Writing under the pen name "Napoleon", Yamamoto became a published writer at the age of 14. [6] Yamamoto's stories are often compared to the poetic form, haiku, described as "layered in metaphor, imagery, and irony, but never wordy or given to digression."[7] She has also been praised "for her subtle realizations of gender and sexual relationships"[8] Her writing is sensitive, painstaking, heartfelt, and delicate, yet blunt and economical, a style that pays homage to her Japanese heritage while establishing contemporary appeal.
Her short stories were compared favorably and stylistically with those of Katherine Mansfield, Flannery O'Connor and Grace Paley.[5]
