Japanese Translated Fiction

For fans of THE TRAVELLING CAT CHRONICLES, THE CAT WHO SAVED BOOKS and SHE AND HER CAT, discover the award-winning bestselling Japanese novel that has become an international sensation in this utterly charming celebration of the healing power of cats.A cat a day keeps the doctor away ...On the top floor of an old building at the end of a cobbled alley in Kyoto lies the Kokoro Clinic for the Soul. Only a select few - those who feel genuine emotional pain - can find it. The mysterious centre offers a unique treatment for its troubled patients: it prescribes cats as medication. Get ready to fall in love:- Bee, an eight-year-old female, mixed breed helps a disheartened businessman as he finds unexpected joy in physical labour;- Margot, muscly like a lightweight boxer, helps a middle-aged call centre worker stay relevant;- Koyuki, an exquisite white cat brings closure to a mother troubled by the memory of the rescue kitten she was forced to abandon;- Tank and Tangerine bring peace to a hardened fashion designer, as she learns to be kinder to herself;- Mimita, the Scottish Fold kitten helps a broken-hearted Geisha to stop blaming herself for the cat she once lost. As the clinic's patients seek inner peace, their feline friends lead them towards healing, self-discovery and newfound hope. Contains five delicious cat line-drawings. Japanese bestseller, October 2023 Japanese readers adore WE'LL PRESCRIBE YOU A CAT: ‘The most wonderful book I've ever read’ *****‘A terrific idea, a powerful ending, brilliant storytelling’ *****‘The story drew me in instantly, and I laughed so much’ *****‘I definitely want everyone to read this book’ *****‘There are so many wonderful lines to underscore, but if I write them here, there will be spoilers!’ *****

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A special night edition to celebrate the success of The Convenience Store by the Sea. Everything you loved about the original in a stunning new companion package. Welcome to Tenderness. Our doors are always open. 'The Convenience Store by the Sea makes magic from life's simple moments . . . an unexpected treasure revealing what's truly important in life. I will hold it close for when I need a reminder!' Laurie Gilmore, bestselling author of The Pumpkin Spice Cafe 'If you loved Before The Coffee Gets Cold you will love this!' 'A perfect, feel-good story about finding joy in unexpected connections, ideal for those who love a cosy, heartwarming escape!' 'Bubble bath fiction' The Herald 'A delightful tale of community and connection' My Weekly Welcome to Tenderness! A quaint seaside town in Kitakyushu, Mojiko is full of hidden delights. And one unexpected treasure is the 24/7 convenience store, Tenderness. At first glance, it's a store like any other. Sure, it's a bit odd that the handsome manager has his own fan club. And perhaps the customers are somewhat eccentric. But there's a warmth about Tenderness that draws you in. The bright lights are always on. The employees know you by name. And the shelves are stacked with delicious treats, from strong hot coffee to sweet parfaits, egg sandos to ramen, crispy fried chicken to refreshing soba. After a while, you get the feeling that whatever you need might just be waiting for you here...The Convenience Store by the Sea is the heartwarming international bestseller from award-winning Japanese author Sonoko Machida. A a series of interconnected vignettes set in a 24/7 Japanese convenience store, the novel tells the delightfully quirky and heartfelt stories of the store's customers and employees, offering us all a unique recipe for a good, fulfilling life. Translated by Bruno Navasky.

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For fans of Before the Coffee Gets Cold, What You Are Looking for Is In the Library, and Days at the Morisaki Bookshop comes an enchanting novel that will linger in your heart long after the last page is turned. 'I honestly can’t remember the last time a single book made me cry so much.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Such a breath of fresh air’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 🌸🌸🌸🌸 As the last petal falls, the final page is turned… Welcome to The Cherry Blossom Bookshop, a haven for book lovers that only appears during the fleeting cherry blossom season. Nestled amidst the bloom of delicate petals, you’ll find a sanctuary for those burdened by regrets and past sorrows. Here, Sakura, the mysterious young owner, and her wise calico cat, Kobako, patiently await the arrival of souls in need of solace and healing. Told over four seasons, each visitor to the bookshop holds a book that bridges their past and present, guiding them towards understanding and acceptance. Within the antique charm of the shop and the soothing aroma of freshly brewed coffee, Sakura and Kobako help their guests confront their lingering sadness through the power of stories, enabling them to move forward with renewed hope. 🌸🌸🌸🌸 Readers have fallen in love! 'If you are wondering what it feels like to read this book, the cozy cover art evokes it perfectly.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'An absolutely exquisite book on grief and love, and that those we lose in body never really leave us.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'It’s the kind of story that doesn’t shout—it simply sits with you, softly reminding you that healing comes in small, beautiful ways.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'A gentle, healing read that feels like a warm embrace.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'A cute, cozy fiction book that you will want to curl up with on a rainy day.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'I have to admit this was nothing like what I would have expected, and it blew my mind and comforted my heart in many ways.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Beautiful Japanese literature that makes me feel at ease on a spring day.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'I am absolutely speechless. This book is not at all a five star read for me, but a six or more.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Every so often a book lands in your lap at just the right time. The Vanishing Cherry Blossom Bookshop was that kind of read for me. Healing, magical, and tender, it reminded me why I love these quiet, reflective stories where regrets can be faced and softened.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'At its core, this is a story about hope and the quiet, transformative power of books—how stories can reach into our everyday lives and bring healing.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Straight away from the first page, we are transported in a Japanese courtyard, and you can feel the peace through the words, taking you away, like you are an observer in a Miyazaki animation.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Just finished this book and it was gorgeous!!! Whimsical, magical and heartwarming.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'I would really have loved for i

