegal and
foolish. Rational thinking also signifies a better aspect in Hurlock’s
As a rationalist, Keiko sees her body as a tool to work and not any else.
When Shiraha ridicules Keiko for how he cannot get an erection with her body,
Keiko answers that they are a mere physiological phenomenon.
“What the hell are you saying? That’s ridiculous! I’m sorry, but
there’s no way I’ll ever be able to get it up with you Furukura.”
“Get it up? Um, what has that got to do with marriage? Marriage
is a matter of paperwork, an erection is a physiological
phenomenon.” (Murata, 2018, p. 65)
development which is a change for the better and worse. Physiological
phenomena can be taken as people's views or values when we put them into
perspective. Shiraha sees his erection as deciding factor when choosing his
bride candidate. Nevertheless, Keiko sees Shiraha's physiological
phenomenon as a part of his body function, which has nothing to do with her.
Because of this, she views marriage and sex unrelated because both of them
are separated matter. Keiko's love life does not develop because she does not
have sexual desire and tends to use her rational thinking to maintain a
38
relationship. Rational thinking also signifies a better aspect in Hurlock’s

Marriage is merely a ceremony to make a relationship official for Keiko.

There is no need to love each other to marry someone. Keiko thinks that if
someone wants to solve their problems by marriage, then so be it.
I nodded. "I suppose it is unreasonable to feel that way. If you can

get them to stop complaining just by getting married, then that
would be the simple and sensible thing to do, wouldn't it?"
"Don't make it sound so easy! We men have it much harder than
women, you know. If you're not yet a fully fledged member of
society, then it's get a job, and if you've got a job, it's earn more
money, and if you earn more money, it's get married and have
offspring. Society is continually judging us. Don't lump me
together with women. You lot have a cushy time of it," he said
sullenly.
"Well then, marriage won't solve anything then, will it? Isn't it
pointless?" I said. But Shiraha didn't answer and carried on
talking heatedly. (Murata, 2018, p. 62-63)
development which is a change for the better and worse. People take their
relationship further by vowing to each other in marriage. People would marry
someone because they love each other and want to make a vow about their
relationship. Keiko, as a rationalist, does not find the need to love each other
to marry someone, so she offers marriage as a solution to Shiraha. Keiko then
comments on how pointless marriage is when Shiraha grumbles about the
difficulties for a man to marry. It shows that Keiko does not see any reason to
get married because the problems will not be solved either way for her.
Rational thinking also signifies a better aspect in Hurlock’s classification
which is a personality changes for the better and the worse.
4.1.1.2 Workaholic
Among the things humans need the most, two things keep humans alive:
spiritual and material. Spiritual need is required to keep their mind sane. In
39
contrast, material needs are required to constitute themselves in everyday life.

Keiko as a human also satiates her spiritual needs in her way.
"Well, those are the main points for today. Now let's go over our
pledge and the six most important phrases for dealing with
customers. Repeat after me!"
The three of us raised our voices in unison following the prompts.
I was just thinking how much brisker the morning session was
when the manager led it, when Shiraha muttered under his breath:
"Ugh, it's just like a religion!"
Of course it is, I thought. (Murata, 2018, p. 33-34)
development which is a change for the better and worse. Here, we can see that
Keiko did not deny that the convenience store morning call is a religion.
Humans throughout history have always needed something to worship
because they know there is a supreme being they could be depended on
beyond their reach. Keiko is no different from other humans; she also needs
a being that she can depend on beyond her reach. Keiko's morning routine
call is manifested under the manager's command, or we can call as prayer. We
can see this spiritual practice to communicate their thoughts to God. Keiko,
in this case, treats the convenience store as her God and the manager as her
religious leader to communicate with it. Keiko's tendency to worshiping
convenience store turned her into a workaholic. Workaholic also signifies a
better aspect in Hurlock’s classification which is a personality changes for the
better and the worse.
Keiko is described as a workaholic by the author. In the story, she is

always seen thinking about the store's well-being and serving the store. Keiko
considers her turning point of life when she was reborn as a convenience store
worker and deemed her past before them unnecessary.
“The time before I was reborn as a convenience store worker Is

somewhat unclear in my memory.”
40
“At that moment, for the first time ever, I felt I’d become a part
in the machine of society. I’ve been reborn, I thought. That day, I
actually became a normal cog in society. (Murata, 2018, p. 5).
development which is a change for the better and worse. In her undergraduate
student life, Keiko became a part-time worker at Hiromachi Station Smile
Mart. Keiko's curiosity to apply for a job vacancy turned her into a
convenience store worker. After some training brought by the management,
Keiko officially became a part of the society. She then pointed to the first day
of work as the day she was reborn as a normal cog of society. This point of
life then is remembered by Keiko as the day when her savior, the convenience
store, gives a new meaning to life. Thus, Keiko's new chapter in life began
with workaholic tendencies that devote her whole body and mind to the
convenience store. Workaholic also signifies a better aspect in Hurlock’s
Keiko’s workaholic tendencies are so destructive that they disturb her

daily activities like sleeping.
“Sometimes I even find myself operating the checkout till in my

dreams. I wake up with a start, thinking Oh! This new line of
crisps is missing the price tag, or, we’ve sold a lot of hot tea, so
I’d better restock the display cabinet. I’ve also been woken up in
the middle of the night by the sound of my own voice calling out:
“Irrashaimase”! (Murata, 2018, p. 16).
development which is a change for the better and worse. We can see in this
monologue how a workaholic Keiko can be. She is so obsessed with her work
that whenever she does everything besides working, the job in a convenience
store always comes to mind. In our lives, there are always people who take
their job seriously and are labeled diligent or hardworking, but this is not the
case with Keiko. Any hardworking people in given normal circumstances will
rest and have their priorities straight whenever the situation calls for it.
Keiko's unhealthy obsession with her work made it impossible for her to rest
41
peacefully. The work priorities and neglecting her daily necessities made
Keiko a workaholic. Workaholic also signifies a better aspect in Hurlock’s
Being stereotyped as strange since childhood, adult Keiko values her

normality as a human by becoming a convenience store worker.
“When morning comes, once again I’m a convenience store

worker, a cog in society. This is the only way I can be a normal
person.” (Murata, 2018, p. 16).
development which is a change for the better and worse. Due to her
environment, Keiko does not understand how to be normal since her
childhood defies her qualities as a rational person. After becoming a
convenience store worker, she is experiencing normality for the first time by
becoming a working adult. This kind of unity with her environment is what
Keiko needs the most. Her workaholic nature is based not only on her
obsession with working but also on valuing her work deeply as a part of
normal human society. The sense of belonging and homey feeling made
Keiko can be the person she wanted that her coworker, friends, or parents
could not give to her. Workaholic also signifies a better aspect in Hurlock’s
Keiko's workaholic escalated further by thinking of them as a religion.

She describes herself to have faith in the convenience store where she worked.
“The tinkle of the door chime as customer comes in sounds like

church bells to my ears. When I open the door, the brightly lit box
awaits me-a dependable, normal world that keeps turning. I have
faith in the world inside the light-filled box.” (Murata, 2018, p.
22).
development which is a change for the better and worse. Faith is something
to be held dearly for whoever believes in God. Faith keeps someone spiritual
in check whenever something that does not work as expected happens or
42
makes them not too attached to material things. Keiko's workaholic

tendencies demonstrate how far someone is from their work. Being a
convenience store worker makes Keiko fit into society by becoming a normal
human. Keiko then treated the place where she worked as a savior from her
incomprehensible environment. The convenience store and the thing inside it
are where her spirit is in peace and bliss. Workaholic also signifies a better
and the worse.
Social relationship is not something she deeply values. In reality, she

loves preparing herself for work rather than accompanying her friends.
“There are times when I feel like it’s too much bother, knowing I
have to work the next day. But it’s the only connection I have to
the world outside the convenience store and a precious
opportunity to mingle with “normal” women my age, so I usually
accept her invitations.” (Murata, 2018, p. 23).
development which is a change for the better and worse. Keiko strived to be
normal and would do whatever it took to be one. Keiko is becoming a normal
human when she does the job and interacts with her friends. People without
workaholic tendencies will agree if some friends invite them to hang out to
relieve stress. However, Keiko finds that accepting her friend’s invitation and
accompanying them is too much bothersome and would definitely refuse
them. Keiko's workaholic tendencies emerged when she neglects her social
life and chooses her work instead. Her obsession with her work was so severe
that the only thing in her mind was to get rid of everything that got in the way
of work, including her social life. Workaholic also signifies a better aspect in
Hurlock’s classification which is a personality changes for the better and the
worse.
The convenience store became a safe place for Keiko whenever she felt
uncomfortable. Her attachment to her workplace made the convenience store
a place she belonged to instead of her real home.
43
“I wished I was back in the convenience store where I was valued

as a working member of staff and things weren’t as complicated
as this. Once we donned our uniforms, we were all equals
regardless of gender, age, or nationality-all simply store workers.”
(Murata, 2018, p. 28).
development which is a change for the better and worse. Home is where
someone belongs to and a place with complete privacy from others. Keiko
does not consider her home a place to return to when she feels uncomfortable
but chooses she convenience store instead. Her workaholic tendencies
replaced her home, where she guaranteed privacy in a public place like a
convenience store. This also means that Keiko does not consider her privacy
important besides her social relationship. As long as she can get into a
convenience store, she can feel safe and sound, something even her home
does not provide. Workaholic also signifies a better aspect in Hurlock’s
An invisible bond is created between Keiko and her workplace, the

convenience store. She feels intimate with it to the point where she can vividly
imagine stroking her trimmed nail.
“Even when I’m far away, the convenience store and I are
connected. In my mind’s eye I picture the brightly lit and bustling
store, and I silently stroke my right hand, its nail neatly trimmed
in order to better work the buttons on the cash register.” (Murata,
2018, p. 28).
development which is a change for the better and worse. The relationship
between Keiko and her job is remarkable. Keiko thinks deeply and loves her
job as if they are soulmates. It is unusual for the people who do not want to
interact like Keiko to care for others. However, we can see that Keiko's love
and passion for her job are depicted as compassion for humans rather than
merely a way to make a living. Keiko even perfected herself in every way
possible to be a good worker, like trimming her nails. People with workaholic
tendencies tend to dedicate themselves to their jobs, even minor things.
44
Workaholic also signifies a better aspect in Hurlock’s classification which is

a personality changes for the better and the worse.
For Keiko, serving her whole body to maintain her job is the main priority.
She always neglects her family, even during the holiday season.
“Keiko, didn’t you say you were going to Miho’s place

tomorrow? Won’t you show your face here afterward? Your father
misses you.”
“Um, I don’t think I can. I have to be in good physical shape for
work the next day, so I’d better get home early.”
“Really? What a pity … You didn’t come over for New Year’s
either. Please do come soon.” (Murata, 2018, p. 52)
development which is a change for the better and worse. Keiko always
neglects her family's invitation as much as possible, even during New Year's
holiday when the workers usually demand to gather with their family at least
once. Her workaholic tendencies also emerged when she refuses her parent's
invitation to visit them and instead says that she needs to take a rest for
tomorrow's jobs. Workaholic people tend to focus on work and work only. We
can see that Keiko uses her free time to prepare for her job rather than visiting
her parents. Workaholic also signifies a better aspect in Hurlock’s
People usually became dejected when they are put into New Year’s shift
jobs. However, Keiko accepts the jobs offer without hesitation.
“The convenience store is open 365 days a year, and many of the
staff are unable to come in over the New Year, what with
housewives being busy with their families and international
students returning to their home countries. I’d wanted to go see
my parents, but when I realized what a fix the store was in I’d
without hesitation opted to work.” (Murata, 2018, p. 53)
development which is a change for the better and worse. Work is the top
priority for Keiko. She opted to work regardless of being over time and unable
45
to see her parents. If she wanted to, Keiko could ask the manager to fill a
vacant shift by recruiting another worker, but she did not. Her realization
about the store fix is her pretense of getting more work time as every
workaholic does. Workaholic people tend to involve themselves in work as
much as they can. When they have a chance to work, even minuscule like
Keiko, they would gladly succumb to the temptation of work. Workaholic also
Keeping one's health is an essential aspect that plays a role in

performance when someone is working. Being a workaholic, Keiko also feels
this sense of well-being.
“I sometimes wondered what would become of me if I got too old

to work here. Manager #6 had to quit his job when he hurt his
back and was unable to work. To ensure that didn’t happen to me,
I had to keep my body in good shape, for the sake of the store.”
(Murata, 2018, p. 53)
“When you do physical labor, you end up being no longer useful
when your physical condition deteriorates. However hard I work,
however dependable I am, when my body grows old then no
doubt I too will be a worn-out part, ready to be replaced, no longer
any use to the convenience store.” (Murata, 2018, p. 58)
development which is a change for the better and worse. As the year goes by,
people's physical condition also deteriorates. Keiko also has worries about
her health because it influences her work performance. Everyone treats their
health at work similarly, but Keiko takes a twist on it. Keiko was worried that
she could not work like usual, or even worse, she could not work entirely. For
a workaholic like Keiko, being unable to work is the same as death for her.
She worries that being too old to work means she will stop working as a
convenience store worker forever. Keiko does not consider retiring even in
the slightest, even though she is already in her thirties. Workaholic also
46
After Shiraha starts cohabiting in Keiko's house, things get financially

difficult for Keiko. However, this escalates Keiko's motivation even though
it means she should break the labor law by working seven days a week.
“After I adopted Shiraha, things went even more smoothly for me

at the convenience store. But feeding him did cost me more
money. Fridays and Sundays had always been my days off, but
the thought of asking to work these shifts too actually added more
spring to my step.”
“Attagirl, Miss Furukura! Always so full of enthusiasm. But I’d
be breaking the law to have you work the whole week without a
day off you know. How about getting another job on the side? All
the stores are shorthanded, so I’m sure they’ll be delighted.”
(Murata, 2018, p. 79-80)
development which is a change for the better and worse. We already know
that Keiko is a workaholic by now. Seeing her financial status declining after
cohabiting with Shiraha, Keiko decides to take a solution by applying for
another job, which is made her happy. In contrast, her wish must break labor
law, resulting in a penalty if she insists. Fortunately, Keiko's manager suggests
taking the job in another store to avoid the penalty. We can see that whether
she hears the manager's suggestion or not means that she is ready to take a
risk to offend the law. Keiko's behavior prioritizes her happiness in working
means that she would take such a risk as long as she can work. Workaholic
also signifies a better aspect in Hurlock’s classification which is a personality
Remember convenience store with her five senses made Keiko at ease.
We have seen Keiko in this state before, but we will later see this as a part of
Keiko's life instead of her workaholic tendencies.
“The sound of my chewing was extraordinarily loud. It was

probably because I’d been surrounded by the sounds of the
convenience store untill shortly before. When I closed my eyes
and picture the store, in my mind its sounds came back to life.”
“That sound flowed through me like music. Swaying to the
sounds etched deep within me of the store performing, of the store
47
operating, I stuffed the food before me into my body so that I

would be fit to work again tomorrow.” (Murata, 2018, p. 87)
development which is a change for the better and worse. We have seen the
analysis before of Keiko's workaholic tendencies look like a hindrance in her
everyday life. Instead, she accepted it as part of her life. Ordinary people
would consider the noise from their workplace a nuisance and want to
eliminate it. However, a person like Keiko longed for a convenience store
whenever she felt a void in her heart. Keiko's five senses then work to retrieve
the imaginary feelings of convenience store due to her workaholic tendencies.
Without her workaholic tendencies or music and pictures in Keiko's mind, she
no longer functions in everyday life. Workaholic also signifies a better aspect
the worse.
Keiko starts to investigate how she is viewed by other people as strange

even though she already works and has love relationships like every other
adult does. Shiraha then points out the core of her qualities blatantly.
"Nobody in the store has ever talked to me like that before."

