What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedBreasts and Eggs
Mieko Kawakami · Book · 2020
If you loved Breasts and Eggs, start with Angel's Egg (Mamoru Oshii, 1985) — a film on the same thread. Below: 4 films, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Breasts and Eggs across media.
If you loved Breasts and Eggs, you appreciate how these stories navigate the complex, often messy realities of female autonomy and domestic bonds.
Films on the same thread
Kiki's Delivery Service
Hayao Miyazaki · Film · 1989
Explores: Finding your place, Self-discovery, Female empowerment.
Much like the coming-of-age journey in Breasts and Eggs, this film captures the internal friction of finding one’s place in society while navigating the weight of independence.
Terms of Endearment
James L. Brooks · Film · 1983
Explores: Intergenerational Relationships, Finding Love Later in Life, Dealing with Loss.
This story mirrors the intricate mother-daughter dynamics found in Breasts and Eggs, focusing on the emotional labor and intergenerational tension that define such deeply personal, lifelong connections.
Angel's Egg
Mamoru Oshii · Film · 1985
Explores: Faith and Doubt, The Nature of Reality, Existentialism.
If the surreal, internal atmosphere of Breasts and Eggs resonated with you, this film’s exploration of existential loss and the weight of responsibility will feel hauntingly familiar.
Remarkably Bright Creatures
Olivia Newman · Film · 2026
Explores: Grief and healing, Intergenerational friendship, Hidden secrets.
This narrative echoes the character-driven introspection of Breasts and Eggs, using an unlikely connection to explore themes of healing and the quiet secrets women carry through life.
Series on the same thread
NANA
Ai Yazawa · Series · 2006
Shares a thread with Breasts and Eggs: Coming-of-Age.
Like Breasts and Eggs, this series centers on the complexities of female friendship and the pursuit of identity within an urban environment, balancing personal ambition against social expectations.
Sex Education
Laurie Nunn · Series · 2019
Explores: Sexual Awakening, Teenage Angst, Social Awkwardness.
This show shares the candid, sometimes uncomfortable honesty about bodily autonomy and sexual development found in Breasts and Eggs, framing these topics through a lens of teenage discovery.
Maid
Molly Smith Metzler · Series · 2021
Explores: Single Motherhood, Breaking the Cycle of Abuse, Resilience.
This series captures the stark economic pressures and the struggle for agency portrayed in Breasts and Eggs, documenting the resilience required for a mother to forge her own path.
My Brilliant Friend
Saverio Costanzo · Series · 2018
Explores: Female Friendship, Childhood, Memory.
The deep, evolving bond between friends in this story mirrors the focus on female relationships in Breasts and Eggs, highlighting how memory and class shape our collective experiences.
Podcasts on the same thread
Slaggy Book Club
Podcast
Explores: Contemporary Literature, Book Recommendations, Literary Analysis.
If you enjoyed the literary exploration of womanhood in Breasts and Eggs, this podcast provides the perfect space to continue dissecting those themes through thoughtful contemporary book discussions.
Beyond the Bump
Sophie Pearce & Jayde Couldwell · Podcast
Explores: motherhood, parenting, family life.
Expanding on the motherhood and family themes of Breasts and Eggs, this podcast offers a platform for the raw, authentic conversations about the challenges inherent in modern parenting.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Breasts and Eggs a story about family relationships?
Yes, Breasts and Eggs focuses on the complex dynamics between sisters Makiko and Natsu, as well as Makiko's daughter Midoriko. The novel explores their emotional connections and personal struggles during a visit to Tokyo on a sweltering summer day.
What themes does Breasts and Eggs explore regarding women?
Breasts and Eggs considers the agency women exert over their own bodies. The narrative charts the emotional underpinnings of physical changes while examining the lives of its female characters with both humor and empathy.
Does Breasts and Eggs feature a character struggling with communication?
Yes, in Breasts and Eggs, the character Midoriko stops speaking to her mother. This silence serves as a central point of tension during the visit from Osaka to Tokyo, highlighting the emotional distance between the mother and her daughter.
How does the setting influence the story in Breasts and Eggs?
The story of Breasts and Eggs takes place on a sweltering summer day. The intense heat serves as the backdrop for the journey Makiko and her daughter take from Osaka to visit Natsu in Tokyo, framing the emotional interactions between the family members.