While I could relate to a lot of the themes, the women in these stories mostly made me feel exasperated and sad. In some cases the women were struggling with being under the thumb of societal expectations for women, but a lot of the time it seemed like the characters' own passivity was the bigger problem. If we were friends I'd have some choice words for them about getting out of their own way and expecting better of the people around them. Maybe it's because I'm not from the same cultural milieu, but this just wasn't for me.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

The Dilemmas of Working Women, follows five different women all dealing with different struggles, gendered expectations, Identity, and inequality. It portrays the resilience of women unwilling to compromise their goals or aspirations for what society deemed fit of them.

Yamamotos writing comes off as reflective and melancholic at times but it helps add to the overall mood in each story. She writes about depression in such a visceral way that you have no doubt she’s felt this personally at some point in her life. I love that she balances her writing with moments of comedic relief when needed to give a breath of life back into the story.

The five short stories found in this collection are:
• Naked
• Planarian
• Here, Which Is Nowhere
• The Dilemmas of Working Women
• A Tomorrow Full of Love

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

The Dilemmas of a Working Woman is a poignant collection that highlights the quiet resilience of women in the face of life’s challenges. Though some stories feel more complete than others, the raw emotion and relatable themes create a compelling reading experience.

As a Japanese collection, the collection offers a unique cultural lens, blending universal struggles with distinct societal pressures faced by women in Japan, yet the themes and emotions are deeply relatable—even for me, living in the U.S.

These stories don’t offer easy resolutions or happy endings—they’re snapshots of life, messy and unvarnished. The writing is atmospheric, immersing readers in the complexities of human emotions and the weight of everyday struggles.

Story Scores:
• Naked – 3/5
• Planarian – 3/5
• Here, Which Is Nowhere – 4/5
• The Dilemmas of Working Women – 4/5
• A Tomorrow Full of Love – 3/5

Overall Rating: 3.5/5
Life isn’t always tidy, and this collection leans into that truth, delivering small, impactful slices of humanity.

This collection is an incisive and refreshingly dark exploration of the societal pressures that modern Japanese women face in balancing work, identity, and self-worth. Combining biting wit with unflinching honesty, each story illuminates the struggles of women navigating a world still shaped by patriarchal expectations.

What makes this book truly groundbreaking is Yamamoto’s ability to create unapologetically spiky and ambivalent women. Their refusal to accept the status quo or sacrifice themselves to a world designed for men is both empowering and deeply relatable. The narratives challenge the reader to confront the uncomfortable truths about how societies value women only through the lens of their productivity or adherence to traditional roles.

This collection does not merely entertain—it provokes, challenges, and lingers long after the final page.

The publisher provided ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book dives into the lives of women on society's fringes, offering a sharp, overt look at gender dynamics—very American in tone, which didn’t fully vibe with my perspective. it's giving Convenience Store Woman energy: a content but misfit heroine. This collection of short stories explores the dilemmas faced by working women in Japan, spotlighting how they navigate a society that still prioritizes men. Whether currently employed or not, these women grapple with loneliness, frustration, and the label of being "bossy" or "difficult," all while feeling the pressure to piece their lives back together. the stories dive deep into their personal lives, showing how relentless working hours shape their identities and strain their relationships—especially with the men around them.

"And truly, the life we'd ended up leading had been lonely. Pushing harder and harder to get ahead, climbing higher and higher—I’d created a way of life for us that left no space for distraction or even emotion. Once he stopped believing in it, what else did I have to offer?"

"It’s the human condition to stumble, fall, get hurt, and then heal to fight another day. And I hated it. At some point, I began to despise my own ability to heal and move on."


This is a raw, poignant read that still hits hard in today’s world. originally published in Japan in 2000, these stories remain strikingly relevant decades later, reflecting universal struggles of ambition, heartbreak, and resilience.

5/5

I enjoyed this book!! I liked the collection of stories and how they all connected even though they differed a lot. I liked the themes of womanhood, family, and relationships, gender norms, and everything else talked about. Big fan!!

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

What a successful short story collection! Exploring the lives and perspective of women on the “fringes” of society, this is a book that will work for a lot of readers. I found the messages somewhat overt but that’s also more American perspective on gender, so I acknowledge I have a different view than this author & original audience. This is very reminiscent of Convenience Store Woman, where we follow a woman who is content but eschewed by society. Fans of that would enjoy

Thank you for this ARC! I really enjoyed this collection of short stories and the different perspectives it allowed me to see of the characters

This is a fascinating collection of five stories. I appreciated that there was rarely a neat ending or joyous conclusion. It was refreshing to read about how the women featured in these stories are navigating their lives and grappling with their identities without always having an easy answer or perfect solution.

Thank you to HarperVia and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.

This author does an amazing job of telling a succinct short story, with characters that are believable. The characters are incredibly relatable. All of these stories tell of young to middle aged women who are either fed up with how their lives are going, how they are supposed to be going, or they have stepped off the "normal" path entirely. She won an award for this collection in Japan and I think it is well deserved.

If you are into this genre of books where the protagonist is dissatisfied with their life, I highly recommend this collection.

Thank you for this arc,

This is a collection of 5 short stories, mostly about women in the modern day. The last story is about a man, though.

Story 1 is about a woman who got divorced and lost her job 2 years ago, and now everyone is getting at her to get a job. I really liked this one.

Story 3 is about an older woman whose husbands job was "restructured," so she has to take a night shift part-time job to help make ends meet. This was my favorite story.

The other 3 stories weren't my favorites. I don't think they are bad, but overall just ok. I had high expectations, and they weren't quite met.