"That's because you're just too far out there. A thirty-six-year-old,
single convenience store worker, probably a virgin at that,
zealously working every day, shouting at the top of her lungs, full
of energy. Yet showing no signs of looking for a proper job. You're
a foreign object. It's just nobody bothered to tell you because they
find you too freaky. They've been saying it behind your back,
though. And now they'll start saying it to your face too." (Murata,
2018, p. 85-86)
development which is a change for the better and worse. Keiko, who finally
feels normal and is a part of society, wonders why she still gets accusations
as she is not adult enough. Shiraha, her cohabiting mate, then points out what
was wrong with her because she is too freaky. After all, she worked zealously
as a convenience store worker and virgin on top of that. We can see that
neglecting her social life degraded Keiko as a lowly human in her thirties. If
48
only Keiko would maintain her work-life balance, these accusations never
happen. However, Keiko, who has workaholic tendencies, did not see it as
she only focused on work and not on her life matters. Workaholic also
Several data the researcher shows before identifies qualities attached to

Keiko, a rational and workaholic. After finishing analyzing the main
character's initial personality, the researcher puts on the last data to complete
the analysis. The last data the researcher wants to present is Keiko's conflict
caused by her rational and workaholic tendencies before she experiences
personality changes. The researcher considers the data revealing of Keiko's
personality development because the dialogue represents the whole situation
she faces.
“Ever since you started working at the convenience store, you’ve

gotten weirder and weirder. The way you talk, the way you yell
out at home as if you were still in the store, and even your facial
expressions are weird. I’m begging you. Please try to be normal!”
She began crying even harder.
“So, will I be cured if I leave the convenience store? Or am I batter
staying working there? And should I kick Shiraha out? Or am I
better with him here? Look, I’ll do whatever you say. I don’t mind
either way, so please just instruct me in specific terms.” (Murata,
2018, p. 92)
“So that was it: now that she thinks he’s “one of us” she can
lecture him. She’s far happier thinking her sister is normal, even
she has a lot of problems, than she is having an abnormal sister
for whom everything is fine. For her, normality-however messy-
is far more comprehensible”. (Murata, 2018, p. 93)
development which is a change for the better and worse. Everything comes
to a complete piece when Keiko's little sister, Mami, vents her anger. Keiko
and Mami's bond now crumbles because of the same thing; Mami wants to
cure Keiko like their parents. Throughout the story, Mami seems to be the
most understanding person for Keiko. Mami even helps Keiko make an
49
excuse whenever her friends talk about Keiko still unmarried and working as
a convenience store clerk. The day Keiko becomes a workaholic, Mami's
worry about her weirdness grows bigger each day. This worry then reaches
the climax when Mami begs Keiko to be cured while crying, desperate after
these years with no avail changes. Keiko personally does not understand what
her sisters rant about and demand logical instruction. Workaholic also
In the following subchapter, we can see Keiko’s revelation about the

misfit she has experienced her whole life. Keiko feels that her life is normal
because she has already joined the workforce, cohabiting with a man, yet
Mami says she still needs to be cured. It is no wonder that Keiko, oblivious
to her qualities, understands what should be fixed about her; Keiko’s standard
of normality is different from others. Thus, she needs to develop her
personality to fit into society. In the later subchapter, the researcher shows
how Keiko experiences personality changes from the better to the worst;
rational thinking to irrational thinking and workaholic to indolent.
4.1.2 Furukura Keiko’s Later Personality
Keiko's personality develops in the story through experience and situations in

Convenience Store Woman. In this section, the researcher analyzed Furukura
Keiko's personality development after revealing her initial character. The
researcher used Hurlock's personality development and Jung's stages of
personality development theory to analyze Keiko's personality development.
4.1.2.1 Irrational Thinking
Keiko’s first encounter with Shiraha puts her rationality on edge. Keiko
throws her manual, which represents rational thought, in front of Shiraha.
“I went up to him and raised my voice. “Shiraha, the store

displays are more important than the manual! Keeping them neat,
along with the customer greetings and shout-outs, are the two
50
most basic tasks of a store worker, you know! If you don’t

understand how, lets do it together.” (Murata, 2018, p. 36).
development which is a change for the better and worse. Shiraha is introduced
as a lazy worker on his first-day job. His grumbling about how the
convenience was supposed to be while talking about manual made Keiko
upset. Keiko was upset with Shiraha’s attitude, which made her lose her
rational thinking as she always did. Manual is essential for Keiko; her life
would be aimless without it. This mindset contradicts what she says to
Shiraha: keeping the store neat and greeting customers are more important
than the manual. It shows that Keiko is professional with her job and would
become irrational when the situation calls for it. Irrational thinking also
signifies a worse aspect in Hurlock’s classification which is a personality
As the relationship between Keiko and Shiraha goes further, Keiko’s

work becomes harder. Keiko’s job becomes harder since her coworker keeps
pestering her relationship with Shihara.
Irritated, I yelled at them: “Look, it isn't that there's anything

between us! He's just staying at my place now, that's all. What's
important is that we haven't even started preparing the chicken
skewers yet!”
I was shocked by their reaction. As a convenience store worker, I
couldn't believe they were putting gossip about store workers
before a promotion in which chicken skewers that usually sold at
130 yen were to be put on sale at the special price of 110 yen.
What on earth had happened to the pair of them? (Murata, 2018,
p. 82-83)
development which is a change for the better and worse. Keiko is a person
who can separate personal and company affairs from work. It is rational to
talk about work and nothing else when someone is working. Keiko believes
that and puts them in mind as normal since everyone has never talked about
their personal affairs before. However, after cohabiting with Shiraha, her
51
work is interrupted by her personal affair, which Keiko finds irrational. Keiko
then wondered what happened with her coworker gossiping when something
important, a chicken skewers promotion was being sold. She finds that
gossiping is irrational because this does not relate to work. Irrational thinking
also signifies a worse aspect in Hurlock’s classification which is a personality
After her retirement, Keiko lost her worth-life or, in this case, her
rationality. Since Keiko has worked for convenience stores for more than
eighteen years, she forgot how her rationality began in her early childhood.
I had judged everything on the basis of whether it was the sensible

thing to do for the convenience store, but now I'd lost that
standard. There was nothing to guide me over whether an action
was rational or not. Before I became a store worker, I must have
been following some kind of logic in my judgments, but I'd
forgotten whatever guiding principles I'd followed back then.
(Murata, 2018, p. 104-105)
development which is a change for the better and worse. Keiko’s realization
about her diminishing rationality signifies how her retirement as a store
worker impacts on Keiko’s life. Keiko’s violent behavior and bewilderment
about her environment in her early childhood days were then gone. As she
was aging, Keiko began to identify and understand her traits and behave
accordingly. Keiko’s monologue about nothing to guide whether her action
was rational or not means that she lost her purpose of existence. The old
rational Keiko is gone and replaced with an irrational Keiko. Irrational
thinking also signifies a worse aspect in Hurlock’s classification which is a
Keiko then equate herself with an animal since she has become irrational.
She then questions Shiraha’s sisters-in-law about the primary need for
animals to live: reproducing.
She sounded so taken aback on the other end of the line that I
thought I'd better explain what I meant.
52
"After all, we're animals, so isn't it better for our species if we

multiply? Do you think it would be best for me and Shiraha to
quickly get on with mating and play our part in making humanity
prosper?" (Murata, 2018, p. 106-107)
development which is a change for the better and worse. Animals are different
from humans because they do everything but are irrational and instinctual.
Keiko, after some thoughts, decided to identify herself as an animal since they
are a creature with a fundamental need to eat, sleep, and have sex. We cannot
deny that humans also have those basic things to live; the same goes for
animals. However, losing rationality and identifying themselves as animals is
not the right thing to do. Humans are called humans because they have
compassion, understanding, and myriads self-worth in their life. Irrational
Supply herself with nutrition is rational for Keiko to carry out the task as
a convenience store worker. Now she does not do the job anymore; she does
not find merit in eating her daily meals.
Having for once run into each other, we somehow ended up

having lunch together. Shiraha defrosted some steamed
dumplings and chicken nuggets and piled them onto plates.
Wordlessly I put some in my mouth.
I didn't know what I was taking in nutrition for. I chewed the rice
and dumplings to a pulp, but I couldn't bring myself to swallow.
(Murata, 2018, p. 107-108)
development which is a change for the better and worse. Keiko saw eating as
merely an act to nourish herself every day for various tasks. She did it because
it was rational to keep herself alive, especially working in a convenience store.
After Keiko retires from her job as a store worker, she no longer finds eating
as taking nutrients as necessary. Her body could not even bring herself to
swallow, let alone digest. Keiko does not bring herself to eat, making Keiko
irrational by not taking nutrients or eating as many humans do. Irrational
53

Keiko abandoned her rational side by becoming accustomed to her

irrationality. Her mind and body are now in sync to become irrational by
hallucinating convenience store messages.
There were just two young women behind the counter, one
wearing a badge that said: IN TRAINING. Both were frantically
ringing up items on each of the two tills.
And then the store's voice began streaming into me. All its sounds
quivered with meaning, the vibrations speaking directly to my
cells, like music to my ears. I knew instinctively what this store
needed without even having to think about it. (Murata, 2018, p.
109-110)
development which is a change for the better and worse. Any normal person
or even Keiko would not think getting a message from a convenience store
telling them what to do is rational. Keiko describes the quiver, vibration, and
music as a somewhat unbelievable convenience store message. In Keiko’s
rational side, we see she uses logic and reasoning to act and consider
irrationality foolish. Keiko, who experiences change of behavior, starts to
embrace her irrationality by listening to a message which people never heard.
Her hallucination, or what she called the message, signifies that she accepts
her personality development to become entirely irrational. Irrational thinking
also signifies a worse aspect in Hurlock’s classification which is a personality
Keiko personality development from being rational to being irrational

then made her embrace her new personality. Keiko finally chose her animal
side over the human side to become her true self.
I pulled myself up straight and faced him squarely, the way I did
when uttering the store pledge in the morning ritual, and I said,
"No. It's not a matter of whether they permit it or not. It's what I
am. For the human me, it probably is convenient to have you
around, Shiraha, to keep my family and friends off my back. But
54
the animal me, the convenience store worker, has absolutely no

use for you whatsoever?' (Murata, 2018, p. 113)
development which is a change for the better and worse. Keiko is reaching
the tunnel end of her personality development; she must choose between
becoming rational or irrational. Keeping Shiraha in her house is the most
sensible solution for making Keiko move to normal from an stereotype for
almost thirty-six years old. However, Keiko can not betray her desire to keep
working as a store worker, which she labeled an animal side. After
experiencing rough times dealing with post-retirement depression, Keiko
finally discovers her true self and fights for her independence as an animal.
Keiko now ends those abnormal stereotyping from her environment once and
for all by becoming irrational. Irrational thinking also signifies a worse aspect
the worse.
Keiko now ends her problems by cutting ties with her former traits, which
is rational. Shiraha, who does not like Keiko’s acceptance of her irrationality,
insults her as not human.
"That's grotesque. You're not human!" he spat.

That's what I've been trying to tell you! I thought. I finally
managed to pull my hand from his grip and hugged it to my chest.
That hand was important for giving customers their change and
for wrapping their food orders. It felt disgustingly sticky from
Shiraha's sweat and I wanted to wash it as soon as I possibly could.
It was discourteous to customers to leave it like this! (Murata,
2018, p. 113)
development which is a change for the better and worse. Throughout the story,
we are constantly exposed to how to be human or be normal. Keiko, who
questions these two words begin to advance her self-consciousness until the
end of the story. Keiko then concludes that those words do not matter to her
as long as she can work as a convenience store worker. Abandoning her wish
55
to be a normal human is irrational for the former Keiko, but she scraped that
trait for the new Keiko, an “animal” with passion as a convenience store
worker. Irrational thinking also signifies a worse aspect in Hurlock’s
4.1.2.2 Indolent
Keiko finally reaches the end of her convenience store life to pursue another
career. The abrupt end of Keiko’s workaholic tendencies immediately takes a
toll on her.
I got home to find Shiraha waiting impatiently for me. Normally

I would be concerned about work the next day and would be sure
to care for my physical needs with food and sleep. My body had
belonged to the convenience store even when I wasn't at work.
Having been liberated from this, I didn't know what to do with
myself. (Murata, 2018, p. 101)
development which is a change for the better and worse. Work is the leading
force in Keiko’s life; without it, she becomes lifeless. The long career of
serving customers, keeping her body in shape, and thinking about
convenience stores is now gone. Keiko feels like she is in prison after being
liberated from duty as a convenience store worker. People in middle age like
Keiko usually plan their retirement or settle with their family since their
getting old to work. However, Keiko, who serves her mind and body solely
for convenience stores, does not think about her post resignation before, so
she does not know what to do about herself. Indolent also signifies a worse
and the worse.
The resignation from the convenience store job started to influence

Keiko’s mind. Her mind that was supposed to serve convenience store started
to depress after her contract was dismissed.
I felt depressed. I looked at the clock: 7:00 p.m. My body had always
been connected to the convenience store even when I wasn't working.
56
Now it was time for the store's stock of carton drinks to be replenished;
now the store's nighttime delivery would be arriving and the night shift
would start checking it; now it was time for the store to have its floor
mopped. Every time I looked at the clock: I would think about what was
happening in the convenience store. (Murata, 2018, p. 101-102).
development which is a change for the better and worse. Keiko spent almost
her entire life working as a convenience store worker. She works zealously to
the point that she neglects her family and friends, which affects her social
relationship. Now she is in an unemployment state; Keiko felt something that
she had never felt before. Keiko was depressed as a result of her
unemployment. For Keiko, working is something she looks forward to every
day and enjoys. Keiko does not consider taking another job before retirement
because she loves her job dearly. Keiko feels depressed after her
unemployment is her expression of her loss of one part that makes her alive
today. Indolent also signifies a worse aspect in Hurlock’s classification which
is a personality changes for the better and the worse.
Feeling the reason for her life was gone, Keiko became listless after her
retirement. Keiko’s sleep routine to serve the convenience store no longer has
meaning.
Until now I had always needed to make sure I got enough sleep
before work the next day. All I had to do was recall how I had to
keep in shape for the sake of the convenience store and I would
fall asleep right away, but now I didn't even know why I needed
to sleep at all. (Murata, 2018, p. 102-103)
development which is a change for the better and worse. Keiko is highly
appreciated because her punctuality to work than all of her coworkers. She
can achieve this perfect attendance by maintaining a sleeps schedule very well.
Throughout the story, we can see that Keiko always arrives at her workplace
one hour before her shift begins. She never pulled overnight or overslept
throughout her career, even in crucial times like developing her love life by
cohabiting with Shiraha. After retiring from her job, Keiko does not consider
57
sleep necessary anymore. Why bother to wake up early when she does not
have a job to do? That is Keiko’s reason for becoming indolent. Indolent also
Keeping appearance neat and clean is the standard in the service industry,
especially as a convenience store worker. Keiko, who always takes care of
her appearance for the store, now neglects them completely.
I stroked my body. My nails were kept short as per store rules,

and I was scrupulous about keeping my hair clean and had never
dyed it. There was a faint scar on the back of my hand from when
I burned myself while frying croquettes three days ago. (Murata,
2018, p. 102-103)
development which is a change for the better and worse. In earlier stories,
Keiko is seen stroking her trimmed nails, implying that she always keeps her
appearance in check. While maintaining her sleeping schedule, Keiko also
obeyed her workplace rules by not dying her hair and trimming her nails. We
can assume that Keiko is taking herself as a human or convenience store
worker by this far. Keiko’s negligence of her appearance is part of her
becoming indolent. People would take care of their hygiene as an obligation
whether they have a job or not. However, Keiko sees them as the sole purpose
of working in a convenience store, which will be abandoned if she retires.
Indolent also signifies a worse aspect in Hurlock’s classification which is a
Having never experienced getting late or taking days off voluntarily,

Keiko feels restless as indolent. Keiko, who dedicates all her time to work,
suffers from oversleeping.
I had no idea what time it was, or even which day of the week. I
fumbled around my pillow for my cell phone to check the time:
two o'clock. Unable to grasp in my befuddled state whether it was
morning or night, I climbed out of the closet. When I saw daylight
58
coming in through the curtains, I finally registered it must be two

in the afternoon. (Murata, 2018, p. 103-104)
development which is a change for the better and worse. It is normal to get
overslept when we have overtime or pull overnight. Some people consider
those as hustle life even though others see it as an unhealthy lifestyle.
However, in Keiko’s case, she experienced oversleeping because she retired
from her job; this resignation made Keiko not taking care of herself, let alone
doing chores. People who do not have enough education, training, or job tend
to spend their entire day lazing around aimlessly. Indolent like Keiko has
ignored her clock routine since she retired from her job. Indolent also signifies
a worse aspect in Hurlock’s classification which is a personality changes for
the better and the worse.
Continuing her newfound oversleeping habits, Keiko escalates her

unhealthy sleep habit by becoming listless except when she fills resume forms.
Keiko blames her retirement from a convenience store for losing her standard
of living.
Since I'd left the store, I no longer knew what time I should wake
up in the morning. I slept whenever I felt sleepy and ate when I
woke up. I didn't do anything all day except fill out resume forms,
as ordered by Shiraha.
I no longer knew what standard to live by. Until now my body
had belonged to the convenience store, even when I wasn't
working. Sleeping, keeping in good physical shape, and eating
nutritiously were all part of my job. I had to stay healthy for work.
(Murata, 2018, p. 104-105)
development which is a change for the better and worse. Keiko losing her
life’s purpose is a sign of an impact on becoming indolent. People would find
various purposes life throughout their life. A child in her school days would
aim to be a top student to get a better chance to enroll in a reputable university;
college students would aim for a good grade to get their dream job. Then,
working adults who become full-fledged members of society would find an
59
ideal partner and start a family. However, Keiko has never seen her various
purposes in life because she pledges to serve customers and nothing else.
When facing difficulties like retirement, she cannot back up and search for
another purpose in her life. Indolent also signifies a worse aspect in Hurlock’s
As the day goes by, Keiko becomes more and more like a shut-in. She
lay around her bed all day, ate when she felt hungry and did not keep her
appearance.
I now spent all day and night in my bed inside the closet, only
coming out when I felt hungry and never bothering to put the futon
bedding away.
Jet black hairs were sprouting on the fingers of my hand holding
the glass and on my arms too. Until now I'd always been scrupulous
over my personal appearance for the sake of the convenience store,
but now that it was no longer necessary I didn't feel the need to
shave. I looked in the mirror that stood in the living room and saw
I had a faint moustache too. (Murata, 2018, p. 104-105)
development which is a change for the better and worse. People without a
post-retirement plan are prone to procrastinate as Keiko does. Moreover, this
procrastination phenomenon is becoming massive when people are not
experienced enough to apply for full-time jobs or do not open businesses
themselves. Keiko’s indolent behavior mirrors the term hikikomori, a
Japanese term for people who shut themselves in their rooms because they
are unemployed, asocial, or have internal problems (Emmanuel, et al, 2016,
p. 2). Hikikomori is associated with people who laze around and do not care
for themselves, like eating properly or having a messy appearance. Keiko is
a hikikomori mirroring a part of the Japanese indolent who shuts herself at
home and has a sluggish life (Emmanuel, et al, 2016, p. 3). Indolent also
60
Being indolent becomes a part of Keiko’s life. She is annoyed when her
rhythm is disrupted by Shiraha, even though she dislikes her current lifestyle.
Now that my daily rhythm had been disrupted I rarely boiled

