THE VANISHING CHERRY BLOSSOM BOOKSHOP (2025) BY TAKUYA ASAKURA TRANSLATED BY YUKA MAENO

Blurb: 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.

There is always something magical about healing fiction that it always urges me to get in a cozy blanket with a warm cup of tea and a box of tissues even on the busiest days. Everyone experiences loss at some point in their lives, but real people aren’t fortunate enough to relive their precious moments with their loved ones. That’s where this story comes into the picture as it offers comfort to readers through the heartwarming stories of Mio, Shingo, Kaho and Shiho as they confront their loss with the help of Sakura, the mysterious owner of the bookshop and Kobako, her cat.

Mio is a struggling manga artist embroiled in a plagiarism controversy, but is compelled to reflect on the relationship with her late mother after a distant relative reveals some tragic details about her past. 'The Little Prince' by Antoine de Saint-Expery, a book from her childhood memories becomes her solace as it opens up the mystical door to the mysterious bookshop.

Shingo is a retired train driver with dementia who finds himself getting lost in the memories of past, but fears forgetting his late wife, Yuriko. 'The Night of Dreams' by Natsume Soseki is a book that once connected these lovers, but now it brings the lovers together again in the mysterious bookstore. Hanami brings bittersweet joy to twin sisters Shiho and Kaho as they reflect upon their past with their childhood friend while admiring cherry blossoms before embarking on their separate journey's at college. Fortunately, the mysterious owner of the bookshop and her calico cat help the sisters confront their past wounds and heal by letting go of their guilt. The story of Peter Pan by JM Barrie plays an integral role in the story as it becomes a symbol of friendship among the three friends.

The final story is also quite special as it explores the how a husband and daughters undying affection for a woman gives birth to the healing miracles you'll read about in this book. A readers imagination brings a book to life, and these stories explore that world of imagination in the best way possible. Memories can become painful after loved ones to death, but this story re-evaluates this idea by portraying memories as an antidote for grief. If you’re a fan of The Coffee Gets Cold series, then this brand new book is a must read for you! (Also I’d definitely recommend you to check out the translators note at the end of the novel if you wish to understand the story with an additional context that may get lost for some readers in translation).

Warm, cozy and thought-provoking, I would like to give this book a rating of 5/5.