The first story focused on the work life of that woman but the rest of the stories focused on their personal lives! I would have liked more focus on their work lives and the mundanity of their careers.

I’m usually one for the short story format but I really enjoyed this. I was shocked to learn this initially came out in 2000, the stories felt like they could have been written today, which is a testament to the strength of the writing. I think if you are someone who enjoys other Japanese writers such as Mieko Kawakami you’ll enjoy this. I’m only giving this 4 stars instead of 5 as there was one story that I wasn’t as emotionally attached to as the others.

ARC provided by NetGalley

I really enjoyed this story collection—despite being written two decades ago, they continue to be relevant, thought-provoking stories. A wonderful reflection on the intertwined relationships between feminism, capitalism, and womanhood.

It is undoubtedly a book about mundanity and might come across as dull if you’re not fond of this type of story. However, I genuinely enjoyed it. It provides a sense of comfort amidst life’s bleakness, showing that you can connect with someone—even a fictional character—experiencing the monotony. While some parts feel heavy and depressing, the book remains engaging and enjoyable overall.

"how hard would you have to work to make enough to never have to work again?"

told through different short stories, the dilemmas of working women highlights how women in japan navigate their lives as being apart of working society, whether they're still working or not.

these stories highlight the loneliness and frustrations these "bossy" and "difficult" women have, and the pressure of getting their lives back together in a world that still prioritizes men. it focuses more on their personal lives, how impacted they were by their working hours, and how the men in their lives treat them as a result of their working situations

"and truly, the life we'd needed up leading had been lonely. pushing harder and harder to get ahead, to climb higher and higher, i'd devised a way of life for us that had no room for distraction or even emotion- once he stopped believing in it, what else did i have to offer?"

although it was published in 2000 in japan, i loved reading the stories behind the women and how relevant they still are three decades later.

"it was the human condition to stumble and fall, to get hurt, and then to heal and get up again to fight another day. and i hated it. at some point, i'd begin to despise the very capacity of my heart and body to heal itself and move on."

The Dilemmas of Working Women: Stories by Fumio Yamamoto is a thought-provoking collection of short stories that examines the multifaceted challenges faced by women in the workplace, particularly in Japan. Through a series of poignant and introspective narratives, Yamamoto brings to light the personal, social, and professional dilemmas that women navigate in their pursuit of career success, personal fulfillment, and societal acceptance. It was interesting and insightful to see that women in Japan often face many of the same challenges that women here in America face when it comes to life, career, and balancing it all.

Yamamoto, known for his sensitive portrayal of human relationships and societal issues, delves into the complexities of gender roles, family expectations, and the intricacies of professional life in contemporary Japan. Each story in this collection stands as a distinct exploration of the struggles and aspirations of working women—whether they are grappling with the glass ceiling, negotiating the balancing act of work and home life, or facing discrimination and bias in a male-dominated professional world.

The stories are centered around a variety of women from different walks of life, ranging from young professionals trying to establish their careers to older women reflecting on their long-term struggles and sacrifices. The collection covers a broad spectrum of working environments, from corporate offices to academia, healthcare, and even the more traditional domestic spaces, providing readers with a nuanced understanding of how work shapes the identity and experiences of women across different sectors and stages of life.

Yamamoto's writing style is understated but powerful. He eschews melodrama in favor of quiet, introspective moments that allow readers to see the complexity of each woman's internal world. The stories are often marked by a sense of quiet resignation, but also determination, as each character navigates her own unique set of challenges. The simplicity of the writing allows the emotional depth of the characters to shine through, making the stories feel all the more authentic and relatable.

One of the most compelling aspects of the collection is how it highlights the intersection of personal and professional life. In several stories, Yamamoto captures the delicate balance women must strike between work and family responsibilities, particularly in a culture that still often expects women to take on the majority of domestic duties. This theme is explored with subtlety and empathy, showing how the expectations placed on women both at work and at home often leave them feeling stretched thin, unable to fully meet the demands of either.

Fumio subtly critiques the gender inequalities inherent in Japanese society, where women still face barriers to advancement, are underrepresented in leadership roles, and must contend with outdated notions of femininity and motherhood.
While the collection’s tone is often somber, it is not without hope. There is an underlying sense that change is possible, even if it comes incrementally, and that women’s resilience and quiet acts of defiance are themselves powerful forms of resistance against the expectations placed upon them. Yamamoto’s characters may not always find clear resolutions to their dilemmas, but their stories speak to the ongoing struggle for greater gender equality, both within the workplace and in society at large.

Some of the stories do feel repetitive at times in their themes and structure. Some motifs—such as the tension between career ambitions and family duties—are revisited too often without offering much new insight. That said, the emotional depth and realistic portrayal of the challenges women face in these situations make each story impactful in its own right.

These stories, while dark and depressing at times, offer a comfort in the universality of the human experience as a woman. Painfully relatable and incredibly timely. Yamamoto's humor brings light to difficult subjects.

One of my reading goals for the year was to read more translated works and I'm so thrilled that I picked this up. In this collection of stories we follow women living in Japan (and 1 man) and we get a glimpse into their day to day lives. There are women who are recovering for illness, women who are overworking themselves to provide for their families, and a man who is falling in love with a homeless woman. The themes in these stories are ones that all people experience, however, there is a certain element that is so fascinating to me because it takes place in a different country. There are customs and a way of speaking that is completely different from mine but I found myself relating and empathizing with the characters. This was such an enjoyable read and it's really quick to get there, I would recommend everyone read this.

strong collection of unique stories about lost people trying to find their right path in life. 4 stars. tysm for thea rc.