This was an interesting short story collection set in contemporary Japan. Some of them were witty and some were thought provoking and subtle. The illustrations for each story were so cute. The author does a great job of capturing Japanese culture in all of these stories.

This collection was worth a read and some of the stories can be reread too. Burned was the funniest story amongst all of them. I chuckled out loud. The writing is witty and easy to read and gets you from the start. Would recommend!

This was a really entertaining collection of short stories that came complete with some fun illustration. Really enjoyed the writing style and the different types of stories it portrayed!

"Takeout Sushi" by Christopher Green is a flavorful and engaging novel that beautifully blends the themes of culture, identity, and the unexpected connections that can arise from something as simple as a meal. Green's writing is both vivid and evocative, capturing the sensory delights of sushi and the rich tapestry of the characters' lives. The story revolves around a protagonist who finds comfort and meaning in the routine of ordering takeout sushi, only to discover that this seemingly mundane habit opens the door to new relationships, personal growth, and unexpected adventures.

Green skillfully explores the intersection of tradition and modernity, as well as the complexities of navigating life in a fast-paced world while seeking deeper connections. The novel is filled with moments of humor, reflection, and poignancy, making it a satisfying read for anyone who appreciates stories about food, culture, and the little things that bring people together. "Takeout Sushi" is a delightful and thought-provoking novel that serves up a perfect blend of light-heartedness and depth, making it a must-read for fans of contemporary fiction.

This anthology of short stories presents a collection that is primarily set in Japan. However, the subtitle “Stories of Other Places and Times” indicates that the second half diverges from this geographical focus, which may be misleading given the book's title and cover design.

The first section features a range of narratives that I found mostly engaging—some are humorous, thought-provoking, whimsical, and truly fascinating. Among my favourites are:

The Choice: This story revolves around a man who adheres to a strict daily routine to escape the burdens of decision-making.
Crime for Dummies: Told from a first-person perspective, it explores the interrogation of various suspects involved in a crime.
Magpie Man: This tale follows an individual who collects items found on the floor of a train station, despite the expectation to turn lost belongings into the lost and found—underscoring the notion that keeping these objects is technically a violation of the law.
Bodies: This narrative exercises trying to find comfort in Hiking.

While I appreciated many of the short stories within the first half of the collection, my overall impression was one of mild disappointment. Nonetheless, for those considering this read, I am confident there will be at least a story or two that appeals to your tastes, as the anthology contains a diverse array of narratives.

Thank you to NetGalley and Neem Tree Press Publishing for providing me with an E-ARC to review!
This does not in any way shape or form alter my opinions or rating of this book.
I found myself enjoying the 17 short stories in this book. I liked that there was a diverse range of emotions explored within these stories. Overall enjoyed it very much!

This short story collection is a captivating exploration of diverse themes and tones, primarily set in Japan. The stories range from humorous and nostalgic to somber and thought-provoking. What stands out is the author's nuanced portrayal of Japanese culture, offering a rich cultural backdrop without being overtly explicit. The variety within the collection keeps the reader engaged, and the author’s ability to evoke different emotions and reflections through each story makes this a compelling read.

Having lived in Japan for two years, I read any and every book that takes place there that I can. Some of these short stories had me laughing and really enjoying the book, but a few too many just did not have the same spark. I also believe I would have preferred for either all the stories to take place in Japan or all of them take place in different places, as opposed to the 60/40 split.

A interesting slice of life style short story collection, predominantly featuring Japan. A lot of the stories are very short focusing on the quieter emotions, from longing and familial sacrifice to general family dynamics. My personal favourite was Burned, which is quite comedic compared to the other stories and I wouldn't be surprised if it's based on a real event. I will say that because of the quiet nature of the stories, I didn't really think any of them were particularly memorable, and due to their very short nature I didn't feel all that engaged by the stories.

The "Takeout Sushi" lured me with it's cover, but just as a boxed sushi, it was kind of disappointing content-wise.

I think this short story collection poses an important question on to what extent being an immigrant gives the author right credentials to write local characters. The outsider's lens is always tinted and more often than not causes the exotisation of the culture, customs and people who are "not like me". There were interesting ideas that Green explored, but in my opinion they also strengthened certain stereotypes about Japanese culture.

3.5 Stars

I thought this was a lovely collection of short stories, though I did find it a bit uncomfortable at times hearing the pov of Japanese people through the writing of a Western person who has lived there for years. Some of the stories I feel would have been better to have come directly from the Japanese perspective or been more clear that they were from the perspective of a non0Japanese resident who has seen what the culture is like first hand. Everything here was really well written and some of the stories were absolutely fantastic- my stand out favourite had to be the unfortunate husband and his misadventure with the iron! This was a fantastically written book, I just wonder about the pov being shown at times.

