The Dilemmas of Working Women by Fumio Yamamoto

This collection of short stories provides an interesting, rather unsettling view of women's lives in Japan, though I think it's worth bearing in mind that it was written 25 years ago and hopefully society now is a little less patriarchal than it was.  Each of the women's stories is quite different, though I have to say I struggled to like any of the women portrayed!  

I was surprised by the final story that is actually written from a man's point of view - it felt different to the others in the collection, and whilst it was ostensibly Sumie's story, it was the man's story and life we followed for the most part, which sat a little oddly with the other stories.
Some of the stories were uncomfortable to read, and deal with serious illness and depression.  But the collection is still very readable, and it felt like an excellent translation.
With thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for my ARC.