It was subsequently described in The New York Times as "anti-Semitic" and an example of Japan's "widespread anti-Semitism", although Kometani's husband is Jewish, and the novel was an adaption of a visit to his parents' house.
The portrayal of the novel in The New York Times was negative, labeling it anti-Semitic and portraying Japan as having a widespread problem with anti-Semitism, despite the author's husband being Jewish and the novel being inspired by a visit to his family home.