For those interested in learning more about Emiko Koike's life and work, here are some recommended books and articles:
She identifies the office as a haunted house. Not the American corporate "cubicle farm" of Office Space —which is satire—but a distinctly Japanese kaisha : a pseudo-family where loyalty is expected but never reciprocated. emiko koike
One evening, Emiko's Obaachan came to visit from Japan. As they sat together in the garden, Emiko's grandmother shared a story of her own struggles during World War II, when she had been forced to leave her home and relocate to an internment camp. Emiko listened, mesmerized, as her grandmother spoke of the strength and resilience that had carried her through those difficult times. For those interested in learning more about Emiko