The hardest thing in life is probably parting. It's so easy to grasp the concept of all mortals must die in the end, but when you are the one being left behind, it makes the whole acceptance thing almost impossible. So what if a remembrance meal gives you an opportunity to talk with a deceased one more time?
I am familiar with a remembrance meal, it has been a family tradition of mine for a long time. Giving it a hopeful tone into the story makes even more intriguing and I end up loving it more once I get through the second half of the book. I can't wait to read more work of the author.

such a beautiful, heartwarming book that brings together grieving people over food. The Chibineko Kitchen cooks up meals similar to the ones made by deceased loved ones, and whilst sitting and eating, their are lessons to be learned and grief to heal and sometimes a visit from your loved one.
Definitely reminds me of The Restaurant of Lost Recipes (which I loved) and an important reminder to hold those you love most, very dear.

This was a delight of a book and a (successful) meeting between the Before the Coffee Gets Cold books and the Restaurant of Lost Recipes.
I really enjoyed the additional information about food specialities and the recipes and the idea of food and smells helping us to accept loss were very moving - the sense 'smell' is often overlooked.
The interconnection of the stories was also very nice - as was the not quite getting things right instantly. A warm hug of a book.

Another in the 'healing fiction' genre that now seems to dominate Japanese translated publications. Very much in the style of the Before the Coffee series and the Kamogawa Food Detective books, here we have 4 linked stories as people come to the remote Chibineko diner in search of a remembrance meal, hoping to honour the memory of a loved one who has passed away. Kotoko lost her brother, Taiji a classmate, Yoshio his wife. All of them become involved in the Kitchen and with Kai, the chef of the kitchen who himself is going through loss. As the healing begins, life will change for all of them.

You know exactly what you are getting with this genre, so it should be no surprise that this delivers what it does. The style, the characterisation, the message - everything is there, and you even get some nice recipes thrown in. It's hard to be cynical, so take this as it is. The books are popular for a reason, as we look for answers and healing in an increasingly fractured and crazy world. Sometimes we all need to discover our Chibineko Kitchen and find some closure.

(With thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this title,)

This was such a cosy and melancholic read. While it had a similar style and feeling to Before the Coffee Gets Cold and The Kamogawa Food Detectives, I do think this book has a unique take and different writing style. It is a lot less episodic, and many of the characters are linked. If you like this cosy japanese style of book, I think you will love this, but I also think it is worth a try if you weren't super keen on the books mentioned above.

It was a beautiful story of love and loss. It also managed to deal with these heavy topics with a wonderful lightness that left me feeling hopeful. The characters were wonderful and well fleshed out. This book also includes the recipes, so you can try them out as you read.

Overall, this was a heartwarming read that I would love to reread in the future. I have also seen that there are more books in the series, so I am hoping they will be translated soon.

I received a review copy of this book from John Murray Press via NetGalley for which my thanks.

The introductory book in the Japanese feel-good series, ‘Meals to Remember at the Chibineko Kitchen’ which first appeared in Japanese in 2020 and in this English translation by Cat Anderson in 2024, The Chibineko Kitchen combines elements from Before the Coffee Gets Cold and The Kamogawa Food Detectives to give readers a connected set of stories revolving around grief and loss and the search for answers, closure and the way ahead. While told in an episodic format like most such series are, the interconnections between the different segments here are deeper, with who I think will be our two main characters for the rest of the series being introduced and developing a friendship which will likely grow further.

Twenty-year-old Kotoko Niki is heartbroken and lost after the death of her only slightly older brother, Yuito. She doesn’t know what to do or where to go, her parents are as broken by the grief. At the recommendation of someone from her brother’s theatre group, she visits a small restaurant by the sea in the Chiba prefecture, the Chibineko Kitchen, known apart from the usual business to serve remembrance meals. The restaurant is named after the succession of chibi (small) nekos (cats) owned by the proprietor Nanako, and always present on the premises. Here Kotoko is served rice, miso soup and fish in soy sauce but not just any fish, the fat greenling which her brother especially liked and cooked for her and the family. Eating this meal not only brings back memories but while the food is steaming a last chance to speak with her brother and for him to communicate his wish to her. Helped and encouraged by Kai, the chef at Chibineko (and the owner’s son) and Chibi with his miaows, Kotoko interprets and begins to take the path her brother has asked her to.

