Days at Morisaki Bookshop Series by Satoshi Yagisawa in Japanese and Translated in English by Eric Ozawa

By Mansi Singh on September 13, 2024

Book: Days at Morisaki Bookshop and More Days at Morisaki Bookshop
Author: Satoshi Yagisawa
Translated by: Eric Ozawa
Published by: Harper Collins in 2023 & 2024 respectively
Genre: Literary Fiction,
Page Count: 160 & 176 respectively
Originally Published in: 2009

Book Review:
Book I- Days at Morisaki Bookshop
A short, sweet, and tender book will make you feel cozy after finishing it.
A 25-year-old girl Takako when got cheated by her boyfriend, went to stay at her uncle's place. Her uncle owned a bookshop named 'Morisaki Bookshop' (fictional bookshop) in Jimbocho (real-life book town) for second-hand books, he had a place on the upper floor of that shop, where Takako started living. Initially, Takako was irritated by her uncle's hyperactive nature and persistence in reading books, but languidly, Takako gave in to books and reading. Her transition from a few days ago to now was shocking for even her, but as a reader, I know it's not unreal.

The book explores unconditional friendships, a community of readers, hope in life, acceptance, and graciousness. Evidently because one reads, it opens up their mind & body for the life they have, instead of dwelling longer on a life one wants to build. And I couldn't agree more. All the characters in the book give a new perspective on human diversity as well as its relevance to people in our lives.

The first part of this two-book series will leave an impact on you, make you feel upbeat if you are already a reader, and assure you if you are a non-reader. How books transform, How books bring our mind to peace, How we started understanding the relationship between our mind and body, and how reading helps you escape. The book doesn't tell you a solution to life's hardships, but rather how one can find their own solution for them. Reading lets you realize the pain of others in front of which yours will seem so less.

Book II- More Days at Morisaki Bookshop
The sequel to Days at Morisaki Bookshop, this part starts with a familiar place, where all the characters are already set, all it needs is a good story. Sadly, this book failed to manage the same pace and tenderness as the first one. I love details in writing, I love how an author describes pain and wrinkles, how there's a portrayal of understanding through eyes, and how the clinking and clanking of things play as much role as a character; but I don't love the details of things that are meant to be left for reader's understanding and this book does that a lot.

The first few pages were cozy to read but gradually I was yawning and literally just flipping the pages and skipping the lines. It bored me. Eventually, I had to DNF (did not finish) it, and it was just 170 pages.

Conclusion
Overall, these books do a revelation for Indian readers, as the book and its characters show, hype, and take pride in Japanese literature and authors, it shows us the way of a country's role in their reading culture and our country can improve a lot in that aspect.

About the Author:
Born in Chiba, Japan, Satoshi Yagisawa's debut book is Days at Morisaki Bookshop, which was originally published in 2009 in Japanese and later in 2023 in English. His book won the "Chiyoda Literature Prize" ( A Japanese Prize in Literature)

About the Translator:
Born in Tokyo, and raised in New York, Ozawa is a writer and translator. He teaches writing at New York University. Currently, he is working on a fiction novel named- O-bakanaru.