Since childhood, Keiko Furukura has always been out of step with those around her. At thirty-six, she works as a sales clerk in a konbini — a Japanese convenience store open twenty-four hours a day. Having held the position for eighteen years, she has no intention of leaving her little shop, much to the dismay of those close to her, who worry about seeing her still single and in precarious employment at an age when her university friends have long since started families.
Short-staffed, the stor...
