Takeout Sushi by Christopher Green

This is a compilation of lots of different stories set in Japan. I haven't finished them all yet but have been dipping in and reading the ones whose titles caught my eye. For that reason this is more of a spotlight than a full review but I'll write one when I do finish!

My favourite so far was Swirl, about a woman whose late husband won a haiku competition and what that leads her to discover. This was quite uplifting! However the very first story, Swallows, actually made me feel a little sad and I was disappointed with the slightly abrupt ending.

Book Summary

Takeout Sushi is a collection of 17 illustrated short stories set mostly in contemporary Japan that explore feelings of belonging, displacement, and the strangeness of everyday human interaction.

In an innovative, fast-paced company, a man’s job comes under threat when a team of robots are brought in to replace the HR department. A husband’s search for shortcuts to his domestic tasks goes painfully wrong. Overwhelmed by the hustle and bustle of Tokyo, a foreigner takes a weekend break and discovers something other than solitude in the mountains.

Marking Christopher Green’s debut adult fiction and inspired by his own experiences, these whimsical slice-of-life tales are full of heart and humour—perfect for fans of Convenience Store Woman and Before the Coffee Gets Cold

Author Bio

A long-time resident of Japan, Christopher lives near Tokyo with his wife and daughter. Christopher writes short stories and children's stories. His first collection of short stories Takeout Sushi is due for publication by Neem Tree Press in May 2024.

For a little more about Christopher and his books, please visit www.greeninjapan.com