vegetables for our feed, and instead he'd started buying frozen
meals from the hundred-yen shop.
Even though we were both living in this small apartment, it had
been some time since we'd last sat down to lunch together. The
rice cooker was always left on, and my life revolved around
waking up and shoving some rice into my mouth before getting
back into my closet and sleeping again. (Murata, 2018, p. 107-
108)
development which is a change for the better and worse. Having her work
time reduced to zero made Keiko indolent. At first, she felt depressed, listless,
or restless after retirement. Keiko became accustomed to her indolent lifestyle
and accepted it as a part of her life. From what we have seen until now, it can
be assumed that it takes time for people to get accustomed to something
regardless of how they feel. One needs enough motivation to be freed from
their unemployed status but none when one wants to fall. Keiko’s
environment, which consists of herself and Shiraha alone, would not make a
good motivation. Thus her new lifestyle made her be familiar with, accept,
and embrace her unemployed status. Indolent also signifies a worse aspect in
Hurlock’s classification which is a personality changes for the better and the
worse.
The researcher reveals several data to find the personality development

the main character, Furukura Keiko, experienced throughout the story. Keiko
undergoes personality development from rational thinking and workaholic to
irrational thinking and indolent. Thus, the researcher reached the end of
analyzing the whole main character’s personality development in this section.
However, the researcher would like to put one more analysis to complete this
later personality development. The last data will be act as the proof of
Hurlock’s classification personality development which is a change for the
61
better and worse. In this case the change of Keiko’s irrational to rational and
workaholic to indolent characters. The researcher considers the data as
Keiko’s assessment regarding her personality development after several
problems she has. Later, we can see that Keiko finally concluded about the
personality development she is going through.
In the background, I heard the sound of a baby crying. It suddenly

occurred to me that no longer having the convenience store
manual to follow, perhaps I should use animal instinct as the
standard on which to base my judgments. I'm an animal of the
human species so perhaps having children to make my species
prosper would be the correct path for me. (Murata, 2018, p. 105-
106)
“I realize now,” I went on relentlessly. “More than a person, I’m
a convenience store worker. Even if that means I’m abnormal and
can’t make a living and drop down dead, I can’t escape that fact.
My very cells exist for the convenience store.”
“No, I can’t go with you. Think of me as an animal, convenience
store animal. I can’t betray my instinct. (Murata, 2018, p. 113)
In the midst of confusion, Keiko gets an answer she has been looking for
her entire life: she will become a convenience store worker regardless of her
species as human. Keiko is put into a corner because she already feels content
for what she is; to become unmarried and live a simple life. Keiko's family
and friends may consider her as useless and abnormal because Keiko does not
enter marriage status. However, as a self-proclaimed “animal”, Keiko is
already content with her status quo. At first, Keiko feels uneasy about her
personality development because she feels something is missing from her.
However, later she began to accept her development and find her pursuit of
selfhood as an individual.
Here is the end of Keiko's personality development analysis. To

summarize all of the citations and analysis, the researcher concludes that
Furukura Keiko, the main character of Convenience Store Woman, undergoes
personality development. The researcher tried to find and analyze Keiko's
characters using Murphy's theory in sync with Hurlock's personality
62
development. Keiko began to develop her personality from the better to the
worse according to Hurlock’s classification personality development.
Hurlock’s changes in social pressure theory also responsible for Keiko
personality change. The main characters pursuit of selfhood is also related
with spinster stereotype. Spinster stereotype is what makes Keiko to develop
her personality and finally find her selfhood at the end of the story. The
researcher then would like to reveal how does the personality development
influence individual social career as a pursuit of selfhood in the following
sub-chapter.
4.2. How Does The Individuals Social Career Influence Pursuit Of

Selfhood in Convenience Store Woman
In order to know how Furukura Keiko pursuit her selfhood after experienced
personality development. It was also important to know how the spinster
stereotype viewed in Japanese society. This also related to Hurlock’s
conditions responsible for personality change which is a change in social
pressure. Hurlock’s condition and spinster stereotype will aid the researcher
to find Keiko’s pursuit of selfhood at the end of the analysis.
4.2.1 Spinster Label in Japan
Never experiencing a love relationship is something unimaginable for

Keiko’s friend. What is more shocking is that Keiko admitted to never falling
in love for her whole life. Keiko in her 36 years old who is childless and
unmarried made her friends put a spinster stereotype indirectly.
"Like, have you ever dated anyone? Come to think of it, I've never
heard you talk about that sort of thing."
"Oh I see. No, I haven't," I answered automatically.
Everyone fell quiet and exchanged uncomfortable glances with
each other. Too late I remembered that my sister had told me in
such cases I should give a vague answer like: "Well, there was
someone I liked but I'm not a good judge of men." This would
give the impression that I'd at least had a lover or something that
might have involved some kind of physical relationship, even if
63
I'd never had an actual boyfriend. "You can just give a vague
answer to a personal question, and they'll come to their own
conclusions," she'd told me. Well, I messed that one up, I thought
to myself. (Murata, 2018, p. 26-27)
This analysis is in part of Hurlock’s conditions responsible for
personality change which is a change in social pressure. Spinster is a name
for someone who already has expired their dating age. It means that Keiko is
also one of them since she has never had a love relationship in her whole life.
Society belittles women who are not married, especially after their ripen age,
because they will leave in dust for men and are considered unsold goods
(Mustard as cited in Chang, 2015, p. 48). Keiko's friend's uncomfortable
glance means that society worries for women like Keiko, who has never been
in love before. Because for them, especially in Japanese society, women who
do not produce offspring are considered the lowest human. This mindset is
instilled thoroughly in Keiko's friend. Spinster stereotype also signifies
Hurlock’s change in social pressure which indicates Keiko’s pursuit of
selfhood in her environment.
Many aspects contribute to adults' celibacy, especially in Japan. Besides

women gaining independence in educational and financial aspects, men chose
to celibate because they thought they were not equal to women (Yamaguchi,
2004, p. 110-111).
"There's no one here who'd make a decent wife. The young ones
are too flighty, and the others are too old."
"Well, most of the workers are university students, and you don't
often get anyone of marriageable age."
"Some of the customers are kind of okay, but most of them are
too haughty. This place is surrounded by big companies and the
type of women who work for them are too domineering for my
taste." (Murata, 2018, p. 48-49)
personality change which is a change in social pressure. Japanese society
always points at women when childbirth declines because they refuse to
reproduce or are too busy with their work. To better understand the childbirth
64
decline problem, people need to see them from both men's and women's sides.
In the story, Shiraha cannot get a partner because the women in the vicinity
are not equal in social or financial status. He sees a full-time job woman
imposing his pride due to his job as a mere store clerk. Besides the
professional background, education and age are factors for Shiraha to choose
a wife. Shiraha's views about the wife imply that a woman becomes a spinster
because the man does not want to form a relationship because they are
insecure with a woman who is equal or has a higher background. Spinster
stereotype also signifies Hurlock’s change in social pressure which indicates
Keiko’s pursuit of selfhood in her environment.
Some men tend to feel inferior when coupled with a career woman. One
of the factors spinster are not getting married is because some man is not equal
in those departments like physical appearance, occupation, and educational
background.
"They're all after snaring a guy who works at the same company
and won't even look at me. Women have been like that since the
Stone Age. The youngest, prettiest girls in the village go to the
strongest hunters. They leave strong genes, while the rest of us
just have to console ourselves with what's left. Our so-called
modern society is just an illusion. We're living a world that has
hardly changed since prehistoric times. We might go on about
equality of the sexes, but—" (Murata, 2018, p. 48-49)
personality change which is a change in social pressure. Japanese society is
based on a patriarchal system that tends to prioritize men to become a
breadwinner when they are adults. When Japanese men become breadwinners,
they have enough confidence to choose any woman they like to be a wife.
However, some Japanese can not become breadwinners due to limited income
that only supports themselves. Shiraha gives an analogy about how the
strongest men in Stone Ages can get the youngest and prettiest girl in the
village equal to the breadwinner man in modern society. The same goes for
the spinster because they want an equal partner in terms of physical
65
appearance, or in modern times, we call it financial power. Spinster stereotype

also signifies Hurlock’s change in social pressure which indicates Keiko’s
pursuit of selfhood in her environment.
Women in Japan feel uneasy when they are not getting married at a
productive age. The peer pressure from their friends made spinsters seem
more desperate for marriage than to assess their situation first.
Of the fourteen or fifteen people gathered together, there were

only two others apart from me who weren't married. I hadn't
thought anything of it since not everyone had come as a couple,
but unmarried Mild whispered to me: "We're the only ones here
who can't hold our heads up high, aren't we?" (Murata, 2018, p.
53-54)
"Urn, well, I don't have any experience of other jobs, and the store
is comfortable for me both physically and mentally."
He stared at me as though I were some kind of alien. "What, you
never ...? I mean, if finding a job is so hard, then at least you
should get married. Look, these days there are always things like
online marriage sites, you know," he sputtered. (Murata, 2018, p.
55)
personality change which is a change in social pressure. Women feel peer
pressure more from not having marital status, especially if they have already
reached their productive age in producing offspring. The patriarchal system
that Japan held for centuries made the women feel ashamed for not being in
a relationship. This shame is ingrained in Japanese women because they only
have value when giving birth to kids or at least advancing their status in the
marriage stage (Yamaguchi, 2004, p. 112-113). Keiko's friend's comment
about her spinster status explained that despite her already working adult, she
feels insecure because her self-worth as a woman is still incomplete without
taking a marriage route. Spinster stereotype also signifies Hurlock’s change
in social pressure which indicates Keiko’s pursuit of selfhood in her
environment.
66
Being unmarried above the thirties is a grave situation for a Japanese

woman (Yamaguchi, 2004, p. 110). The older the woman is, the more their
choice for the ideal man narrows. Hence Japanese spinsters cannot get rid of
their status because people think they are too late to start a relationship.
"That's right, why don't you just find someone? It doesn't really
matter who it is, after all. Women have it easy in that sense. It'd
be disastrous if you were a man, though."
"How about if we find someone for you? Yoji, you have a wide
circle of connections, don't you?" asked Satsuki.
"Yes, great idea!" Miho and the others exclaimed excitedly. "Can
you think of anyone? There must be someone just right for her."
Miho's husband whispered in her ear, then forced a smile. "Oh,
but all my friends are married now ... no, it's impossible. There's
no one." (Murata, 2018, p. 55)
personality change which is a change in social pressure. It is common in
Japanese society that women face partner choice difficulties the more they
postpone their marriage. No matter what their careers are women will be a
homemaker eventually. With that in mind, unmarried women will be pushed
to find their partners or be viewed as a failure when they can not find them.
Spinster is depicted as a miserable woman who longs for man and child due
to the inability to build relationships in adulthood. Keiko's friends here
implicitly implied that they are willing to help Keiko out of pity because they
see Keiko as a miserable woman. Spinster stereotype also signifies Hurlock’s
change in social pressure which indicates Keiko’s pursuit of selfhood in her
environment.
Women face difficulties when it comes to finding partners due to their

background. In addition, women with higher occupational levels will find
their partner harder than most men unless they quit their job.
"I'm getting desperate too," Miki chimed in. Then she added
breezily: "But I'm always traveling abroad on business."
67
"Well, you've got a high-flying job, Miki," Yukari's husband said

soothingly. "You earn more than most men, which I guess makes
it pretty hard to find a good match." (Murata, 2018, p. 56)
personality change which is a change in social pressure. If Shiraha finds it
challenging to find his right partner because of their occupational background,
then Miki shares the same fate as Shiraha does. Miki can not find her partner
due to her job overseas, which makes her feel desperate but at the same time,
she feels relieved at her job because she is financially independent. Sufficient
income is necessary to maintain a good family and avoid divorce due to
financial issues. The longing for man is the primary mindset of every spinster
due to the dependability of men to procreate and maintain a family (Mustard
as cited in Chang, 2015, p. 48). Japanese women in modern times can gain
financial independence without men, but they tore whether they should
abandon their job to become homemakers or not. Spinster stereotype also
signifies Hurlock’s change in social pressure which indicates Keiko’s pursuit
of selfhood in her environment.
The village or society in the Shiraha analogy tends to banish their failed
member who can not take their roles. Shiraha realized that these roles, which
made him furious, have not changed since Stone Age.
"And so I realized. This society hasn't changed one bit. People

who don't fit into the village are expelled: men who don't hunt,
women who don't give birth to children. For all we talk about
modem society and individualism anyone who doesn't try to fit in
can expect to be meddled with, coerced, and ultimately banished
from the village."
"Shiraha, you do like talking about the Stone Age, don't you?"
(Murata, 2018, p. 63)
personality change which is a change in social pressure. We can agree with
Shiraha's analogy regarding men and woman roles since the Stone Age:
hunting for men and giving birth to women. These roles are created since a
woman cannot hunt during pregnancy; thus, men take the role of food
68
providers. In modern times, however, women can also take the role of food
provider for families with various jobs and expertise they have today.
Shiraha's rant about his bachelor status equals how a woman sees them as a
spinster. Women who do not give birth to children are considered a societal
failure. This stigma will consciously or unconsciously affect women and
coerce them into women with zero value. Spinster stereotype also signifies
Spinster or old maid are pejorative terms made to ridicule unmarried

women in their “expired date.” Shiraha uses this term as a man representative
who looks down on Keiko as a woman with no hope.
"Furukura, how can you be so unfazed by it all? Aren't you

ashamed of yourself?'
"What? Why?"
"You're still in a dead-end job at your age, and nobody's going to
many an old maid like you now. You're like secondhand goods.
Even if you are a virgin, you're grubby. You're like a Stone Age
woman past childbearing age who can't get married and is left to
just hang around the village, of no use to anyone, just a burden.
I'm a man, so I can still make a comeback, but there's no hope for
you, is there, Furukura?" (Murata, 2018, p. 64)
personality change which is a change in social pressure. In a patriarchal
society, especially in Japan, women have been considered valuable when
doing housework and giving birth since their role is to be homemakers.
Society will judge them as failures when they can not fulfill those
requirements. To differentiate them from married women, people used
pejorative terms like spinster or old maid to stereotype them as useless women.
Keiko, who does not consider marriage her life choice, is stereotyped as an
old maid by Shiraha because she is just a burden in the village as an analogy
for society. Shiraha then further emphasizes that a man still be useful to the
village because they are not women who can get past their childbearing age.
69
In contrast, men can still procreate as long as they are healthy, unlike women
who will meet their menopause later. Spinster stereotype also signifies
We already saw Keiko’s friend pitying her because she has had no love
or sexual experience throughout her life. This time, Keiko announcing her
cohabiting status to her sister made her overjoyed despite not having
definitive status regarding the marriage.
"My sister has been e-mailing me all day. It's the first time I've
ever seen her get so excited about something to do with me."
"It's hardly surprising. Even your sister would think it more
respectable for a virgin left on the shelf to be living with a man
rather than still working in a convenience store at a ripe old age."
(Murata, 2018, p. 72-73)
personality change which is a change in social pressure. Every day we would
see relationship news as the occasion to celebrate with our friends and family.
The news is a sign that an individual is contributing to society. The same goes
with Keiko; she is considered contributing to society by being in a
relationship expected to advance to marriage. Keiko’s sister is overjoyed with
cohabiting news since Keiko had never been in a relationship with the
opposite sex before. Keiko, who always made her sister worry because of her
different life choices, finally gets a piece of mind. This situation convinced
her that the spinster stereotype not only affected herself but the family as well.
Spinster stereotype also signifies Hurlock’s change in social pressure which
indicates Keiko’s pursuit of selfhood in her environment.
People's identities will be stripped to the core in society whenever they

do not meet the requirement to become full-fledged members. In Keiko's case,
she neither be a housewife nor a working adult due to her age and occupation.
"You need to wake up, Furukura. To put it bluntly, you're the

lowest of the low. Your womb is probably too old to be of any use,
70
and you don't even have the looks to serve as a means to satisfy
carnal desire. But then neither are you earning money like a man.
Far from it, you're only working part-time without even a proper
job. Frankly speaking, you're just a burden on the village, the
dregs of society."
"I see. But I'm not capable of working anywhere else except the
convenience store. I did give it a go, but it turns out the
convenience store worker mask is the only one I'm fit to wear. So
if people don't accept that, I have no idea what I can do about it."
(Murata, 2018, p. 73-74)
personality change which is a change in social pressure. Shiraha's blunt
comment to Keiko regarding her loveless life was nothing but facts. Even in
modern times, Japanese women find it difficult to take the parenthood role
later than it was supposed to be (Yamaguchi, 2004, p. 113). It will not be a
problem if Keiko's community supports a late marriage, but it is not in reality.
The cause of this was that women's bodies would be in danger of childbearing
in their middle ages or above. The newer Japanese generation will understand
the cause of unmarried women due to full-time jobs. However, Keiko is not
one of them, as Shiraha said, indicating that being a spinster will be inevitable
doom for every unmarried woman. Spinster stereotype also signifies
Throughout the story, Shiraha always states that he has no interest in

Keiko. Shiraha prefers a woman who is more attractive than Keiko, but since
he is unemployed, he chooses to be Keiko's partner.
Shiraha listened intently to the sound of the door closing and the
departing footsteps of his sister-in-law. Once he was certain she
had gone, he gave a whoop of delight. "I did it! I got away!
Everything's okay for the time being. There's no way you'll be
getting pregnant, no chance of me ever penetrating a woman like
you, after all."
He grabbed me by my shoulders in his excitement. "Furukura,
you're lucky, you know. Thanks to me, you can go from being
triply handicapped as a single, virgin convenience store worker to
71
being a married member of society. Everyone will assume you're

a sexually active, respectable human being. That's the image of
you that pleases them most. Isn't it wonderful?" (Murata, 2018, p.
97-98)
personality change which is a change in social pressure. The deal between
Keiko and Shiraha to end their problem by cohabiting proved to work for the
time being. However, the researcher would like to focus on how Shiraha does
not want to copulate with Keiko. In the first place, it is still possible for Keiko
and Shiraha to procreate because the average age of menopause is around 45
until 55 years old, but we can not deny that women's beauty will wither in
Keiko's age. Keiko's difficult situation perfectly fits spinster term; an
unmarried woman on their expired date who charms a man like Shiraha to
bear his child. This analysis also signifies a spinster stereotype aspect in
Hurlock’s condition that responsible for personality change which is a change
in social pressure.
The place where Keiko can feel like a human, the convenience store, in
the end, praises her for getting into a relationship. However, Keiko feels
disappointed with her co-worker, who treats her as a female after quitting her
job.
I recalled the manager's reaction two weeks earlier when I told

him I wanted to leave.
"Really? At last! So Shiraha's acting like a man after all, is he?"
He had always been put out by people leaving since it left him
shorthanded, and he always demanded they help find a
replacement. This time, however, he seemed over the moon.
Maybe no genuine store managers existed any anymore. Before
me now was a human male, mindlessly hoping that one of the
same species was going to breed. (Murata, 2018, p. 98-100)
personality change which is a change in social pressure. Japanese company
does not favor women working because they will take pregnancy vacation,
making them unproductive. We can learn from this situation that society's
72
stigma of Japanese women that they must be homemakers after marriage also
affects the business sector. The spinster stereotyping is not as harsh as in the
Japanese community because corporations only see employee competence.
However, the stigma about women in Japan has been ingrained for centuries,
making these modern corporations reluctant to give a second chance for them
to work (Nakano & Wagatsuma, 2005, p. 140). This belief is still held because
Japanese women prioritize their housework, which they do themselves
without their husbands' assistance (Nakano & Wagatsuma, 2005, p. 141).
Spinster stereotype also signifies Hurlock’s change in social pressure which
indicates Keiko’s pursuit of selfhood in her environment.
Several data are collected to analyze Japan's spinster stereotype.