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In Tokyo, there is a neighbourhood with the highest number of bookstores in the world. It is called Jinbocho where book lovers can browse to their heart's delight and where hunters of first editions or autographed copies prowl the bookcases.The Morisaki bookshop, a small family-run shop, is so packed with books that barely five people can fit inside. Books crowd the shelves and invade every corner of the floor; when a customer arrives, the owner, Satoru, immediately pops out from behind the counter. Recently, his wife Momoko has joined him, and often, in her free time after work, their niece Takako also helps out.For the first time, the girl does not feel lonely; she has new friends and new rituals to keep her company: the annual Jinbocho festival, the café around the corner, or an unexpected visitor. Because, as she has discovered, a bookstore is populated not by the characters contained in the books, but also by those who frequent it. And those stories create bonds.As a sign of gratitude, Takako gives her aunt and uncle a trip, promising to look after the shop while they are away. Everything seems to be going swimmingly, but then why is Satoru behaving so strangely? And what does that woman with the red umbrella want who has appeared at the end of the street? How many other stories, emotions, and treasures does the Morisaki bookshop hold?

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The heartwarming, magical Japanese bestseller about grief, love and a cat who will do anything to see his beloved owner again 'A much-needed dose of comfort and positivity' SHANNA TAN After a long and happy life with a loving human family, tabby cat Fuuta has passed into the afterlife. But he is not as far from his owner Michiru as it seems. Sometimes the divide between the lands of the living and the dead can be traversed. Eager to see Michiru again, Fuuta interviews for a position at Café Pont, which sits in the liminal space between the two worlds. The café is known for its unique service: its living customers can request meetings with the person they'd most like to see again, through the specially selected spirits of messenger cats. Fuuta must investigate and deliver his messages without unnerving the living, or worse, upsetting the balance of the universe itself. It is a weighty task for a tabby cat, but Fuuta rises to the challenge. After all, the job offers a special reward: he will get to see Michiru again. And he'll do anything to reunite with his family.

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Much-loved modern classic by the bestselling author of WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR IS IN THE LIBRARY for fans of BEFORE THE COFFEE GETS COLD Readers love HOT CHOCOLATE ON THURSDAY: ‘Slipped into my heart and warmed me, just like a cup of cocoa’ *****‘I definitely recommend this book!’ *****‘Thursday is the beginning of the second half of the week. I felt restored reading this’ *****‘Reminds you that everyone is living their own daily joy and pain. Heartwarming’ *****‘This made me realise how we magically influence each other’s lives without realising it’ *****Across a bridge, in view of cherry blossom lies the Marble Cafe where a woman writes in a notebook and a young waiter prepares her favourite hot drink. Both wonder about each other and about the other lives of the clientele who frequent this charming little cafe behind the trees ....Taking a walk along the river, cooking the best tamagoyaki, ordering hot chocolate, forgetting to remove our nail polish... The small, everyday acts that we do can offer unexpected encounters and ultimately change a life. HOT CHOCOLATE ON THURSDAY connects twelve slice-of-life moments that open and close with a woman ordering her regular hot chocolate at the mysterious Marble Cafe. What happens in between will touch and swell your heart, as readers connect with a community of untold unfolding lives. Have you tried the uplifting THE HEALING HIPPO OF HINODE PARK also by Michiko Aoyama?

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A charming book of linked stories with a sprinkling of cosy fantasy and a fable-like touch . . . Welcome to the Amberglow Candy Store. The confections can give you what you most desire, but not in the way you expect . . .'A delightful confection you’ll enjoy reaching for whenever a craving for magic, healing, and wonder strikes' Samantha Sotto Yambao, bestselling author of Water Moon 'Each story within is its own special candy, sweet and delicious! You'll want to savour each one!' Sarah Beth Durst, New York Times bestselling author of The Spellshop ***** Welcome. We don’t get many humans here. At the end of Gloaming Lane, at the very edge of the otherworld, is the Amberglow Candy Store, open only between the full moon and the new moon.Behind the cosy caramel-timber facade is Kogetsu, the store’s half-fox proprietor, whose wagashi confections promise to change the lives of his customers for the better. Kogetsu’s door is always open to anyone in need of solace - a lovesick teenage girl, a cripplingly shy estate agent, a struggling first time mother. But who is this mysterious proprietor? A half-fox spirit he may be. But why is he so interested in his customers and their emotions? And why does each sweet have a recommended ‘dosage’? Like the centre of the chewiest caramel, life’s most valuable teachings always take time to reveal themselves, and Kogetsu’s customers are about to get a lot more than they bargained for . . .The Amberglow Candy Store is a charming and cosy fable from Japan, that shows that help is always out there for those who seek it.****'Enchanting . . . it's the human emotions and experiences that resonate most deeply. Such a beautiful story that lingers in your thoughts for a long time after' Reader Review *****'The stories are gentle, yet profound, offering reflections on love, regret and the complexities of human relationships. Such a beautiful story that lingers in your thoughts for a long time after' Reader Review *****

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For lovers of Before the Coffee Gets Cold and Days at the Morisaki Bookshop, a new book about the beauty of humble objects, the power of writing, and reconnecting with those you have lost.Write your story, heal your heart . . . Hidden away in a corner of the Ginza neighbourhood is a venerable stationery shop. To venture inside is to find everything your stationery-loving heart desires, from the most delicate paper to fountain pens that fit exactly to the shape of your hand to gorgeously coloured inks. The shop owner intuits your every need, inviting you to take a seat at a small wooden table on the top floor, where you'll find the words flowing, helping you unlock repressed memories, secret longings and your own mysteries.To this shop comes a young company employee, uncertain in his career and needing a connection back to his past; the hostess of an elegant club; the vice-captain of a high-school archery team, an ageing businessman and a formerly homeless sushi chef. With impeccable manners and a warm demeanour, the shop owner helps each of them with more than just their stationery needs.

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