An unassuming coffee shop tucked away in the Yanaka Ginza area in Tokyo serves as the backdrop for the lives of three individuals, each grappling with loss: college student Shūichi Okuyama, a part-timer at the café who has yet to move on from his college love; Hiroyuki Numata, who revisits the old neighborhood, hoping to find redemption from his past mistakes; and Shizuku Tachibana, the café owner’s daughter, who is struggling to find her own identity after the death of her older sister.
Somber, introspective, contemplative
Unhurried days when you want to take it slow and sit with a book that prompts you to do a little self-reflection
Slow, slice-of-life, deliberate
“And I was overwhelmed by the quiet realization that there were things in this world that were so beautiful, and if I just reached out my hand, they were close enough to touch.”
⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
It took me a while to finish this book. Maybe it’s because I find Yagisawa’s new slice-of-life work a tad formulaic after reading (and liking) Morisaki Bookshop, though this book centers on three people instead of just one main character. While I appreciate how the book prompts readers to contemplate on each of the character’s struggles and celebrate their triumphs, the book doesn’t go beyond that. Perhaps that’s the point? I’m not exactly sure.
I’m also not a fan of Hiroyuki Numata’s characterization in the second story. It made me feel a teeny bit uncomfortable, but maybe that’s just me. In any case, Torunka Café is still worth your time if this is your Yagisawa book. (Then again, if it is, I’d recommend Morisaki Bookshop.) I’m just on the fence about picking up the sequel for this one.