There’s No Such Thing as an Easy Job | Book Review | 2020 | Kikuko Tsumura

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kikuko Tsumura is a celebrated Japanese author known for her witty, observant, and relatable storytelling. Born in Osaka, Japan, in 1978, Tsumura studied literature at university, where she developed a passion for writing. After graduating, she worked in various roles before turning her focus to fiction. Her works often drew from her personal experiences and reflections on workplace culture.

Tsumura’s writing stands out for its dry humor, attention to detail, and her exploration of ordinary people navigating modern life’s emotional and psychological complexities. Her works often delve into themes of burnout, mental health, and work-life balance. Her prose is both accessible and thought-provoking, resonating with readers who see themselves in her characters.

She debuted with The House in the Middle, winning the Dazai Osamu Prize. She would later win the prestigious Akutagawa Prize for The Lime Pothos Boat. Her internationally acclaimed novel, There’s No Such Thing as an Easy Job, humorously explores workplace burnout and purpose. Tsumura is the recipient of numerous accolades, including the Noma Literary New Face Prize and Yamamoto Shūgorō Prize.

Tsumura’s ability to illuminate the extraordinary within the mundane has solidified her stature as one of contemporary Japan’s most compelling literary voices.

SYNOPSIS (MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS)

There’s No Such Thing as an Easy Job follows a young woman in her mid-thirties who, after experiencing burnout from a high-pressure job, finds herself staying at her parents’ house while struggling with rising bills and a rapidly depleting unemployment allowance. Desperate for work but eager to avoid anything mentally taxing or emotionally demanding, she seeks help from Mrs. Masakado, a non-judgmental and empathetic employment agent. With Masakado’s assistance, she takes up five temporary jobs. Each of them is tailored to meet her unusual request for low-stress roles that demand minimal thinking or emotional involvement.

The first job places her as a surveillance monitor in a writer’s apartment. She is tasked with watching hours of video footage to uncover illegal activities. Initially, the work seems effortless and detached. However, over time, she becomes absorbed in the author’s life, her own identity blurring with his. This emotional entanglement forces her to confront the toll of keeping a constant eye on someone. Eventually, she realizes she must leave to maintain her sense of self.

In her second job, she creates bus advertisements for local shops along a route. The task initially feels simple, but the pressure to produce creative, engaging content for businesses she has little interest in becomes mentally exhausting. Despite her efforts to remain emotionally distant, she finds it stressful to meet expectations and make the mundane sound appealing.

The third job involves writing content for rice cracker packaging. What seems like a creative, straightforward task soon proves challenging as she struggles to balance originality with practicality, crafting fun facts and slogans that align with the brand. As she delves deeper into the job, she realizes that her desire for emotional detachment is at odds with her innate work ethic. As a result, over time, she becomes more absorbed in coming up with the perfect content.

Her fourth job takes her door-to-door, posting public service announcements in different neighborhoods. While it seems like a simple task, she has to put up with residents’ hostility and apathy. To make matters worse, the repetitive nature of the job begins to feel purposeless. She grapples with her desire to remain detached while her sense of responsibility grows, adding to her stress.

In her final role as a guide in a national park, she enjoys solitude but encounters a man who, like her, suffers from burnout. Their shared struggles prompt her to confront her emotional exhaustion and the need for connection. As the job progresses, she becomes emotionally invested in the park and its visitors, ultimately realizing that even the simplest of jobs come with hidden complexities.

WHAT WE LIKED ABOUT THERE’S NO SUCH THING AS AN EASY JOB

There’s No Such Thing as an Easy Job captures the burnout and overexertion so many of us feel. However, what makes this is a special read is the author’s humorous tone, which makes the book oddly comforting. Tsumura’s descriptions of each job have the readers laughing out loud – they are so absurd yet painfully realistic. One cannot help but relate to the narrator, juggling awkward workplace politics, indecisive lunch breaks, and the constant push-pull between apathy and over-investment.

Arguably the best thing about the book is that it subtly makes a point about balance – something we all need to hear. It’s a reminder not to pour everything into work, to care just enough without letting it take over. This is one message that will stay with most readers long after they have put the book down. It is, after all, such a modern struggle, especially in a world that celebrates overworking.

The narrator being unnamed is also intentionally impactful. It feels like she could be just about anyone – she could be you. And that’s what makes There’s No Such Thing as an Easy Job such a special read. It’s not just a story; it’s a reflection of what so many of us go through, wrapped in wit and heart. It candidly reminds readers to take a step back, laugh at the absurdities, and find their own balance.

Tsumura’s impeccable narrative explores the protagonist’s deep emotional capacity and strong work ethic. These are the traits that drive her to invest more in her jobs than she intends to. Despite seeking a stress-free role, she just cannot detach from her tasks. Her commitment to doing well, even at seemingly mundane jobs, becomes both her strength and weakness. Her pressing need to meet expectations, paired with her sense of responsibility, leads to stress. She cannot help overthinking and becoming emotionally invested in every job she takes up. Ultimately, her journey highlights that there’s no such thing as an easy job for someone who cares deeply about their work.

WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER ABOUT THERE’S NO SUCH THING AS AN EASY JOB

Although an enjoyable read, one cannot help wishing for more backstory on the narrator’s burnout. Furthermore, some jobs feel richly detailed, while others seem rushed.

The humor is great, but at times, the tone feels too detached. This makes it harder to connect with the narrator. A stronger thread of personal growth throughout the descriptions could have tied the story together more effectively. This could bring about a semblance of closure to the story line.

QUOTES

I wanted a job that was practically without substance, a job that sat on the borderline between being a job and not.

Whoever you were, there was a chance that you would end up wanting to run away from a job you had once believed in, that you would stray from the path you were on.

I liked this job quite a lot, but I ended up feeling unconditional respect for anybody who engaged in their work with such passion. I was all too aware that such a trait was destined to cause me a lot of hardship in my working life.

CONCLUSION