Convenience Store Woman characters are built with spinster stereotype in
mind. The dynamic relationship between the characters is mainly driven by
how the stereotype are utilized to advance the story. The researcher would
like to make a final analysis emphasizing the spinster stereotype. The last data
the researcher would like to reveal is the spinster stereotype that the
researcher believes is the pursuit of selfhood to create the conflict behind it.
The researcher considers the data as the culmination of the conflicts the
characters face, like Keiko, Shiraha, and others. The spinster stereotype that
acts as a condition for Keiko’s personality change which is a change in social
pressure will help the researcher to understand Keiko’s pursuit of her selfhood.
"Why are you letting an unemployed man live in your apartment?

It's okay for both husband and wife to work but not in a casual
job! Arent you going to get married? What about children? Get a
proper job! Fulfill your role as an adult! They're all going to be
on your back now, you know" (Murata, 2018, p. 85-86)
These past two weeks I'd been asked fourteen times why I
wasn't married. And twelve times why I was still working part-
time. So for now I'd decide what to eliminate from my life
according to what I was asked about most often I thought.
73
Deep down I wanted some kind of change. Any change,

whether good or bad, would be better than the state of impasse I
was in now. (Murata, 2018, p. 65-66)
The realization of wanting to change finally struck Keiko. She is always

clueless about her environment and does not know why she is being alienated
from the people around her. This alienated situation is what the spinster gets
when they are not married within her age. The people have asked Keiko
fourteen times because she is above her limited age to marry in Japanese
society's eyes. Keiko's spinster stereotype made her impossible to build a
family; that was a moment when an individual was called spinster for being
unmarried. People with no intention of marrying like Keiko, would find it
annoying initially because they do not see anything wrong with it but with her
community.
Society's worry about unmarried women without a future like Keiko is

proof that there is still no other potential a woman holds besides being a
homemaker. To reveal the individual social career as pursuit of selfhood in
the novel, the researcher analyze the main character's personality
development. The researcher concludes that the main character is indeed find
her selfhood in the novel. Besides being responsible for Furukura Keiko's
personality development, the spinster stereotype also helps Keiko’s pursuit
her selfhood to become herself in the novel. The stereotype as the means of
Keiko identity made her developing personality as a success in pursuing her
selfhood. The pursuit of selfhood intertwined with spinster stereotype in
Japan also mirror the real-life issues a modern Japanese face now that is
declining birth.
Shoushika is Japan's state of declining birth rates. This affects the number
of people of reproductive age, which is a valuable resource for a country. The
tendency toward delayed marriage or remaining single and the declining
fertility rate of women who are married are the two primary factors that
contribute to the shoushika phenomenon. According to Satoshi Kawamoto's
74
research, the causes of the trend toward delayed marriage or remaining single,
as well as the declining fertility rate of married women, are numerous and
complex (2011, p. 32). Kawamoto then emphasizes both of these factors
further, breaking down Japan's declining birthrate in the following paragraphs.
For starters, the male population is larger than the female population, and
getting married is more difficult for men. In the same age group, the number
of men is 5% greater than that of women, indicating a demographic imbalance.
Furthermore, with declining fertility and men's average marriage age being
higher than women's, the number of women intended as spouse-to-be
decreases and the imbalance increases (Kawamoto, 2011, p. 32).
Second, single life has become more convenient due to urbanization, the
growth of the service industry, and the intensification of information
technology. For instance, due to the higher turnover rate, apartments that are
suitable for individuals are more readily available than those that are suitable
for families. Convenience stores that are open 24 hours a day can be found
everywhere. It is becoming easier to maintain a basic lifestyle of clothing,
food, and shelter while remaining single. It is getting simpler to fulfill sexual
desires without entering into a committed relationship (Kawamoto, 2011, p.
32).
Third, more women are pursuing higher education and finding it difficult
to meet men with whom they can have a balanced married life and successful
career. On the other hand, the number of "parasite singles" is growing. They
prefer to remain dependents on their parents rather than make a decision about
marriage (Kawamoto, 2011, p. 32).
Fourth, non-regular employment is rapidly increasing and threatens the

financial foundation of youth, which is necessary for leading a stable married
life (Kawamoto, 2011, p. 33). Kawamoto emphasized his points regarding the
declining fertility rate of married women in a number of the points listed
below.
75
First, increasing numbers of women see more disadvantages than

advantages in childrearing as a whole. Because raising children is hard and
costs a lot of money, they see it as more of a burden than a joy, even though
they could enjoy the process of raising children and look forward to the next
generation's growth and happiness. The marriage's advantages and
disadvantages follow the same pattern (Kawamoto, 2011, p. 33).
Second, they have deep-seated worries about raising children and the
future, which makes it hard for them to see a clear and happy future. Chances
of having direct contact with infants and children at home or in the
surrounding communities are declining, and more women lack in confidence
in childrearing. Lack of gynecologists and pediatricians contributes to
childcare anxiety (Kawamoto, 2011, p. 33). As Japan's future becomes
increasingly uncertain, more parents are finding it difficult to see a bright
future for their children. According to the national census, only 10 to 20
percent of Japanese citizens believe that Japan will become more prosperous
in the future (Kawamoto, 2011, p. 33). The traditional middle-class value
system was optimistic about future social benefits. They thought that giving
children a good education at the expense of their parents' frugal way of life
would help raise children who would work for society and give their parents
peace of mind. This point of view is eroding. In other words, the "humble
Japanese dream" of the middle class, in which people thought that working
hard and living a sober life would lead to an average or above-average life, is
crumbling (Kawamoto, 2011, p. 33).
Third, working mothers find it difficult to balance their careers,

housework, and child care responsibilities due to their husbands' long work
hours, their lack of cooperation in housework, and the absence of convenient
nurseries. The cost of resigning from the job is too high and raising the
incentive for childbirth and childcare is not easy to achieve (Kawamoto, 2011,
p. 33).
76
The last, condominiums are a common type of housing in Japanese big

cities today, and their living space is on a smaller scale than independent
houses. Limitations on the amount of space available in housing are
significant factors that make it difficult to raise a large number of children
(Kawamoto, 2011, p. 33).
Spinster stereotype brought to life by the main characters of Convenience

Store Woman, Furukura Keiko, are related to problems Japan has faced in a
recent generation that is declining birth. The researcher thinks the author
manifests these problems through her characters by doing the favor of
reprimanding Japanese society that the country is in crisis which is the
declining birth issues. To close the analysis, the researcher wishes that all the
Japanese work together to fix these issues so that their future generation is
still going strong and preserve their old generation's will.
CHAPTER V
CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION
5.1 Conclusion
Keiko's personality development was categorized into two aspects: from the
better to worse and changes in social pressure. The first factor, change in
social pressure, happens when Keiko's environment criticizing her social
career whenever possible. Keiko's social career that were different to her
peers made her family, friends, and coworker socially pressure Keiko. Keiko
does not mind about her social career because she is already content with her
life which is contributing as a human and normal cog of the society. As such,
a change in social pressure made Keiko develop her characters from the better
to worse that is a rational thinking and workaholic to irrational thinking and
indolent.
The personality development influence individual social career as pursuit

of selfhood in the novel. The main character is success finding her selfhood
as spinster stereotype put into her by the society. Convenience Store Woman
brings spinster stereotype issues by creating Keiko characters that also in
search for selfhood. The society such as Keiko families, friends, and
coworkers helps Keiko to find her selfhood as individual despite the spinster
stereotype she has. The spinster stereotype that acted as means to find Keiko
selfhood also mirror the issues that Japan has faced in recent generation that
is declining birth. The ideas behind spinster stereotype that the author wants
to convey a declining birth that can be caused from unmarried woman which
wants to find their selfhood despite being judged badly.
77
78
5.2 Suggestion
The researcher would like to address two suggestions as to the finish the
culmination of the research process. First, this study is severely limited by the
researcher's lack of understanding of what they are doing due to limited
expertise, resources, and time. However, with the utmost effort, the researcher
tried to reveal what personality development is, the classification, and the
conditions that responsible for personality change. The spinster stereotype
also revealed by the researcher in order to finding the main characters pursuit
of selfhood as unmarried woman. The researcher also deemed the object of
the study will be a good reference for those who want to study about Japan
literature. With that in mind, the researcher suggested diverse research by
using different approaches such as broadening the spinster stereotype as
stand-alone research, ikigai concept, or feminism theory. Therefore, further
analysis into this topic will be needed and is deeply encouraged to determine
the accuracy of the researcher's analysis.
Second, further study is trivial and is left to the reader as an exercise since
such study needs analysis beyond the scope of this study. The researchers
believe this study will be one stepping-stone to help the readers reach another
breakthrough beyond the researcher's study. Thus, to enrich the reader's
knowledge, the researcher suggests the reader read the Convenience Store
Woman, a delightful read for many at least once to understand the simple yet
complicated story with compelling settings and characters. Personality
development will help the readers understand what factors can lead an
individual to develop their personality, whether it is better or worse. Spinster
stereotype will make the readers understand the social phenomenon they live
in and make a suitable countermeasure to prosper themselves and, hopefully,
for humanity.
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APPENDICES
Appendix 1: Author biography
Appendix 2: Novels’ summary
Appendix 3: Table 3.1 Table of Keiko’s initial personality
Appendix 4: Table 3.2 Table of Keiko’s later personality
Appendix 5: Table 3.3 Table of spinster in Japan
83
84
APPENDIX 1
AUTHOR’S BIOGRAPHY
Sayaka Murata was born in the city of Inzai,

Chiba Prefecture. Sayaka began writing when
she was 10 years old, while still in elementary
school in the same city, and felt that writing
was the only way she could express and
liberate herself. She read Jules Renard's Carrot
in elementary school and thought that she was
felt saved by the fact that it was hopeless until
the end. In middle school, her classmates
bullied and told her to die, and she affected
that she actually wanted to die, but writing novels led to her obsession with
life.
Her family was conservative, and her brother was pushed to become a
doctor or a judge. whereas Murata herself took a girlish lesson as a girl who
plays piano, wore neat dresses, attended a traditional women's university, and
finally found by the right man and married, as her mother wished. In her
young adult days, she tried to be pretty woman like the world around her
expected to be. However, she describes it as a horrible experience.
She graduated from Nishimatsugakusan University's Numan High

School (now Nishimatsugakusan University's Kashiwa High School. Sayaka
also attend Tamagawa University's Faculty of Letters, Arts Department, Arts
and Culture Course. She studied at the Yokohama School of Literature under
Akio Miyahara. People around her told her in college that she needed to find
a wealthy marriage partner and consider childbearing, and she was surprised
85
to wonder why she was getting a college degree in the first place after they
told that.
She began working part-time at a convenience store during her college

years to fund her novels, and she continued to work part-time after winning
the Akutagawa Ryunosuke Prize in 2016 for "Convenience Store Woman".
Her colleagues, including Ryo Asai, Chie Kato, and Kanako Nishi, refer to
her as "crazy Sayaka".
86
APPENDIX 2
NOVELS’ SUMMARY
Keiko Furukura is 36 years old and has worked at the Smile Mart, a
convenience store, for her whole adult life. Since she was a child, Keiko has
felt different from everyone else. She thinks that the only way to avoid
making people feel uncomfortable around her is to act like them and keep her
own ideas about the world to herself. Keiko's sister is supportive of her and
gives her reasons to justify her life as an asexual 36-year-old with no real job.
But Keiko knows that her parents and friends are disappointed in her. Smile
Mart gives Keiko a manual to follow, based on company policy. Keiko's way
of talking and dressing is based on how her coworkers do it. Keiko's friends
say that her habits are always changing, but Keiko also notices how the people
around her change in small ways.
When Smile Mart hires a part-time worker named Shiraha who is about
the same age as Keiko and has had similar experiences in life, Keiko's
coworkers say he is weird. He scares women by saying that the world is the
same now as it was in the Stone Age. After Shiraha loses his job, Keiko asks
him to move in with her so that people will think they are a couple and not
ask them about their lives. But Keiko's sister and Shiraha's sister-in-law still
put pressure on them. To get out of this situation, Keiko agrees to quit her job
to help Shiraha with money. But once she does, she feels cut off from Smile
Mart's music and the sense of belonging it gave her. Keiko gets a job interview,
but on the way there, she and Shiraha stop at a convenience store. Keiko starts
right away to do things at the store. When Shiraha confronts her, she tells him
that she doesn't care about trying to fit in with him anymore. She says she
works at a convenience store, cancels her interview, and decides to look for
work at another one.
87
APPENDIX 3
Table 3.1. Table of Keiko’s initial personality
Classifi Keiko’s Citation Explanation

cation initial
of personality
persona
lity
changes
Better Rational So the manual for life Throughout the story,
Thinking already existed. It was the author describes
just that it was already Keiko as a rational-
ingrained in everyone's thinking person. This
heads, and there wasn't quality, however, is not
any need to put it in met with society's
writing. The specific standards to become
form of what is their full-fledged
considered an "ordinary member. When Keiko
person" had been there met the standard, people
all along, unchanged around her became
since prehistoric times I happy because this
finally realized. signals her normality.
"Keiko, I'm so happy for
This analysis is in part
you. You've been
of Hurlock’s
struggling for so long,
classification
but at last you've found
personality
development which is a
88
someone who change for the better and

understands ..." worse. The dear
She was getting carried example that describes
away with making up a the clash between
story for herself. She Keiko's rational
might just as well have thinking versus society's
been saying I was standard is when she
"cured." If it had been realizes that the
that simple all along, I convenience store
thought, I wish she'd manual, which
given me clear represents a guide for
instructions before, then Keiko's life, is already
I wouldn't have had to ingrained in everybody's
go to such lengths to mind. Keiko finally
find out how to be understands why
normal. (Murata, 2018, everyone wants to shun,
p. 69) cure, or disown her
because being rational
does not meet the
standard society wants.
In Keiko's whole life,
she will face several
problems due to her
rationality, which drives
her to experience
personality
development. In the
following example, we
will see how this
paragraph corresponds
with Keiko's current
89
state. Rational thinking

also signifies a better
aspect in Hurlock’s
classification which is a
personality changes for
Childho Rational “What’s up, Keiko? Oh! If we trace back in time,

od Thinking A little bird… where did Keiko’s rational
it come from I wonder?” thinking can be found
she said gently, stroking when she was in nursery
my hair. “The poor school. She concluded
thing. Shall we make a that the dying animals
grave for it?” could be eaten,
“Let’s eat it!” I said. regardless of other
“Keiko!” my mother people's views.
exclaimed reprovingly, This analysis is in part
finally coming to her of Hurlock’s
sense. “Let’s make a classification
grave for Mr. Budgie personality
and bury him. Look, development which is a
everyone’s crying. His change for the better and
friend must sad he died. worse. Unbeknownst to
The poor little thing!” her mother's pity for the
“But it’s dead. Let’s eat deceased bird, little
it!” (Murata, 2018, p. 5- Keiko tells her mother
6) that the rational thing to
do after an animal dies is
to eat them. Keiko does
90
not develop her

empathetic side since
her childhood. Because
of this, Keiko does not
cry or mourn. It means
that the reasoning and
act she conducts are not
based on feelings that
make up her common
sense but purely on
rational thinking. Keiko
does not care with
animal is the result of
her inability to
understand empathy like
her peers due to her
rational thinking traits
and her mothers absence
guidance. Rational
thinking also signifies a
better aspect in
Hurlock’s classification
which is a personality
changes for the better
and the worse.
Childho Rational “Everyone was crying Keiko cannot

od Thinking for the poor dead bird as understand why her
they went around friends and mother
murdering flowers, buried the bird and
plucking their stalks, scattered it with flowers,
91
exclaiming, “What thinking they had lost

lovely flowers! Little their minds.
Mr. Budgie will This analysis is in part
definitely be pleased.” of Hurlock’s
They looked so bizarre I classification
thought they must all be personality
out of their minds development which is a
(Murata, 2018, p. 6-7). change for the better and
worse. If a person
would reason, killing
creatures for other
creatures still counts as
killing. Here, Keiko
questions why everyone
becomes sad when a
little bird dies but not
when they pluck the
flowers that share the
same fate as the bird.
She concludes that
everyone except her is
bizarre based on her
rational value. Keiko, in
her childhood, could not
understand empathy or
common sense. It is
understandable when
such a thing is bizarre to
her because she thinks it
is irrational. Rational
92
better aspect in
and the worse.
Childho Rational “Everyone was saying In primary school,
od Thinking to stop them, so that’s Keiko started taking her
what I did.” rational problem-
Violence was wrong, the solving further by using
bewildered teachers told a violent method. She
me in confusion. believes that she can
“But everyone was solve the problem as
saying to stop long as they are rational,
Yamazaki-kun and even though it means
Aoki-kun fighting! I just that she has to use
thought that would be violence.
the quickest way to do This analysis is in part
it,” I explained patiently. of Hurlock’s
Why on earth were they classification
so angry? I just didn’t personality
get it. (Murata, 2018, p. development which is a
7) change for the better and
worse. Keiko thought
the quickest way to
silence the unruly boys
in her school was to hit
them with a shovel. Her
way of solving problems
shows her intention in
the first place to make
them quite whatever it
93
takes. Keiko being

rational here, choosing
violence was her view
of the quickest result in
the face of her problem.
She does not get what
the teacher reprimand
about violence was
wrong because she does
not see the other way to
make the same result as
she does. Hence, she
wonders why the
teachers are angry with
her. Rational thinking
Childho Rational She wouldn't calm down Decency is a concept

od Thinking even when everyone that Keiko could not
understand as part of
started begging, "We're
common sense in order
sorry, Miss!" "Please to live in society.
stop, Miss!" So in order However, Keiko
confronts her upset
to shut her up I ran over
teacher from a TV show
and yanked her skirt and knowledge because she
knickers down. She was thinks it is rational
regardless of how that
so shocked she burst
affects her teacher's
94
into tears, but at least morals.

