There’s No Such Thing as an Easy Job by Kikuko Tsumura (Book Review)

By Justin D Williams

In a world where burnout is increasingly normalized and the pressure to find purpose and fulfilment in the workplace. Kikuko Tsumara's novel "There's No Such Thing as an Easy Job offers a refreshing, honest, and surreal look at modern labor. This book was translated from Japanese to English by Polly Barton. This book examines the paradox of seeking emotional disengagement and still longing to feel useful.

The story follows an unnamed protagonist who is in her mid-thirties. After she suffers a nervous breakdown and a total burnout, she decides to quit her job and approaches a recruitment agency with a simple request. She wants a job that requires almost nothing from her. She doesn't want any emotional attachment, investment, no mental load or physical strain. She desires a job that is simple and easy. Without diving into spoiler territory, our protagonist takes on various jobs from surveillance to advertising. Each job starts with the promise of simplicity and ease but quickly complicates with internal drama, uneasiness, and emotional investment bubbling to the surface.

Tsumura doesn't burden the protagonist with a backstory or melodrama; instead, we get glimpses of her emotional state through small details and internal monologue. Her desire to disappear into something simple while still trying to heal is heartbreaking. Each supporting character, from the supervisors to the odd coworker, adds a layer of charm and discomfort. Even in temporary roles, these characters reveal the strange and toxic dynamics of the modern workforce. The recruiter, Mrs. Masakado, acts like her job therapist and is the best support character in the book. She silently guides the protagonist from job to job without any judgment, but with understanding.

Tsumura's writing in this book has a deadpan and minimalist approach. The pacing can be a bit slow and mundane, but at the same time, fascinating. The surreal, like disappearing shops or a park that may house supernatural secrets, creep in without warning. It's a quiet, cumulative storytelling. We also have to give credit to Polly Barton, who captured the translation beautifully. She manages to capture the protagonist's inner life, making it feel rich without ever being overexplained.

Beneath the format of the story is this episodic structure that lies a deep emotional core. There's No Such Thing as an Easy Job explores what it means to heal in a society that defines people by their productivity. The protagonist wants to disappear, but she finds herself drawn back into the world each time she starts to care. The novel doesn't offer a grand solution or redemption arc. It suggests, instead, that purpose might not come from passion or prestige but from small acts of presence. Even trivia on snack wrappers can carry weight when done with care.

The novel doesn't offer a grand solution or redemption arc. It suggests, instead, that purpose might not come from passion or prestige but from small acts of presence. Even trivia on snack wrappers can carry weight when it's done with care. Even watching security footage can open a door back into life.

Final Rating: There's No Such Thing as an Easy Job isn't flashy; it's a slow burn, built from quiet moments and surreal edges. But it's also one of the most insightful looks at burnouts of modern work you'll find. If you enjoy character-driven stories, this book is for you.