Snakes and Earrings is a vivid exploration of a young woman's journey into the dark and enigmatic world of Japan's underground youth culture. This novel, both shocking and beautiful, paints a picture of a world as amoral and fascinating as the landscapes of Less Than Zero and Trainspotting.

Nineteen-year-old Lui is enchanted by the snakelike forked tongue of a stranger named Ama. Intrigued and drawn to this new world, she immediately moves in with him and begins planning to have her own tongue pierced. Her journey of self-discovery and boundary-pushing doesn't stop there. She asks Ama's mysterious friend, Shiba, to design an exquisite dragon tattoo for her back.

As Lui and Shiba's relationship develops into an affair, Ama's jealousy rises, leading to an explosive situation. This story is a captivating tale of desire, identity, and the lengths one will go to in search of meaning.