she became quiet.
The teacher from the This analysis is in part
next class came running of Hurlock’s
in and asked me what classification
had happened, soI personality
explained that I'd once development which is a
seen on TV how a change for the better and
grown-up woman who worse. Keiko, in her
was all worked up went childhood, absorbs
quiet after someone took various information
her clothes off. But then around her; this includes
they held another everything that needs
teachers' meeting and parental control, like a
my mother was TV show. Children in
summoned again. their early days tend to
(Murata, 2018, p. 7-8) act whatever they
please, and Keiko is no
exception.
Unfortunately, Keiko
has already started her
rational thinking
without a moral
compass from adults,
causing a ruckus in her
school. Keiko’s rational
solution and
unsupervised morals
from adults resulted in
teacher sexual
95
harassment that Keiko

thought was normal.
Rational thinking also
signifies a better aspect
in Hurlock’s
Youth Rational “But as I grow older, As Keiko grew old, she

Thinking being so quite understood her
apparently became a predicament and tried to
problem in itself. As far devise a solution.
as I was concerned, This analysis is in part
tough, keeping my of Hurlock’s
mouth shut was the most classification
sensible approach to personality
getting by in life. Even development which is a
when my teachers wrote change for the better and
in my school report that worse. Keiko then tried
I should make more to reduce her
friends and play outside communication with
more, I doggedly others as much as
refused to say anything possible. She thinks that
than absolute it is the most sensible to
necessary.” (Murata, do. Fixing something
2018, p. 8-9). loud by making them
quiet is a rational thing
for Keiko, but not in this
case. Keiko’s growing
calmness became a
96
problem to other people,

too. Her habit of saying
anything more than
necessary was an
extreme
countermeasure for
other people. In Keiko’s
school report, the
teachers made a note to
her to make friends, play
outside and to socialize;
something that Keiko
could not grasp with her
rational thinking
process. Rational
better aspect in
and the worse.
Better Rational “When I first started Keiko's rational

Thinking here, there was a thinking is something
detailed manual that natural even until she
taught me how to be reaches thirty-six years
store worker, and I still old. Keiko looked back
don’t have a clue how to and recalled that she
be a normal person does not know how to be
outside that manual.” a normal human.
(Murata, 2018, p. 15)
97
This analysis is
in part of Hurlock’s
classification
personality
change for the better and
worse. Keiko thinks that
something requires a
manual in order to
function correctly. To be
a good store worker, the
employee needs a
manual that teaches
them. The same thing
goes for how Keiko
wants to be a normal
human. Keiko wonders
how she became a misfit
and concludes that she
does not have a manual
to be a normal human.
She believes that a
manual is a rational way
of becoming something
or someone; without a
manual, everything will
go astray. Rational
better aspect in
98

and the worse.
Better Rational “As far as I was Social cues or customs

Thinking concerned, though, are an alien to Keiko. In
there wasn’t any her egocentric thinking,
difference between Keiko cannot see why
Miho’s child and my visiting her family is
nephew, and I didn’t important. Because for
understand the logic of her, the only important
coming out all the way thing is herself and her
here just to see him. well-being. This
Maybe this particular egocentric thinking is
baby should be more supported by her
important to me than the rational thinking that
others. But so far as I made Keiko validate her
could see, aside from a thoughts.
few minor differences This analysis is in part
they were an animal of Hurlock’s
called baby and looked classification
much the same, just like personality
stray cars all looked development which is a
much the same.” change for the better and
(Murata, 2018, p. 39- worse. Keiko, who
40). cannot understand
99
social cues or customs,

questions why she
should come out all the
way to see her nephew.
After all, Keiko sees
everyone as a human
being and treats them
equally regardless of
age, gender, or their
background. Whenever
someone got some
priorities as her nephew
does, she questions why
he should be special; if
he is, how would he
affect her? Keiko, who
sees everything with her
rational thinking, cannot
grasp the social cue
normal humans would
do: to enjoy with their
family's accompany.
in Hurlock’s
100
Better Rational “When something was Effective and efficient is

Thinking strange, everyone the motto of Keiko's
thought they had the rational thinking. She
right to come to learned in her past that if
stomping in all your life the method is proved to
to figure out why. I work, she will do it
found that arrogant and again.
infuriating, not to This analysis is in part
mention a pain in the of Hurlock’s
neck. Sometimes I even classification
wanted to hit them with personality
a shovel to shut them up, development which is a
like I did that time in change for the better and
elementary school.” worse. Promoting
(Murata, 2018, p. 40). violence is not what
Keiko chooses as an
option when solving a
problem. Her
environment from the
past until the present
does not provide enough
options to solve the
problem. We can take
diplomacy as a way of
solving a problem
without violence.
Diplomacy is surely not
efficient like violence is
but they prove to be
effective and harmless.
Keiko's mimicking of a
101
person around her

should be enough to
make her solve the
problem. However,
without an actual role
model, all she can do is
to instil her ideology
without thinking about
the consequence.
in Hurlock’s
Better Rational “The baby started to cry. Results are the essence
Thinking My sister hurriedly of being rational.
picked him up and tried Without them, the
to soothe him. What a reason that prepared
lot of hassle I thougt. I before conducting an act
looked at the small knife would mean nothing.
we’d used to cut the Keiko thinks that
cake still lying on the whatever her method is,
table: if it was just the result is to make the
matter of making him baby quiet.
quite, it would be easy This analysis is in part
enough. My sister of Hurlock’s
cuddled him tightly to classification
her. Watching them, I personality
wiped some cream from development which is a
102
the cake off my lip.” worse. Everyone with

(Murata, 2018, p. 41). common sense would
find Keiko’s way of
thinking eerie. She
would not hesitate to
stab the baby to make
him silent. This is
another aspect that
makes Keiko a result-
oriented person; being
rational means
abandoning morals and
ethics to achieve their
goals. People with
common sense would
find this way of thinking
brutal even though it is
rational. Keiko
demonstrates how she
delivers the best result
whenever the problem
comes, a dear example
of her being rational.
in Hurlock’s
103
Better Rational “It was fundamental rule Despite being an

Thinking never to carry your aggressive person,
phone around while at Keiko knows when
work. I couldn’t something violates her
understand why he’d value. In this case, we
violate such a simple can see that a rule is
directive.” (Murata, essential to Keiko's
2018, p. 44). rational thinking.
of Hurlock’s
classification
personality
worse. We have never
seen Keiko protecting
her code throughout the
story since then. The
author usually depicts
her as aggressive, not
defensive. Manual is a
manifestation of Keiko
being rational. In the
manual, there are
several rules that a store
worker must obey to be
a good employee. Keiko
pitying someone who
violates such a rule
exemplifies how she has
never violated a
104
manual’s rule before. It

is because she thinks
that violating the rule
means she would be
against nature as a
rationalist. Rational
better aspect in
and the worse.
Better Rational “I was willing to Keiko considers people
Thinking overlook his slacking who break the rule as
off and even how he idiots. She belittles
would secretly eat the everyone for becoming
food out for disposal, irrational since they are
but there was a woman not following manuals
customer, a regular, or rules.
who’d forgotten her This analysis is in part
parasol and came back of Hurlock’s
to get it, and he started classification
behaving all stalkerish personality
toward her, copying her development which is a
phone number from change for the better and
delivery service slip and worse. Convenience
trying to find out where stores have become a
she lived. Mrs. Izumi part of Keiko right now,
here realized what was which includes
going on I checked the everything within it.
security video right With that in mind, she
105
away. So I talked to him also will stick her value

and told him to leave”. or qualities in it. Keiko
“What and idiot, I judges people who
thought. Store workers break the rules. She
sometimes break little despises those people
rules, but I’d never who disturb the
heard of anything as convenience store order,
ugly as this. It was just like stalking the
lucky it hadn’t become customers. It seems
police matter.” (Murata, normal to see Keiko's
2018, p. 49-50). commentary; however,
as a rationalist, she
deemed the act illegal
and foolish. Rational
better aspect in
and the worse.
Better Rational “What the hell are you As a rationalist, Keiko
Thinking saying? That’s sees her body as a tool to
ridiculous! I’m sorry, work and not any else.
but there’s no way I’ll When Shiraha ridicules
ever be able to get it up Keiko for how he cannot
with you Furukura.” get an erection with her
“Get it up? Um, what body, Keiko answers
has that got to do with that they are a mere
marriage? Marriage is a physiological
matter of paperwork, an phenomenon.
erection is a
106
physiological This analysis is in part

phenomenon.” (Murata, of Hurlock’s
2018, p. 65) classification
personality
worse. Physiological
phenomena can be taken
as people's views or
values when we put
them into perspective.
Shiraha sees his erection
as deciding factor when
choosing his bride
candidate. Nevertheless,
Keiko sees Shiraha's
physiological
phenomenon as a part of
his body function,
which has nothing to do
with her. Because of
this, she views marriage
and sex unrelated
because both of them
are separated matter.
Keiko's love life does
not develop because she
does not have sexual
desire and tends to use
her rational thinking to
maintain a relationship.
107

in Hurlock’s
Better Rational I nodded. "I suppose it is Marriage is merely a

Thinking unreasonable to feel that ceremony to make a
way. If you can get them relationship official for
to stop complaining just Keiko. There is no need
by getting married, then to love each other to
that would be the simple marry someone. Keiko
and sensible thing to do, thinks that if someone
wouldn't it?" wants to solve their
"Don't make it sound so problems by marriage,
easy! We men have it then so be it.
much harder than This analysis is in part
women, you know. If of Hurlock’s
you're not yet a fully classification
fledged member of personality
society, then it's get a development which is a
job, and if you've got a change for the better and
job, it's earn more worse. People take their
money, and if you earn relationship further by
more money, it's get vowing to each other in
married and have marriage. People would
offspring. Society is marry someone because
continually judging us. they love each other and
108
Don't lump me together want to make a vow

with women. You lot about their relationship.
have a cushy time of it," Keiko, as a rationalist,
he said sullenly. does not find the need to
"Well then, marriage love each other to marry
won't solve anything someone, so she offers
then, will it? Isn't it marriage as a solution to
pointless?" I said. But Shiraha. Keiko then
Shiraha didn't answer comments on how
and carried on talking pointless marriage is
heatedly. (Murata, 2018, when Shiraha grumbles
p. 62-63) about the difficulties for
a man to marry. It shows
that Keiko does not see
any reason to get
married because the
problems will not be
solved either way for
her. Rational thinking
109
Better Workaholic "Well, those are the Among the things

main points for today. humans need the most,
Now let's go over our two things keep humans
pledge and the six most alive: spiritual and
important phrases for material. Spiritual need
dealing with customers. is required to keep their
Repeat after me!" mind sane. In contrast,
The three of us raised material needs are
our voices in unison required to constitute
following the prompts. I themselves in everyday
was just thinking how life. Keiko as a human
much brisker the also satiates her spiritual
morning session was needs in her way.
when the manager led it, This analysis is in part
when Shiraha muttered of Hurlock’s
under his breath: "Ugh, classification
it's just like a religion!" personality
Of course it is, I thought. development which is a
(Murata, 2018, p. 33-34) change for the better and
worse. Here, we can see
that Keiko did not deny
that the convenience
store morning call is a
religion. Humans
throughout history have
always needed
something to worship
because they know there
is a supreme being they
could be depended on
beyond their reach.
110
Keiko is no different
from other humans; she
also needs a being that
she can depend on
beyond her reach.
Keiko's morning routine
call is manifested under
the manager's
command, or we can
call as prayer. We can
see this spiritual practice
to communicate their
thoughts to God. Keiko,
in this case, treats the
convenience store as her
God and the manager as
her religious leader to
communicate with it.
Keiko's tendency to
worshiping convenience
store turned her into a
workaholic. Workaholic
111
Better Workaholic “The time before I was Keiko is described as a

reborn as a convenience workaholic by the
store worker Is author. In the story, she
somewhat unclear in my is always seen thinking
memory.” about the store's well-
“At that moment, for the being and serving the
first time ever, I felt I’d store. Keiko considers
become a part in the her turning point of life
machine of society. I’ve when she was reborn as
been reborn, I thought. a convenience store
That day, I actually worker and deemed her
became a normal cog in past before them
society. (Murata, 2018, unnecessary.
p. 5). This analysis is in part
of Hurlock’s
classification
personality
worse. In her
undergraduate student
life, Keiko became a
part-time worker at
Hiromachi Station
Smile Mart. Keiko's
curiosity to apply for a
job vacancy turned her
into a convenience store
worker. After some
training brought by the
management, Keiko
112
officially became a part

of the society. She then
pointed to the first day
of work as the day she
was reborn as a normal
cog of society. This
point of life then is
remembered by Keiko
as the day when her
savior, the convenience
store, gives a new
meaning to life. Thus,
Keiko's new chapter in
life began with
workaholic tendencies
that devote her whole
body and mind to the
convenience store.
Workaholic also
in Hurlock’s
113
Better Workaholic “Sometimes I even find Keiko’s workaholic

myself operating the tendencies are so
checkout till in my destructive that they
dreams. I wake up with disturb her daily
a start, thinkingL Oh! activities like sleeping.
This new line of crisps is This analysis is in part
missing the price tag, or, of Hurlock’s
We’ve sold a lot of hot classification
tea, so I’d better restock personality
the display cabinet. I’ve development which is a
also been woken up in change for the better and
the middle of the night worse. We can see in
by the sound of my own this monologue how a
voice calling out: workaholic Keiko can
“Irrashaimase”! be. She is so obsessed
(Murata, 2018, p. 16). with her work that
whenever she does
everything besides
working, the job in a
convenience store
always comes to mind.
In our lives, there are
always people who take
their job seriously and
are labeled diligent or
hardworking, but this is
not the case with Keiko.
Any hardworking
people in given normal
circumstances will rest
and have their priorities
114
straight whenever the

situation calls for it.
Keiko's unhealthy
obsession with her work
made it impossible for
her to rest peacefully.
The work priorities and
neglecting her daily
necessities made Keiko
a workaholic.
Workaholic also
in Hurlock’s
Better Workaholic “When morning comes, Being stereotyped as

once again I’m a strange since childhood,
convenience store adult Keiko values her
worker, a cog in society. normality as a human by
This is the only way I becoming a
can be a normal person.” convenience store
(Murata, 2018, p. 16). worker.
of Hurlock’s
classification
personality
worse. Due to her
115
environment, Keiko
does not understand
how to be normal since
her childhood defies her
qualities as a rational
person. After becoming
a convenience store
worker, she is
experiencing normality
for the first time by
becoming a working
adult. This kind of unity
with her environment is
what Keiko needs the
most. Her workaholic
nature is based not only
on her obsession with
working but also on
valuing her work deeply
as a part of normal
human society. The
sense of belonging and
homey feeling made
Keiko can be the person
she wanted that her
coworker, friends, or
parents could not give to
her. Workaholic also
in Hurlock’s
116

