Who is the Author? 

 Nagata Kabi (or Kabi Nagata) is a Japanese artist and autobiographical author. Every story she tells is a raw, authentic reflection of her life, so much so that she is often referred to as the Queen of TMI. Some of her previous titles include My Lesbian Experience with Loneliness and My Solo Exchange Diary. To date, she has penned seven different manga and is still releasing new books. Her most recent title is a sequel to My Alcoholic Escape from Reality.  

Since My Alcoholic Escape from Reality is a portrayal of Kabi’s experiences with an alcohol use disorder, the story contains her opinions and beliefs regarding substance use. As such, it is important for us to emphasize that her book cannot be analyzed the same way as a fictional story. My goal here is not to assess whether her book is an accurate depiction of substance abuse – rather, I wish to view her personal circumstances through the lens of our current cultural and sociological frameworks.  

 

What is the Book About? 

A summary… 

My Alcoholic Escape from Reality follows Kabi as she loses control of her drinking habits. Her spiral into alcoholism is fast and devastating – within months, she winds up in a hospital bed diagnosed with acute pancreatitis and a fatty liver. She retells her two-week stay in the hospital in gruesome detail, describing ineffective IVs, agonizing pain, and disgusting hospital food. After being discharged, the narrative shifts to her life as an outpatient and the rollercoaster of emotions she faces while living with a chronic disease. 

In-depth analysis… 

Developing a Problem 

Kabi’s addiction didn’t start in a vacuum. In previous autobiographies, Kabi describes her life-long struggle with various mental health conditions. Her symptoms left her isolated, exhausted, and developmentally behind her peers. As a result, she spent most of her adult life relying on her parents for basic necessities – she could barely hold down a part-time job and needed help taking care of herself. But she also felt immense shame. Was she using her parents? It didn’t help that her relationship with her parents was already dysfunctional. 

  Her success as a manga artist brought about a new era in her life. She was an award-winning creative earning real money. Behind the scenes, though, she fought to generate new ideas and dealt with intense art and writer’s block. She also didn’t want to disappoint her parents – her previous autobiography had deeply upset them and pushed her towards fiction.  

All of this combined led to her developing an alcohol use disorder. She drank alcohol to cope with her mental health, her difficult work life, and her strained relationship with her parents. Self-medicating is not uncommon among adults – in the USA, over 77% of patients report using alcohol to cope with their issues – but it definitely isn’t safe. And in her case, her alcohol consumption was problematic enough to land her in the hospital.  

Rehabilitation  

So, what about her recovery? 

Nagata Kabi was born and raised in Japan, a country with a vastly different perspective on alcohol. Historically, Japan never classified alcohol consumption as a moral issue or instated religious prohibition outlawing alcohol. In modern day, Japanese culture integrates alcohol into many aspects of daily life. It is one of the few countries in the world where drinking in public is legalized. 

This context is important because it explains why Kabi never reached out for help. As far as she was concerned, she hadn’t developed an addiction. Her drinking was a normal part of being an adult and an acknowledgment of her maturity. In fact, she only went to the doctor because her physical health was affected – not because she was concerned about her mental state. Her psychologist summarizes her mindset best: “Japanese people think alcohol is alcohol.”  

It also explains why her rehabilitation did not follow a traditional Western treatment course. While hospitalized, the nurses and doctors focused solely on her physical health. She did not have access to on-site therapy services or information regarding addiction recovery. Her discharge instructions prohibited drinking and enforced a new dietary regimen but said nothing about alcohol use disorder.  

Much of her recovery was self-directed. She regulated her own alcohol use after discharge and drank against medical advice. At one point, she even considered drinking enough to land her back into the hospital. Luckily, Kabi was supported by a strong community. Her parents, psychologist, and work friends encouraged her to stay consistent with her medication regimen and talk about her mental health.  

 

Blog Author’s Opinion  

Kabi’s writing is vulnerable and authentic. She glares straight into your soul and forces you to do the same. When reading My Alcoholic Escape from Reality, I was often uncomfortable because I saw myself in her – granted, I’ve never had pancreatitis or a failing liver, but I have drowned in my shame and anxiety before. I have reached for unhealthy coping mechanisms when everything else refused to work. I have broken rules set for me by well-meaning people because I wanted a sense of control back. Maybe we haven’t been through exactly what she experienced, but I know all of us have hit rock bottom. This book is a love letter to the people stuck at the base of the mountain – to those who are scared to start climbing back up. It encourages you to really see yourself, warts and all, and to love all that you see.   

Please read my Alcoholic Escape from Reality! You won’t regret it.