This book plods to the middle in a fairly realistic fashion and then takes off with wild improbabilities in plot and established characters before skipping forward a few years to a non-conclusion. The sections where the main character learns about marketing produce and meat are somewhat interesting though the sum of the book leaves significant doubt as to whether what he learns would work in the real world. ( )

The novel concerns an emerging postwar economy in Japan modelled on the American grocery store. A considerable amount of poor senior management is compounded by embezzlement. It was unexpectedly candid in terms of men's emotions as well as corrupt employee practices. The story was engaging -- not a dry recitation of business practices in a grocery retail model. I read the book out of curiosity about this Japanese genre: the drama around business practices has apparently become a popular theme by Japanese authors (http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-35125739). Satoshi Azuchi's novel was the only translated publication available in our library system. ( )