Some of these short stories held my attention much more than others. I really enjoyed the length of the stories and the illustrations included throughout. Some of the stories were much stronger than others. The stories largely illustrate daily life in Japan, but a lot of the stories endings felt flat and like the stories held no purpose? the strongest section of this book is the stories from other places and times, however, they didn't really feel like they matched the theme of the collection.

This was a good read. It was a lot of “slices of life” primarily set in japan and also had some insightful moments. I will be honest I picked this up first for the cover and second for the blurb. I wasn’t sure what I was expecting, but this was a low steaks read for me and it was nice to return to a little story between my other heavier reads

I received this ARC from NetGalley and Neem Tree Press in exchange for a free and honest review.

This book consists of short stories that take place in Japan (first half) and other countries. The author takes Japanese customs and work culture and mixes that with the experience of being a foreigner in some stories, he also explores the experience of being from a small town and working in Tokyo ("Bodies"), he also explores loneliness, deception and desire. Overall, an interesting collection. I enjoyed "spinning wheels" which tackles the question 'can robots manage human beings?'. I would recommend

Round of applause for the cover for a book of short stories that take on the mundaneness of life and add in the humor, oddities, and kaleidoscope of feelings of it all. I like how the collection circles around a sense of place (Japan) and comes off as eccentric and ordinary at the same time. While some stories were more captivating than others, such is life.

I am usually not a fan of short stories, but I was pleasantly surprised with this one. I have been to Japan and love their culture, so I think that is why this one excited me more. I didn't love all of the stories but there were definitely a few that stood out to me. I actually think the first few were the best ones of the whole book. As I read on, I didn't enjoy the last few as much. But I loved that most of the stories had some kind of reflective element or something about the story that just made you think and ponder about life. I also liked that most of the stories were lighthearted and funny at times. Because I am so used to reading full novels, there were times when I just wanted more a few of the stories but I understand they are short stories for a reason!

Absolutely loved this collection of short stories, mostly set in the Japan and featuring ex pats living there

Published in May by Neem Tree Press, Takeout Sushi is a collection of 17 illustrated short stories set mostly in contemporary Japan. As the publisher highlights, they ‘explore feelings of belonging, displacement, and the strangeness of everyday human interaction’.

Inspired by the author’s own experiences, these stories are described as ‘whimsical slice-of-life tales’, which I think is quite fitting as I find most Japanese literature to be somewhat unusual. And while the author was born in the UK, you can tell by reading these stories that he has lived in Japan for a long time.

As with all collection of short stories, it’s inevitable to have favourites. Some stories I was happy to say goodbye to, while others I would have liked to be longer. Mostly, however, I found myself content with their length as they did exactly what was needed and gave me the taste of a different world, one morsel after the other.

Last but not least, a simple line illustration by Rebecca Purton serves as an introduction to each story and is a great touch.

I came to this with my all-consuming passion for things Japanese, so the last few stories in the collection weren't really of interest. What we get from the 13 Japan-based stories were interesting enough, but somehow felt slightly at a distance. The author lives in Japan and clearly understands, from a Western perspective, Japanese society, work culture and the subtleties of personal relationships, but what I wanted perhaps was a little more depth of character and a 'message', without being beaten over the head. It's a difficult line to draw, but I just wanted a bit 'more' from some of the stories. And because I was reading an ARC e-book, the illustrations just didn't really work for me - if ever you need an argument for the physical book is better, here it is.

Enjoyable nonetheless, and file it under 'different perspectives of modern-day Japan' 3 to 3.5 stars.

(With thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this title.)

Takeout Sushi by Christopher Green is a collection of 17 illustrated short stories set mostly in contemporary Japan. These whimsical slice-of-life tales explore feelings of belonging, displacement, and the strangeness of everyday human interaction. Here's a brief review:

In this story collection, Green delves into the lives of characters in Japan, capturing ordinary moments and turning them into unexpected and entertaining tales. The author's ability to find intrigue in seemingly mundane situations—such as a salaryman ironing his pants or a commuter picking up objects dropped on the train floor—adds depth to the stories. What makes this collection particularly interesting is that Christopher Green, despite not being Japanese, has been a long-time resident of Japan. His unique perspective offers readers a genuine glimpse into Japanese culture and human experiences.

The writing style is sharp, and the emotions portrayed are diverse. Whether you're a fan of Japanese literature or not, Takeout Sushi provides an engaging and heartfelt exploration of life in contemporary Japan.

My favorite story was Burned and Spinning Wheels. I liked the illustrations this book had. My only complaint was that it felt as if some stories did end abruptly.

Overall, I recommend Takeout Sushi for its fresh perspective, humor, and heart.

Thank you The Write Reads for this book.

A wonderful collection of short stories! I enjoyed all of them thoroughly-- especially the simplicity represented via the daily life of a multitude of individuals. Some resonated with me more than others, but overall, a great read!