The Book Report #85

Episode #84

Days at the Torunka Cafe By Satoshi Yagisawa

The Book

In 2022, Tokuma Shoten Publishing Co., Ltd. released this book in Japan. And was then published in the UK by Manilla Press in 2025. Manilla Press is an imprint of Bonnier Books UK.

In addition, the publication of the book was helped by Harper Perennial, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers LLC.

The English translation of the book was arranged by Tokuma Shoten Publishing, through Emily Books Agency LTD and Casanovas & Lynch Literary Agency.

The book was translated into English by Eric Ozawa.

My copy is a first print, paperback printed in 2025. It has 232 pages, which include Citations and Translator’s Notes.

What Did I Think

This book follows a tradition of drama novels, which I wasn’t expecting, featuring three short stories from the POV of an employee, a returning visitor and the daughter of the coffee shop owner.

The Beginning

The first story is about Shuichi Okuyama. He works part-time in the coffee shop while he works out what he wants to do with his life. Shuichi also wants love, but due to a previous relationship, feels he doesn’t deserve or need it.

By some strange coincidence, a childhood friend, Chinatsu Yukimura, disguised as a past-life lover, returns to seek him out. This is, of course, a lie, and he works it out. However, he isn’t sure what to do with this information or how he feels about it, but goes along with whatever is happening and slowly things begin to evolve.

This is a nice, gentle introduction to this new world. The cafe sounds like a quaint little place I would like to visit.

The tale of a child who lives with parents who enjoy the company of others, who is reunited with a childhood acquaintance of one of the parents’ friends and is slowly persuaded to fall for them. Even if the once pursuer has social anxiety.

But also leaves origami ballerinas in the cafe, to say she was there.

The story is a little messed up, but it leads to a good conclusion where everyone is happy.

The Middle

Story two is a sad but could be seen as a bit creepy, in a stalky vibe, even with good intentions.

Hiroyuki Numata returns after years of mental torture that he partly created for himself after leaving the love of his life to pursue his dreams of making a lot of money. The problem is he made a lot of money but married the wrong woman.

Eventually, he leaves her and returns to where it all started. But while hanging around, Hiroyuki meets a young lady named Ayako, who happens to be the daughter of the love he left behind. This isn’t a chance meeting. He has done some research beforehand.

This is the story of how he reacquaints with his past and becomes friends with a road not taken, and how he found her. However, there could be a time limit on this meeting, as he is ill. An operation is needed, but will he survive?

And that’s the cliffhanger of the story. Which was a shame, this was my favourite of the three, and I would have loved to have read more of their story. From what I read, I am unsure how much story could have been written.

The End

Story three is back with the workers of the cafe. Shuzuki is the daughter of Tachibana, the owner of the establishment. A few years ago, she lost her sister and the family didn’t recover properly.

Her mother couldn’t handle what had happened and is away helping people in poorer countries with their needs. Shuzuki has had to accept this and look after herself and her father.

She has reached the age at which her sister died, and as with every year of the anniversary, she has to deal with the emotional turmoil that comes with it. And this year, the stakes are a lot higher as she has to sort out what she wants. who she wants and who she wants to be.

The mother is a bit shitty to disappear and leave not just her daughter but also her husband behind. They don’t want to divorce. She shows up on the anniversary. It is not a healthy relationship. It isn’t a relationship. So it is just accepted, and they continue as it’s the norm.

Shuzuki goes through a rollercoaster of emotions and uncertainties, figuring out who she is. And while she doesn’t realise at the time, she has help from her friends, who gently push when needed.

Coffee

Over the three stories, we learn the history of the coffee shop and of both owners, how the shop was purchased from an elderly woman after her husband passed. This is not a main road cafe, next to all the fashionable shops. You have to find it out of the way down a thin alleyway. This allows the cafe to be for the locals, and less for the visitors to the area.

One of the reasons I loved the Morisaki Bookshop was that there was more detail and emotion in the characters, and even though the connections were there, the emotional aspect was not as strong.

I am also glad to find out that this cafe is in the same universe as Days at the Morisak Bookshop. Not knowing how far apart they are. I am hoping it is just up the road.

Would I Recommend

Although it’s not as good as the previous book, the stories are relaxing and an easy and enjoyable read. So if you like something that’s not too taxing and additional to the Morisaki Bookshop, this may be for you.

Please give this book a go.

Would you like to purchase your very own copy?

You could try these online stores: Amazon UK/USA. Waterstones. AbeBooks UK/USA, Barnes & Noble or eBay UK/USA.

Alternatively, you could try your local bookshop or even your local library.