Better Workaholic “There are times when I Social relationship is not

feel like it’s too much something she deeply
bother, knowing I have values. In reality, she
to work the next day. loves preparing herself
But it’s the only for work rather than
connection I have to the accompanying her
world outside the friends. This analysis is
convenience store and a in part of Hurlock’s
precious opportunity to classification
mingle with “normal” personality
women my age, so I development which is a
usually accept her change for the better and
invitations.” (Murata, worse. Keiko strived to
2018, p. 23). be normal and would do
whatever it took to be
one. Keiko is becoming
a normal human when
she does the job and
interacts with her
friends. People without
will agree if some
117
friends invite them to

hang out to relieve
stress. However, Keiko
finds that accepting her
friend’s invitation and
accompanying them is
too much bothersome
and would definitely
refuse them. Keiko's
emerged when she
neglects her social life
and chooses her work
instead. Her obsession
with her work was so
severe that the only
thing in her mind was to
get rid of everything that
got in the way of work,
including her social life.
Workaholic also
in Hurlock’s
118
Better Workaholic “I wished I was back in The convenience store

the convenience store became a safe place for
where I was valued as a Keiko whenever she felt
working member of uncomfortable. Her
staff and things weren’t attachment to her
as complicated as this. workplace made the
Once we donned our convenience store a
uniforms, we were all place she belonged
equals regardless of instead of her literal
gender, age, or home.
nationality-all simply This analysis is in part
store workers.” (Murata, of Hurlock’s
2018, p. 28). classification
personality
worse. Home is where
someone belongs to and
a place with complete
privacy from others.
Keiko does not consider
her home a place to
return to when she feels
uncomfortable but
chooses she
convenience store
instead. Her workaholic
tendencies replaced her
home, where she
guaranteed privacy in a
public place like a
119
convenience store. This

also means that Keiko
does not consider her
privacy important
besides her social
relationship. As long as
she can get into a
convenience store, she
can feel safe and sound,
something even her
home does not provide.
Workaholic also
in Hurlock’s
Better Workaholic “Even when I’m far An invisible bond is
away, the convenience created between Keiko
store and I are and her workplace, the
connected. In my convenience store. She
mind’s eye I picture the feels intimate with it to
brightly lit and bustling the point where she can
store, and I silently vividly imagine stroking
stroke my right hand, its her trimmed nail.
nail neatly trimmed in This analysis is in part
order to better work the of Hurlock’s
buttons on the cash classification
register.” (Murata, personality
2018, p. 28). development which is a
120
worse. The relationship

between Keiko and her
job is remarkable. Keiko
thinks deeply and loves
her job as if they are
soulmates. It is unusual
for the people who do
not want to interact like
Keiko to care for others.
However, we can see
that Keiko's love and
passion for her job are
depicted as compassion
for humans rather than
merely a way to make a
living. Keiko even
perfected herself in
every way possible to be
a good worker, like
trimming her nails.
People with workaholic
tendencies tend to
dedicate themselves to
their jobs, even minor
things. Workaholic also
in Hurlock’s
121
Better Workaholic “Keiko, didn’t you say For Keiko, serving her
you were going to whole body to maintain
Miho’s place her job is the main
tomorrow? Won’t you priority. She always
show your face here neglects her family,
afterward? Your father even during the holiday
misses you.” season.
“Um, I don’t think I can. This analysis is in part
I have to be in good of Hurlock’s
physical shape for work classification
the next day, so I’d personality
better get home early.” development which is a
“Really? What a pity … change for the better and
You didn’t come over worse. Keiko always
for New Year’s either. neglects her family's
Please do come soon.” invitation as much as
(Murata, 2018, p. 52) possible, even during
New Year's holiday
when the workers
usually demand to
gather with their family
at least once. Her
also emerged when she
refuses her parent's
invitation to visit them
and instead says that she
needs to take a rest for
tomorrow's jobs.
Workaholic people tend
to focus on work and
122
work only. We can see

that Keiko uses her free
time to prepare for her
job rather than visiting
her parents. Workaholic
Better Workaholic “The convenience store People usually became
is open 365 days a year, dejected when they put
and many of the staff are into New Year’s shift
unable to come in over jobs. However, Keiko
the New Year, what with accepts the jobs offer
housewives being busy without hesitation.
with their families and This analysis is in part
international students of Hurlock’s
returning to their home classification
countries. I’d wanted to personality
go see my parents, but development which is a
when I realized what a change for the better and
fix the store was in I’d worse. Work is the top
without hesitation opted priority for Keiko. She
to work.” (Murata, opted to work regardless
2018, p. 53) of being over time and
unable to see her
parents. If she wanted
to, Keiko could ask the
manager to fill a vacant
shift by recruiting
123
another worker, but she

did not. Her realization
about the store fix is her
pretense of getting more
work time as every
workaholic does.
Workaholic people tend
to involve themselves in
work as much as they
can. When they have a
chance to work, even
minuscule like Keiko,
they would gladly
succumb to the
temptation of work.
Workaholic also
in Hurlock’s
Better Workaholic “I sometimes wondered Keeping one's health is
what would become of an essential aspect that
me if I got too old to plays a role in
work here. Manager #6 performance when
had to quit his job when someone is working.
he hurt his back and was Being a workaholic,
unable to work. To Keiko also feels this
ensure that didn’t sense of well-being.
happen to me, I had to This analysis is in part
keep my body in good of Hurlock’s
124
shape, for the sake of the classification

store.” (Murata, 2018, p. personality
53) development which is a
“When you do physical change for the better and
labor, you end up being worse. As the year goes
no longer useful when by, people's physical
your physical condition condition also
deteriorates. However deteriorates. Keiko also
hard I work, however has worries about her
dependable I am, when health because it
my body grows old then influences her work
no doubt I too will be a performance. Everyone
worn-out part, ready to treats their health at
be replaced, no longer work similarly, but
any use to the Keiko takes a twist on it.
convenience store.” Keiko was worried that
(Murata, 2018, p. 58) she could not work like
usual, or even worse,
she could not work
entirely. For a
workaholic like Keiko,
being unable to work is
the same as death for
her. She worries that
being too old to work
means she will stop
working as a
convenience store
worker forever. Keiko
does not consider
retiring even in the
125
slightest, even though

she is already in her
thirties. Workaholic also
in Hurlock’s
Better Workaholic “After I adopted After Shiraha starts

Shiraha, things went cohabiting in Keiko's
even more smoothly for house, things get
me at the convenience financially difficult for
store. But feeding him Keiko. However, this
did cost me more escalates Keiko's
money. Fridays and motivation even though
Sundays had always it means she should
been my days off, but break the labor law by
the thought of asking to working seven days a
work these shifts too week.
actually added more This analysis is in part
spring to my step.” of Hurlock’s
“Attagirl, Miss classification
Furukura! Always so personality
full of enthusiasm. But development which is a
I’d be breaking the law change for the better and
to have you work the worse. We already know
whole week without a that Keiko is a
day off you know. How workaholic by now.
about getting another Seeing her financial
job on the side? All the status declining after
126
stores are shorthanded, cohabiting with Shiraha,

so I’m sure they’ll be Keiko decides to take a
delighted.” (Murata, solution by applying for
2018, p. 79-80) another job, which is
made her happy. In
contrast, her wish must
break labor law,
resulting in a penalty if
she insists. Fortunately,
Keiko's manager
suggests taking the job
in another store to avoid
the penalty. We can see
that whether she hears
the manager's
suggestion or not means
that she is ready to take
a risk to offend the law.
Keiko's behavior
prioritizes her happiness
in working means that
she would take such a
risk as long as she can
work. Workaholic also
in Hurlock’s
127
Better Workaholic “The sound of my Remember convenience

chewing was store with her five
extraordinarily loud. It senses made Keiko at
was probably because ease. We have seen
I’d been surrounded by Keiko in this state
the sounds of the before, but we will later
convenience store untill see this as a part of
shortly before. When I Keiko's life instead of
closed my eyes and her workaholic
picture the store, in my tendencies.
mind its sounds came This analysis is in part
back to life.” of Hurlock’s
“That sound flowed classification
through me like music. personality
Swaying to the sounds development which is a
etched deep within me change for the better and
of the store performing, worse. We have seen the
of the store operating, I analysis before of
stuffed the food before Keiko's workaholic
me into my body so that tendencies look like a
I would be fit to work hindrance in her
again tomorrow.” everyday life. Instead,
(Murata, 2018, p. 87) she accepted it as part of
her life. Ordinary people
would consider the
noise from their
workplace a nuisance
and want to eliminate it.
However, a person like
Keiko longed for a
convenience store
128
whenever she felt a void

in her heart. Keiko's five
senses then work to
retrieve the imaginary
feelings of convenience
store due to her
workaholic tendencies.
Without her workaholic
tendencies or music and
pictures in Keiko's
mind, she no longer
functions in everyday
life. Workaholic also
in Hurlock’s
129
Better Workaholic "Nobody in the store has Keiko starts to

ever talked to me like investigate how she is
that before." viewed by other people
"That's because you're as strange even though
just too far out there. A she already works and
thirty-six-year-old, has love relationships
single convenience store like every other adult
worker, probably a does. Shiraha then
virgin at that, zealously points out the core of her
working every day, qualities blatantly.
shouting at the top of her This analysis is in part
lungs, full of energy. Yet of Hurlock’s
showing no signs of classification
looking for a proper job. personality
You're a foreign object. development which is a
It's just nobody bothered change for the better and
to tell you because they worse. Keiko, who
find you too freaky. finally feels normal and
They've been saying it is a part of society,
behind your back, wonders why she still
though. And now they'll gets accusations as she
start saying it to your is not adult enough.
face too." (Murata, Shiraha, her cohabiting
2018, p. 85-86) mate, then points out
what was wrong with
her because she is too
freaky. After all, she
worked zealously as a
convenience store
worker and virgin on top
of that. We can see that
130
neglecting her social life

degraded Keiko as a
lowly human in her
thirties. If only Keiko
would maintain her
work-life balance, these
accusations never
happen. However,
Keiko, who has
workaholic tendencies,
did not see it as she only
focused on work and not
on her life matters.
Workaholic also
in Hurlock’s
Better Workaholic “Ever since you started Several data the
working at the researcher shows before
convenience store, identifies qualities
you’ve gotten weirder attached to Keiko, a
and weirder. The way rational and workaholic.
you talk, the way you After finishing
yell out at home as if analyzing the main
you were still in the character's initial
store, and even your personality, the
facial expressions are researcher puts on the
weird. I’m begging you. last data to complete the
Please try to be analysis. The last data
131
normal!” She began the researcher wants to

crying even harder. present is Keiko's
“So, will I be cured if I conflict caused by her
leave the convenience rational and workaholic
store? Or am I batter tendencies before she
staying working there? experiences personality
And should I kick changes. The researcher
Shiraha out? Or am I considers the data
better with him here? revealing of Keiko's
Look, I’ll do whatever personality
you say. I don’t mind development because
either way, so please just the dialogue represents
instruct me in specific the whole situation she
terms.” (Murata, 2018, faces.
p. 92) This analysis is in part
“So that was it: now that of Hurlock’s
she thinks he’s “one of classification
us” she can lecture him. personality
She’s far happier development which is a
thinking her sister is change for the better and
normal, even she has a worse. Everything
lot of problems, than she comes to a complete
is having an abnormal piece when Keiko's little
sister for whom sister, Mami, vents her
everything is fine. For anger. Keiko and
her, normality-however Mami's bond now
messy-is far more crumbles because of the
comprehensible”. same thing; Mami wants
(Murata, 2018, p. 93) to cure Keiko like their
parents. Throughout the
story, Mami seems to be
132
the most understanding

person for Keiko. Mami
even helps Keiko make
an excuse whenever her
friends talk about Keiko
still unmarried and
working as a
convenience store clerk.
The day Keiko becomes
a workaholic, Mami's
worry about her
weirdness grows bigger
each day. This worry
then reaches the climax
when Mami begs Keiko
to be cured while crying,
desperate after these
years with no avail
changes. Keiko
personally does not
understand what her
sisters rant about and
demand logical
instruction. Workaholic
133
APPENDIX 4
Table 3.2. Table of Keiko’s later personality
Classifi Keiko’s later Citation Explanation

cation personality
of
persona
lity
changes
Worse Irrational “I went up to him and Keiko’s first encounter
Thinking raised my voice. with Shiraha puts her
“Shiraha, the store rationality on edge.
displays are more Keiko throws her
important than the manual, which
manual! Keeping them manifests as rationality
neat, along with the now, in front of Shiraha.
customer greetings
and shout-outs, are the
of Hurlock’s
two most basic tasks of
classification
a store worker, you
personality
know! If you don’t
understand how, lets
do it together.”
worse. Shiraha is
(Murata, 2018, p. 36).
introduced as a lazy
worker on his first-day
job. His grumbling
about how the
convenience was
134
supposed to be while
talking about manual
made Keiko upset.
Keiko was upset with
Shiraha’s attitude,
which made her lose her
rational thinking as she
always did. Manual is
essential for Keiko; her
life would be aimless
without it. This mindset
contradicts what she
says to Shiraha: keeping
the store neat and
greeting customers are
more important than the
manual. It shows that
Keiko is professional
with her job and would
become irrational when
the situation calls for it.
Irrational thinking also
signifies a worse aspect
in Hurlock’s
135
Worse Irrational Irritated, I yelled at As the relationship

Thinking them: “Look, it isn't between Keiko and
that there's anything Shiraha goes further,
between us! He's just Keiko’s work becomes
staying at my place harder. Keiko’s job
now, that's all. What's becomes harder since
important is that we her coworker keeps
haven't even started pestering her
preparing the chicken relationship with
skewers yet!” Shiraha.
I was shocked by their This analysis is in part
reaction. As a of Hurlock’s
convenience store classification
worker, I couldn't personality
believe they were development which is a
putting gossip about change for the better and
store workers before a worse. Keiko is a person
promotion in which who can separate
chicken skewers that personal and company
usually sold at 130 yen affairs from work. It is
were to be put on sale rational to talk about
at the special price of work and nothing else
110 yen. What on earth when someone is
had happened to the working. Keiko believes
pair of them? (Murata, that and puts them in
2018, p. 82-83) mind as normal since
everyone has never
talked about their
personal affairs before.
However, after
cohabiting with Shiraha,
136
her work is interrupted

by her personal affair,
which Keiko finds
irrational. Keiko then
wondered what
happened with her
coworker gossiping
when something
important, a chicken
skewers promotion was
being sold. She finds
that gossiping is
irrational because this
does not relate to work.
in Hurlock’s
Worse Irrational I had judged After her retirement,

Thinking everything on the basis Keiko lost her worth-life
of whether it was the or, in this case, her
sensible thing to do for rationality. Since Keiko
the convenience store, has worked for
but now I'd lost that convenience stores for
standard. There was more than eighteen
nothing to guide me years, she forgot how
over whether an action her rationality began in
was rational or not. her early childhood.
137
Before I became a This analysis is in part

store worker, I must of Hurlock’s
have been following classification
some kind of logic in personality
my judgments, but I'd development which is a
forgotten whatever change for the better and
guiding principles I'd worse. Keiko’s
followed back then. realization about her
(Murata, 2018, p. 104- diminishing rationality
105) signifies how her
retirement as a store
worker impacts on
Keiko’s life. Keiko’s
violent behavior and
bewilderment about her
environment in her early
childhood days were
then gone. As she was
aging, Keiko began to
identify and understand
her traits and behave
accordingly. Keiko’s
monologue about
nothing to guide
whether her action was
rational or not means
that she lost her purpose
of existence. The old
rational Keiko is gone
and replaced with an
irrational Keiko.
138

in Hurlock’s
Worse Irrational She sounded so taken Keiko then equate
Thinking aback on the other end herself with an animal
of the line that I since she has become
thought I'd better irrational. She then
explain what I meant. questions Shiraha’s
"After all, we're sisters-in-law about the
animals, so isn't it primary need for
better for our species if animals to live:
we multiply? Do you reproducing.
think it would be best This analysis is in part
for me and Shiraha to of Hurlock’s
quickly get on with classification
mating and play our personality
part in making development which is a
humanity prosper?" change for the better and
(Murata, 2018, p. 106- worse. Animals are
107) different from humans
because they do
everything but are
irrational and
instinctual. Keiko, after
some thoughts, decided
to identify herself as an
animal since they are a
creature with a
139
fundamental need to eat,

sleep, and have sex. We
cannot deny that
humans also have those
basic things to live; the
same goes for animals.
However, losing
rationality and
identifying themselves
as animals is not the
right thing to do.
Humans are called
humans because they
have compassion,
understanding, and
myriads self-worth in
their life. Irrational
worse aspect in
and the worse.
Worse Irrational Having for once run Supply herself with
Thinking into each other, we nutrition is rational for
somehow ended up Keiko to carry out the
having lunch together. task as a convenience
Shiraha defrosted store worker. Now she
some steamed does not do the job
dumplings and anymore; she does not
chicken nuggets and
140
piled them onto plates. find merit in eating her

Wordlessly I put some daily meals.
in my mouth. This analysis is in part
I didn't know what I of Hurlock’s
was taking in nutrition classification
for. I chewed the rice personality
and dumplings to a development which is a
pulp, but I couldn't change for the better and
bring myself to worse. Keiko saw eating
swallow. (Murata, as merely an act to
2018, p. 107-108) nourish herself every
day for various tasks.
She did it because it was
rational to keep herself
alive, especially
working in a
convenience store. After
Keiko retires from her
job as a store worker,
she no longer finds
eating as taking
nutrients as necessary.
Her body could not even
bring herself to swallow,
let alone digest. Keiko
does not bring herself to
eat, making Keiko
irrational by not taking
nutrients or eating as
many humans do.
141

in Hurlock’s
Worse Irrational There were just two Keiko abandoned her
Thinking young women behind rational side by
the counter, one becoming accustomed
wearing a badge that to her irrationality. Her
said: IN TRAINING. mind and body are now
Both were frantically in sync to become
ringing up items on irrational by
each of the two tills. hallucinating
And then the store's convenience store
voice began streaming messages.
into me. All its sounds This analysis is in part
quivered with of Hurlock’s
meaning, the classification
vibrations speaking personality
directly to my cells, development which is a
like music to my ears. change for the better and
I knew instinctively worse. Any normal
what this store needed person or even Keiko
without even having to would not think getting
think about it. (Murata, a message from a
2018, p. 109-110) convenience store
telling them what to do
is rational. Keiko
describes the quiver,
vibration, and music as a
somewhat unbelievable
142
convenience store
message. In Keiko’s
rational side, we see she
uses logic and reasoning
to act and consider
irrationality foolish.
Keiko, who experiences
change of behavior,
starts to embrace her
irrationality by listening
to a message which
people never heard. Her
hallucination, or what
she called the message,
signifies that she accepts
her personality
development to become
entirely irrational.
in Hurlock’s
Worse Irrational I pulled myself up Keiko experienced
Thinking straight and faced him personality
squarely, the way I did development from
when uttering the store rational to irrational
pledge in the morning made her embrace her
ritual, and I said, "No. new personality. Keiko
It's not a matter of finally chose her animal
143
whether they permit it side over the human side

or not. It's what I am. to become her true self.
For the human me, it This analysis is in part
probably is convenient of Hurlock’s
to have you around, classification
Shiraha, to keep my personality
family and friends off development which is a
my back. But the change for the better and
animal me, the worse. Keiko is
convenience store reaching the tunnel end
worker, has absolutely of her personality
no use for you development; she must
whatsoever?' (Murata, choose between
2018, p. 113) becoming rational or
irrational. Keeping
Shiraha in her house is
the most sensible
solution for making
Keiko move to normal
from an stereotype for
almost thirty-six years
old. However, Keiko
can not betray her desire
to keep working as a
store worker, which she
labeled an animal side.
After experiencing
rough times dealing
with post-retirement
depression, Keiko
finally discovers her
144
true self and fights for

her independence as an
animal. Keiko now ends
those abnormal
stereotyping from her
environment once and
for all by becoming
irrational. Irrational
worse aspect in
and the worse.
Worse Irrational "That's grotesque. Keiko now ends her
Thinking You're not human!" he problems by cutting ties
spat. with her former traits,
That's what I've been which is rational.
trying to tell you! I Shiraha, who does not
thought. I finally like Keiko’s acceptance
managed to pull my of her irrationality,
hand from his grip and insults her as not human.
hugged it to my chest. This analysis is in part
That hand was of Hurlock’s
important for giving classification
customers their change personality
and for wrapping their development which is a
food orders. It felt change for the better and
disgustingly sticky worse. Throughout the
from Shiraha's sweat story, we are constantly
and I wanted to wash it exposed to how to be
145
as soon as I possibly human or be normal.

could. It was Keiko, who questions
discourteous to these two words begin
customers to leave it to advance her self-
like this! (Murata, consciousness until the
2018, p. 113) end of the story. Keiko
then concludes that
those words do not
matter to her as long as
she can work as a
convenience store
worker. Abandoning her
wish to be a normal
human is irrational for
the former Keiko, but
she scraped that trait for
the new Keiko, an
“animal” with passion
as a convenience store
worker. Irrational
worse aspect in
and the worse.
Worse Indolent I got home to find Keiko finally reaches
Shiraha waiting the end of her
impatiently for me. convenience store life to
Normally I would be pursue another career.
concerned about work The abrupt end of
146
the next day and would Keiko’s workaholic

be sure to care for my tendencies immediately
physical needs with takes a toll on her.
food and sleep. My This analysis is in part
body had belonged to of Hurlock’s
the convenience store classification
even when I wasn't at personality
work. Having been development which is a
liberated from this, I change for the better and
didn't know what to do worse. Work is the
with myself. (Murata, leading force in Keiko’s
2018, p. 101) life; without it, she
becomes lifeless. The
long career of serving
customers, keeping her
body in shape, and
thinking about
convenience stores is
now gone. Keiko feels
like she is in prison after
being liberated from
duty as a convenience
store worker. People in
middle age like Keiko
usually plan their
retirement or settle with
their family since their
getting old to work.
However, Keiko, who
serves her mind and
body solely for
147
convenience stores,
does not think about her
post resignation before,
so she does not know
what to do about herself.
Indolent also signifies a
worse aspect in
and the worse.
Worse Indolent I felt depressed. I The resignment from the
looked at the clock: convenience store job
7:00 p.m. My body had started to influence
always been connected Keiko’s mind. Her mind
to the convenience that was supposed to
store even when I serve convenience store
wasn't working. Now started to depress after
it was time for the her contract was
store's stock of carton dismissed.
drinks to be This analysis is in part
replenished; now the of Hurlock’s
store's nighttime classification
delivery would be personality
arriving and the night development which is a
shift would start change for the better and
checking it; now it was worse. Keiko spent
time for the store to almost her entire life
have its floor mopped. working as a
Every time I looked at convenience store
the clock: I would worker. She works
148
think about what was zealously to the point

happening in the that she neglects her
convenience store. family and friends,
(Murata, 2018, p. 101- which affects her social
102). relationship. Now she is
in an unemployment
state; Keiko felt
something that she had
never felt before. Keiko
was depressed as a
result of her
unemployment. For
Keiko, working is
something she looks
forward to every day
and enjoys. Keiko does
not consider taking
another job before
retirement because she
loves her job dearly.
Keiko feels depressed
after her unemployment
is her expression of her
loss of one part that
makes her alive today.
worse aspect in
and the worse.
149
Worse Indolent Until now I had always Feeling the reason for
needed to make sure I her life was gone, Keiko
got enough sleep became listless after her
before work the next retirement. Keiko’s
day. All I had to do was sleep routine to serve
recall how I had to the convenience store no
keep in shape for the longer has meaning.
sake of the This analysis is in part
convenience store and of Hurlock’s
I would fall asleep classification
right away, but now I personality
didn't even know why development which is a
I needed to sleep at all. change for the better and
(Murata, 2018, p. 102- worse. Keiko is highly
103) appreciated because her
punctuality to work than
all of her coworkers.
She can achieve this
perfect attendance by
maintaining a sleeps
schedule very well.
Throughout the story,
we can see that Keiko
always arrives at her
workplace one hour
before her shift begins.
She never pulled
overnight or overslept
150
throughout her career,

even in crucial times
like developing her love
life by cohabiting with
Shiraha. After retiring
from her job, Keiko
does not consider sleep
necessary anymore.
Why bother to wake up
early when she does not
have a job to do? That is
Keiko’s reason for
becoming indolent.
worse aspect in
and the worse.
Worse Indolent I stroked my body. My Keeping appearance

nails were kept short as neat and clean is the
per store rules, and I standard in the service
was scrupulous about industry, especially as a
keeping my hair clean convenience store
and had never dyed it. worker. Keiko, who
There was a faint scar always takes care of her
on the back of my hand appearance for the store,
from when I burned now neglects them
myself while frying completely.
croquettes three days
151
ago. (Murata, 2018, p. This analysis is in part

102-103) of Hurlock’s
classification
personality
worse. In earlier stories,
Keiko is seen stroking
her trimmed nails,
implying that she
always keeps her
appearance in check.
While maintaining her
sleeping schedule,
Keiko also obeyed her
workplace rules by not
dying her hair and
trimming her nails. We
can assume that Keiko is
taking herself as a
human or convenience
store worker by this far.
Keiko’s negligence of
her appearance is part of
her becoming indolent.
People would take care
of their hygiene as an
obligation whether they
have a job or not.
However, Keiko sees
them as the sole purpose
152
of working in a
convenience store,
which will be
abandoned if she retires.
worse aspect in
and the worse.
Worse Indolent I had no idea what time Having never
it was, or even which experienced getting late
day of the week. I or taking days off
fumbled around my voluntarily, Keiko feels
pillow for my cell restless as indolent.
phone to check the Keiko, who dedicates all
time: two o'clock. her time to work, suffers
Unable to grasp in my from oversleeping.
befuddled state
whether it was
of Hurlock’s
morning or night, I
classification
climbed out of the
personality
closet. When I saw
daylight coming in
through the curtains, I
worse. It is normal to get
finally registered it
overslept when we have
must be two in the
overtime or pull
afternoon. (Murata,
overnight. Some people
2018, p. 103-104)
consider those as hustle
life even though others
153
see it as an unhealthy
lifestyle. However, in
Keiko’s case, she
experienced
oversleeping because
she retired from her job;
this resignation made
Keiko not taking care of
herself, let alone doing
chores. People who do
not have enough
education, training, or
job tend to spend their
entire day lazing around
aimlessly. Indolent like
Keiko has ignored her
clock routine since she
retired from her job.
worse aspect in
and the worse.
Worse Indolent Since I'd left the store, Continuing her

I no longer knew what newfound overslept
time I should wake up habits, Keiko escalates
in the morning. I slept her unhealthy sleep
whenever I felt sleepy habit by becoming
and ate when I woke listless except when she
154
up. I didn't do anything fills resume forms.

all day except fill out Keiko blames her
resume forms, as retirement from a
ordered by Shiraha. convenience store for
I no longer knew what losing her standard of
standard to live by. living.
Until now my body This analysis is in part
had belonged to the of Hurlock’s
convenience store, classification
even when I wasn't personality
working. Sleeping, development which is a
keeping in good change for the better and
physical shape, and worse. Keiko losing her
eating nutritiously life’s purpose is a sign
were all part of my job. of an impact on
I had to stay healthy becoming indolent.
for work. (Murata, People would find
2018, p. 104-105) various purposes life
throughout their life. A
child in her school days
would aim to be a top
student to get a better
chance to enroll in a
reputable university;
college students would
aim for a good grade to
get their dream job.
Then, working adults
who become full-
fledged members of
society would find an
155
ideal partner and start a

family. However, Keiko
has never seen her
various purposes in life
because she pledges to
serve customers and
nothing else. When
facing difficulties like
retirement, she cannot
back up and search for
another purpose in her
life. Indolent also
in Hurlock’s
Worse Indolent I now spent all day and As the day goes by,
night in my bed inside Keiko becomes more
the closet, only and more like a shut-in.
coming out when I felt She lay around her bed
hungry and never all day, ate when she felt
bothering to put the hungry and did not keep
futon bedding away. her appearance.
Jet black hairs were This analysis is in part
sprouting on the of Hurlock’s
fingers of my hand classification
holding the glass and personality
on my arms too. Until development which is a
now I'd always been change for the better and
156
scrupulous over my worse. People without a

personal appearance post-retirement plan are
for the sake of the prone to procrastinate as
convenience store, but Keiko does. Moreover,
now that it was no this procrastination
longer necessary I phenomenon is
didn't feel the need to becoming massive when
shave. I looked in the people are not
mirror that stood in the experienced enough to
living room and saw I apply for full-time jobs
had a faint moustache or do not open
too. (Murata, 2018, p. businesses themselves.
104-105) Keiko’s indolent
behavior mirrors the
term hikikomori, a
Japanese term for
people who shut
themselves in their
rooms because they are
unemployed, asocial, or
have internal problems
(Emmanuel, 2016, p. 2).
Hikikomori is associated
with people who laze
around and do not care
for themselves, like
eating properly or
having a messy
appearance. Keiko is a
hikikomori mirroring a
part of the Japanese
157
indolent who shuts

herself at home and has
a sluggish life
(Emmanuel, 2016, p. 3).
worse aspect in
and the worse.
Worse Indolent Now that my daily Being indolent becomes
rhythm had been a part of Keiko’s life.
disrupted I rarely She is annoyed when
boiled vegetables for her rhythm is disrupted
our feed, and instead by Shiraha, even though
he'd started buying she dislikes her current
frozen meals from the lifestyle.
hundred-yen shop. This analysis is in part
Even though we were of Hurlock’s
both living in this classification
small apartment, it had personality
been some time since development which is a
we'd last sat down to change for the better and
lunch together. The worse. Having her work
rice cooker was always time reduced to zero
left on, and my life made Keiko indolent. At
revolved around first, she felt depressed,
waking up and shoving listless, or restless after
some rice into my retirement. Keiko
mouth before getting became accustomed to
back into my closet her indolent lifestyle
158
and sleeping again. and accepted it as a part

(Murata, 2018, p. 107- of her life. From what
108) we have seen until now,
it can be assumed that it
takes time for people to
get accustomed to
something regardless of
how they feel. One
needs enough
motivation to be freed
from their unemployed
status but none when
one wants to fall.
Keiko’s environment,
which consists of herself
and Shiraha alone,
would not make a good
motivation. Thus her
new lifestyle made her
be familiar with, accept,
and embrace her
unemployed status.
worse aspect in
and the worse.
159
In the background, I The researcher reveals

heard the sound of a several data to find the
baby crying. It personality
suddenly occurred to development the main
me that no longer character, Furukura
having the Keiko, experienced
convenience store throughout the story.
manual to follow, Keiko undergoes
perhaps I should use personality
animal instinct as the development from
standard on which to rational thinking and
base my judgments. workaholic to irrational
I'm an animal of the thinking and indolent.
human species so Thus, the researcher
perhaps having reached the end of
children to make my analyzing the whole
species prosper would main character’s
be the correct path for personality
me. (Murata, 2018, p. development in this
105-106) section. However, the
“I realize now,” I went researcher would like to
on relentlessly. “More put one more analysis to
than a peson, I’m a complete this later
convenience store personality
worker. Even if that development. The last
means I’m abnormal data will be act as the
and can’t make a living proof of Hurlock’s
and drop down dead, I classification
can’t escape that fact. personality
My very cells exist for development which is a
160
the convenience worse. In this case the

store.” change of Keiko’s
“No, I can’t go with irrational to rational and
you. Think of me as an workaholic to indolent
animal, convenience characters. The
store animal. I can’t researcher considers the
betray my instinct. data as Keiko’s
(Murata, 2018, p. 113) assessment regarding
her personality
development after
several problems she
has. Later, we can see
that Keiko finally
concluded about the
personality
development she is
going through.
In the midst of
confusion, Keiko gets
an answer she has been
looking for her entire
life: she will become a
convenience store
worker regardless of her
species as human. Keiko
is put into a corner
because she already
feels content for what
she is; to become
unmarried and live a
simple life. Keiko's
161
family and friends may

consider her as useless
and abnormal because
Keiko does not enter
marriage status.
However, as a self-
proclaimed “animal”,
Keiko is already content
with her status quo. At
first, Keiko feels uneasy
about her personality
development because
she feels something is
missing from her.
However, later she
began to accept her
development and find
her pursuit of selfhood
as an individual.
162
APPENDIX 5
Table 3.3. Table of spinster label in Japan
Spinster Citation Explanation

Label in
Japan
Spinster "Like, have you ever dated Never experiencing a love
anyone? Come to think of relationship is something
it, I've never heard you talk unimaginable for Keiko’s
about that sort of thing." friend. What is more
"Oh I see. No, I haven't," I shocking is that Keiko
answered automatically. admitted to never falling in
Everyone fell quiet and love for her whole life.
exchanged uncomfortable Keiko in her 36 years old
glances with each other. who is childless and
Too late I remembered that unmarried made her friends
my sister had told me in put a spinster stereotype
such cases I should give a indirectly.
vague answer like: "Well, This analysis is in part of
there was someone I liked Hurlock’s conditions
but I'm not a good judge of responsible for personality
men." This would give the change which is a change in
impression that I'd at least social pressure. Spinster is a
had a lover or something name for someone who
that might have involved already has expired their
some kind of physical dating age. It means that
relationship, even if I'd Keiko is also one of them
never had an actual since she has never had a
boyfriend. "You can just love relationship in her
give a vague answer to a whole life. Society belittles
163
personal question, and women who are not married,

they'll come to their own especially after their ripen
conclusions," she'd told age, because they will leave
me. Well, I messed that one in dust for men and are
up, I thought to myself. considered unsold goods
(Murata, 2018, p. 26-27) (Mustard as cited in Chang,
2015, p. 48). Keiko's friend's
uncomfortable glance means
that society worries for
women like Keiko, who has
never been in love before.
Because for them, especially
in Japanese society, women
who do not produce
offspring are considered the
lowest human. This mindset
is instilled thoroughly in
Keiko's friend. Spinster
stereotype also signifies
Hurlock’s change in social
pressure which indicates
Keiko’s pursuit of selfhood
in her environment.
Spinster "There's no one here who'd Many aspects contribute to
make a decent wife. The adults' celibacy, especially in
young ones are too flighty, Japan. Besides women
and the others are too old." gaining independence in
"Well, most of the workers educational and financial
are university students, and aspects, men chose to
you don't often get anyone celibate because they
of marriageable age." thought they were not equal
164
"Some of the customers are to women (Yamaguchi,

kind of okay, but most of 2004, p. 110-111).
them are too haughty. This This analysis is in part of
place is surrounded by big Hurlock’s conditions
companies and the type of responsible for personality
women who work for them change which is a change in
are too domineering for my social pressure. Japanese
taste." (Murata, 2018, p. society always points at
48-49) women when childbirth
declines because they refuse
to reproduce or are too busy
with their work. To better
understand the childbirth
decline problem, people
need to see them from both
men's and women's sides. In
the story, Shiraha cannot get
a partner because the women
in the vicinity are not equal
in social or financial status.
He sees a full-time job
woman imposing his pride
due to his job as a mere store
clerk. Besides the
professional background,
education and age are factors
for Shiraha to choose a wife.
Shiraha's views about the
wife imply that a woman
becomes a spinster because
the man does not want to
165
form a relationship because

they are insecure with a
woman who is equal or has a
higher background. Spinster
in her environment.
Spinster "They're all after snaring a Some men tend to feel
guy who works at the same inferior when coupled with a
company and won't even career woman. One of the
look at me. Women have factors spinster are not
been like that since the getting married is because
Stone Age. The youngest, some man is not equal in
prettiest girls in the village those departments like
go to the strongest hunters. physical appearance,
They leave strong genes, occupation, and educational
while the rest of us just background.
have to console ourselves This analysis is in part of
with what's left. Our so- Hurlock’s conditions
called modern society is responsible for personality
just an illusion. We're change which is a change in
living a world that has social pressure. Japanese
hardly changed since society is based on a
prehistoric times. We patriarchal system that tends
might go on about equality to prioritize men to become a
of the sexes, but—" breadwinner when they are
(Murata, 2018, p. 48-49) adults. When Japanese men
become breadwinners, they
have enough confidence to
166
choose any woman they like

to be a wife. However, some
Japanese can not become
breadwinners due to limited
income that only supports
themselves. Shiraha gives an
analogy about how the
strongest men in Stone Ages
can get the youngest and
prettiest girl in the village
equal to the breadwinner
man in modern society. The
same goes for the spinster
because they want an equal
partner in terms of physical
appearance, or in modern
times, we call it financial
power. Spinster stereotype
also signifies Hurlock’s
change in social pressure
which indicates Keiko’s
pursuit of selfhood in her
environment.
Spinster Of the fourteen or fifteen Women in Japan feel uneasy
people gathered together, when they are not getting
there were only two others married at a productive age.
apart from me who weren't The peer pressure from their
married. I hadn't thought friends made spinsters seem
anything of it since not more desperate for marriage
everyone had come as a than to assess their situation
couple, but unmarried Mild first.
167
whispered to me: "We're This analysis is in part of

the only ones here who Hurlock’s conditions
can't hold our heads up responsible for personality
high, aren't we?" (Murata, change which is a change in
2018, p. 53-54) social pressure. Women feel
"Urn, well, I don't have any peer pressure more from not
experience of other jobs, having marital status,
and the store is especially if they have
comfortable for me both already reached their
physically and mentally." productive age in producing
He stared at me as though I offspring. The patriarchal
were some kind of alien. system that Japan held for
"What, you never ...? I centuries made the women
mean, if finding a job is so feel ashamed for not being in
hard, then at least you a relationship. This shame is
should get married. Look, ingrained in Japanese
these days there are always women because they only
things like online marriage have value when giving birth
sites, you know," he to kids or at least advancing
sputtered. (Murata, 2018, their status in the marriage
p. 55) stage (Yamaguchi, 2004, p.
112-113). Keiko's friend's
comment about her spinster
status explained that despite
her already working adult,
she feels insecure because
her self-worth as a woman is
still incomplete without
taking a marriage route.
Spinster stereotype also
signifies Hurlock’s change
168
in social pressure which

indicates Keiko’s pursuit of
Spinster "That's right, why don't Being unmarried above the
you just find someone? It thirties is a grave situation
doesn't really matter who it for a Japanese woman
is, after all. Women have it (Yamaguchi, 2004, p. 110).
easy in that sense. It'd be The older the woman is, the
disastrous if you were a more their choice for the
man, though." ideal man narrows. Hence
"How about if we find Japanese spinsters cannot
someone for you? Yoji, you get rid of their status because
have a wide circle of people think they are too late
connections, don't you?" to start a relationship.
asked Satsuki. This analysis is in part of
"Yes, great idea!" Miho Hurlock’s conditions
and the others exclaimed responsible for personality
excitedly. "Can you think change which is a change in
of anyone? There must be social pressure. It is common
someone just right for her." in Japanese society that
Miho's husband whispered women face partner choice
in her ear, then forced a difficulties the more they
smile. "Oh, but all my postpone their marriage. No
friends are married now ... matter what their careers are
no, it's impossible. There's women will be a homemaker
no one." (Murata, 2018, p. eventually. With that in
55) mind, unmarried women will
be pushed to find their
partners or be viewed as a
failure when they can not
find them. Spinster is
169
depicted as a miserable
woman who longs for man
and child due to the inability
to build relationships in
adulthood. Keiko's friends
here implicitly implied that
they are willing to help
Keiko out of pity because
they see Keiko as a
miserable woman. Spinster
in her environment.
Spinster "I'm getting desperate too," Women face difficulties

Miki chimed in. Then she when it comes to finding
added breezily: "But I'm partners due to their
always traveling abroad on background. In addition,
business." women with higher
"Well, you've got a high- occupational levels will find
flying job, Miki," Yukari's their partner harder than
husband said soothingly. most men unless they quit
"You earn more than most their job.
men, which I guess makes This analysis is in part of
it pretty hard to find a good Hurlock’s conditions
match." (Murata, 2018, p. responsible for personality
56) change which is a change in
social pressure. If Shiraha
finds it challenging to find
170
his right partner because of

their occupational
background, then Miki
shares the same fate as
Shiraha does. Miki can not
find her partner due to her
job overseas, which makes
her feel desperate but at the
same time, she feels relieved
at her job because she is
financially independent.
Sufficient income is
necessary to maintain a good
family and avoid divorce due
to financial issues. The
longing for man is the
primary mindset of every
spinster due to the
dependability of men to
procreate and maintain a
family (Mustard as cited in
Chang, 2015, p. 48).
Japanese women in modern
times can gain financial
independence without men,
but they tore whether they
should abandon their job to
become homemakers or not.
171

Spinster "And so I realized. This The village or society in the
society hasn't changed one Shiraha analogy tends to
bit. People who don't fit banish their failed member
into the village are who can not take their roles.
expelled: men who don't Shiraha realized that these
hunt, women who don't roles, which made him
give birth to children. For furious, have not changed
all we talk about modem since Stone Age.
society and individualism This analysis is in part of
anyone who doesn't try to Hurlock’s conditions
fit in can expect to be responsible for personality
meddled with, coerced, change which is a change in
and ultimately banished social pressure. We can
from the village." agree with Shiraha's analogy
"Shiraha, you do like regarding men and woman
talking about the Stone roles since the Stone Age:
Age, don't you?" (Murata, hunting for men and giving
2018, p. 63) birth to women. These roles
are created since a woman
cannot hunt during
pregnancy; thus, men take
the role of food providers. In
modern times, however,
women can also take the role
of food provider for families
with various jobs and
expertise they have today.
Shiraha's rant about his
bachelor status equals how a
172
woman sees them as a

spinster. Women who do not
give birth to children are
considered a societal failure.
This stigma will consciously
or unconsciously affect
women and coerce them into
women with zero value.
Spinster "Furukura, how can you be Spinster or old maid are
so unfazed by it all? Aren't pejorative terms made to
you ashamed of yourself?' ridicule unmarried women in
"What? Why?" their “expired date.” Shiraha
"You're still in a dead-end uses this term as a man
job at your age, and representative who looks
nobody's going to many an down on Keiko as a woman
old maid like you now with no hope.
You're like secondhand This analysis is in part of
goods. Even if you are a Hurlock’s conditions
virgin, you're grubby. responsible for personality
You're like a Stone Age change which is a change in
woman past childbearing social pressure. In a
age who can't get married patriarchal society,
and is left to just hang especially in Japan, women
around the village, of no have been considered
use to anyone, just a valuable when doing
burden. I'm a man, so I can housework and giving birth
173
still make a comeback, but since their role is to be

there's no hope for you, is homemakers. Society will
there, Furukura?" (Murata, judge them as failures when
2018, p. 64) they can not fulfill those
requirements. To
differentiate them from
married women, people used
pejorative terms like spinster
or old maid to stereotype
them as useless women.
Keiko, who does not
consider marriage her life
choice, is stereotyped as an
old maid by Shiraha because
she is just a burden in the
village as an analogy for
society. Shiraha then further
emphasizes that a man still
be useful to the village
because they are not women
who can get past their
childbearing age. In contrast,
men can still procreate as
long as they are healthy,
unlike women who will meet
their menopause later.
174
Spinster "My sister has been e- We already saw Keiko’s

mailing me all day. It's the friend pitying her because
first time I've ever seen her she has had no love or sexual
get so excited about experience throughout her
something to do with me." life. This time, Keiko
"It's hardly surprising. announcing her cohabiting
Even your sister would status to her sister made her
think it more respectable overjoyed despite not having
for a virgin left on the shelf definitive status regarding
to be living with a man the marriage.
rather than still working in This analysis is in part of
a convenience store at a Hurlock’s conditions
ripe old age." (Murata, responsible for personality
2018, p. 72-73) change which is a change in
social pressure. Every day
we would see relationship
news as the occasion to
celebrate with our friends
and family. The news is a
sign that an individual is
contributing to society. The
same goes with Keiko; she is
considered contributing to
society by being in a
relationship expected to
advance to marriage.
Keiko’s sister is overjoyed
with cohabiting news since
Keiko had never been in a
relationship with the
opposite sex before. Keiko,
175
who always made her sister

worry because of her
different life choices, finally
gets a piece of mind. This
situation convinced her that
the spinster stereotype not
only affected herself but the
family as well. Spinster
in her environment.
Spinster "You need to wake up, People's identities will be

Furukura. To put it bluntly, stripped to the core in society
you're the lowest of the whenever they do not meet
low. Your womb is the requirement to become
probably too old to be of full-fledged members. In
any use, and you don't even Keiko's case, she neither be a
have the looks to serve as a housewife nor a working
means to satisfy carnal adult due to her age and
desire. But then neither are occupation.
you earning money like a This analysis is in part of
man. Far from it, you're Hurlock’s conditions
only working part-time responsible for personality
without even a proper job. change which is a change in
Frankly speaking, you're social pressure. Shiraha's
just a burden on the village, blunt comment to Keiko
the dregs of society." regarding her loveless life
was nothing but facts. Even
176
"I see. But I'm not capable in modern times, Japanese

of working anywhere else women find it difficult to
except the convenience take the parenthood role later
store. I did give it a go, but than it was supposed to be
it turns out the convenience (Yamaguchi, 2004, p. 113). It
store worker mask is the will not be a problem if
only one I'm fit to wear. So Keiko's community supports
if people don't accept that, a late marriage, but it is not
I have no idea what I can in reality. The cause of this
do about it." (Murata, was that women's bodies
2018, p. 73-74) would be in danger of
childbearing in their middle
ages or above. The newer
Japanese generation will
understand the cause of
unmarried women due to
full-time jobs. However,
Keiko is not one of them, as
Shiraha said, indicating that
being a spinster will be
inevitable doom for every
unmarried woman. Spinster
in her environment.
Spinster Shiraha listened intently to Throughout the story,

the sound of the door Shiraha always states that he
closing and the departing has no interest in Keiko.
177
footsteps of his sister-in- Shiraha prefers a woman

law. Once he was certain who is more attractive than
she had gone, he gave a Keiko, but since he is
whoop of delight. "I did it! unemployed, he chooses to
I got away! Everything's be Keiko's partner.
okay for the time being. This analysis is in part of
There's no way you'll be Hurlock’s conditions
getting pregnant, no responsible for personality
chance of me ever change which is a change in
penetrating a woman like social pressure. The deal
you, after all." between Keiko and Shiraha
He grabbed me by my to end their problem by
shoulders in his cohabiting proved to work
excitement. "Furukura, for the time being. However,
you're lucky, you know. the researcher would like to
Thanks to me, you can go focus on how Shiraha does
from being triply not want to copulate with
handicapped as a single, Keiko. In the first place, it is
virgin convenience store still possible for Keiko and
worker to being a married Shiraha to procreate because
member of society. the average age of
Everyone will assume menopause is around 45
you're a sexually active, until 55 years old, but we can
respectable human being. not deny that women's
That's the image of you beauty will wither in Keiko's
that pleases them most. age. Keiko's difficult
Isn't it wonderful?" situation perfectly fits
(Murata, 2018, p. 97-98) spinster term; an unmarried
woman on their expired date
who charms a man like
Shiraha to bear his child.
178
This analysis also signifies a

spinster stereotype aspect in
Hurlock’s condition that
responsible for personality
change which is a change in
social pressure.
Spinster I recalled the manager's The place where Keiko can
reaction two weeks earlier feel like a human, the
when I told him I wanted to convenience store, in the
leave. end, praises her for getting
"Really? At last! So into a relationship. However,
Shiraha's acting like a man Keiko feels disappointed
after all, is he?" with her co-worker, who
He had always been put treats her as a female after
out by people leaving since quitting her job.
it left him shorthanded, and This analysis is in part of
he always demanded they Hurlock’s conditions
help find a replacement. responsible for personality
This time, however, he change which is a change in
seemed over the moon. social pressure. Japanese
Maybe no genuine store company does not favor
managers existed any women working because
anymore. Before me now they will take pregnancy
was a human male, vacation, making them
mindlessly hoping that one unproductive. We can learn
of the same species was from this situation that
going to breed. (Murata, society's stigma of Japanese
2018, p. 98-100) women that they must be
homemakers after marriage
also affects the business
sector. The spinster
179
stereotyping is not as harsh

as in the Japanese
community because
corporations only see
employee competence.
However, the stigma about
women in Japan has been
ingrained for centuries,
making these modern
corporations reluctant to
give a second chance for
them to work (Nakano &
Wagatsuma, 2005, p. 140).
This belief is still held
because Japanese women
prioritize their housework,
which they do themselves
without their husbands'
assistance (Nakano &
Wagatsuma, 2005, p. 141).
Spinster "Why are you letting an Several data are collected to

unemployed man live in analyze Japan's spinster
your apartment? It's okay stereotype. Convenience
for both husband and wife Store Woman characters are
to work but not in a casual built with spinster stereotype
180
job! Arent you going to get in mind. The dynamic

married? What about relationship between the
children? Get a proper job! characters is mainly driven
Fulfill your role as an by how the stereotype are
adult! They're all going to utilized to advance the story.
be on your back now, you The researcher would like to
know" (Murata, 2018, p. make a final analysis
85-86) emphasizing the spinster
These past two weeks I'd stereotype. The last data the
been asked fourteen times researcher would like to
why I wasn't married. And reveal is the spinster
twelve times why I was stereotype that the
still working part-time. So researcher believes is the
for now I'd decide what to pursuit of selfhood to create
eliminate from my life the conflict behind it. The
according to what I was researcher considers the data
asked about most often I as the culmination of the
thought. conflicts the characters face,
Deep down I wanted some like Keiko, Shiraha, and
kind of change. Any others. The spinster
change, whether good or stereotype that acts as a
bad, would be better than condition for Keiko’s
the state of impasse I was personality change which is
in now. (Murata, 2018, p. a change in social pressure
65-66) will help the researcher to
understand Keiko’s pursuit
of her selfhood.
The realization of wanting to

change finally struck Keiko.
She is always clueless about
181
her environment and does

not know why she is being
alienated from the people
around her. This alienated
situation is what the spinster
gets when they are not
married within her age. The
people have asked Keiko
fourteen times because she is
above her limited age to
marry in Japanese society's
eyes. Keiko's spinster
stereotype made her
impossible to build a family;
that was a moment when an
individual was called
spinster for being unmarried.
People with no intention of
marrying like Keiko, would
find it annoying initially
because they do not see
anything wrong with it but
with her community.
Society's worry about
unmarried women without a
future like Keiko is proof
that there is still no other
potential a woman holds
besides being a homemaker.

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Adyatma Putra Pratama - Individuals Social Career As A Pursuit of Selfhood in Sayaka's Novel Convenience Store Woman

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INDIVIDUALS SOCIAL CAREER AS A PURSUIT OF

SELFHOOD IN SAYAKA’S NOVEL CONVENIENCE STORE

Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirement

FACULTY OF LANGUAGE AND ARTS

UNIVERSITAS NEGERI SEMARANG

It's called garbage can, not garbage cannot.

This Final Project is dedicated for those in need.

I would like to give my deepest and warmest thanks to my supervisor, Ms.

My sincerest gratitude devoted to my beloved parents; younger brother and sister;

I would like to give my appreciation to all lecturers and staffs of English

My special thanks to my friends for giving me everlasting friendship that surely

Semarang, 11 October 2022

Adyatma Putra Pratama

Phone number: +6282281492232

Keywords: Sayaka Murata, personality development, spinster, social career,

MOTTO AND DEDICATION……………………………………………….....iv

1.1 Background of The Study ............................................................................... 1

1.2 Reasons for Choosing the Topic ..................................................................... 7

1.3 Statements of the Problem .............................................................................. 8

1.4 Objectives of the Study .................................................................................. 8

1.5 Significance of the Study................................................................................ 9

1.6 Outline of The Study…………………………………………………………..9

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE……………………………………..11

2. 1 Review of Previous Studies………………………………………………….11

2.2 Theoretical Background ............................................................................... 15

2.2.1 Character and Characterization…………………………………………….15

2.2.2 Personality Development…………………………………………………..17

2.2.2.1 Conditions Responsible for Personality Change…………………...……18

2.2.3 Spinster in Japan……………………………………………………….......20

2.3 Theoretical Framework of Analysis………………………………………….22

CHAPTER III .................................................................................................. 24

3.1 Research Design……………………………………………………………...24

3.2 Object of The Study ..................................................................................... 24

3.3 Role of The Researcher ................................................................................ 25

3.4 Instrument of The Study ............................................................................... 25

3.5 Procedure of Data Collection........................................................................ 26

3.6 Procedure of Data Analysis .......................................................................... 28

FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION……………………………………………….29

4.1 Main Character’s Personality Development…………………………………29

4.1.1 Furukura Keiko’s Initial Personality……………………………………….29

4.1.1.1 Rational Thinking………………………………………………………...29

4.1.2 Furukura Keiko’s Later Personality………………………………………..49

4.1.2.1 Irrational Thinking……………………………………………………….49

4.2.1 Spinster Label in Japan…………………………………………………….62

CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION…………………………………………77

1.1 Background of The Study

condition they hold. Those qualities of a nation, however, can be change

career path and marital status they have chosen.

supernatural power to communicate directly to God (Bocking, 1997, p. 63).

commerce, or marriage. These beliefs create a matriarchal society that lasted

until the Muromachi period (1336-1573) (Figal, 2002, p. 294).

The Japanese matriarchal system was then replaced by Neo-

Confucianism in the Tokugawa period (1600-1868). The Confucianism

concept that was brought back by Tokugawa emphasizes human relationship.

A person practicing Confucianism will seek to always act honorably in all

his relationships. This is what Confucianism calls the Five Key

to son, husband to wife, elder to younger, and friend to friend. Furthermore,

the teaching emphasizes how a woman should be subject to; as a daughter

to their father, as wife to their husband, as a widow to their sons (Huaihong,

patriarchy sees a woman as, “Sex is solely considered as a mechanism to

maintain family heir so that according to the teachings, the woman

considered as weak, helpless and functioned as a childbearing of the heir”.