She goes on to recommend Chibineko to another young man, a high schooler she knows, dealing with a grief of his own. Through this and the other stories, her connection with Chibineko and Kai deepens, bringing about not only comfort for them both (all, if we include Chibi) but also a direction to move in, setting the stage for the rest of the series.

Unlike some of the other feel-good series I’ve been reading like Coffee or Kamogawa which dealt with themes of estrangement, loss and separation, here the very idea of visits to the Chibineko Kitchen are premised on death and grief with each ‘customer’ experiencing bereavement and with it at times feeling entirely lost in their own lives. The stories thus necessarily bring with them the emotions evoked by death, whether occurring suddenly or preceded by illness and suffering as in some of the stories. But at the same time, through the chance offered by Chibineko, those left behind can speak once more with the one lost, to get reassurance or closure.

We also learn the story behind the restaurant and how it might have acquired this magical power though unlike in Coffee where the owners and staff are aware of the café’s magic, here they are more sceptical. Chibi himself has no magic but seems able to sense the arrival of the souls departed and comfort the customer. It was interesting to contrast how unlike in Kamogawa where the proprietor Nagare is bent on keeping the cat Drowsy out of the restaurant, in Chibineko, Kai does all he can to ensure that Chibi stays in and customers are informed beforehand (even the noticeboard says so) that there is a cat on the premises.

The setting here is the Chiba prefecture and each segment/story in the book showcases ingredients and produce special to the area also telling the reader in a brief note a little more about each including what makes it distinct. Each segment is also accompanied by a recipe from the story which readers can try for themselves—mostly simple Japanese dishes specific to the region (for instance, Namero-Don or seasoned minced fish on rice, Umebishio or pickled plum jam, and so on). Alongside is also a look at the prefecture, its cherry trees, peanut fields (now dying out) and more.

A gentle and heartwarming series, similar to, yet different enough from the others I’ve compared it to, though in its focus on death and grief touching on those deeper emotions as well. With the numerous such series I’ve been reading lately, I find it would be best to read these (whether separate entries in the same series or different ones) spaced out so that one can enjoy them to the fullest. Too close together, one might lose out!

This was beautiful. The writing was clear and descriptive. And the food described was so realistic. I'd read this again in a heartbeat. So clever and unique. I loved it.

Everyone is so much nicer in Japanese books, than over here. All the customs and traditions are lovely.

I feel many books with a touch of magical realism where people can help find a solution to a problem or resolve something in their past have become quite common, and honestly I eat them up, and this one was no different, taking us to a little restaurant on the beach, The Chibineko Kitchen.

Whether it be dealing with heartbreak or the weight of grief, this book touches on how humanity never really feels complete when something is suddenly taken from them, and it does it with sophistication and with a lot of grace - I feel here in this book, it's done with a bit more realism than others books do and the stories have more real takeaway for the people who come to eat there whether that be miscommunication or realising the path you wanted in life.

I also think these stories have been beautifully set, written incredibly well with a real thought for the feeling of the tale and its easy to compare to books such as What You Are Looking For Is In The Library or Tales From The Cafe but if you need something to read that is similar in tone, this would be an ideal choice of book for you.

A lovely read, if you want thoughtful and well written stories about how people work, this is another delicious slice of that.

(Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC).

This was such a beautiful, gentle little book that I thoroughly enjoyed. Slow paced and small scale, it had a whimsy that cut nicely through the sadness of a book about loss and those left behind, helped in large part by the protagonists, Kotoko and Kai.
If you're looking for something quiet and sweet that you can curl up with on a cold day and read in one sitting, perhaps with a cat on your lap or a dog by your feet, a cup of cocoa at your elbow, then this is the book for you.

There isn't much to The Chibineko Kitchen, but like a good restaurant, the menu here is quality not quantity. It is in the tradition of Japanese friendly ghost stories, which view the passing of someone as a neutral event, often where the negative feelings of guilt from someone associated with the dead that is the actual thing to be exorcised. And so we get three shortish interconnected stories of people going to the obscure hidden away restaurant for a mourning meal to celebrate the recently deceased. Our first participant Kotoko feels guilt about her dead brother who died saving her life. When she finally finds the Chibineko Kitchen she is ushered in, alone, to be served a meal that she hadn't picked but was a favourite of her brother. The food and aromas are meant to bring back positive memories of the dead, or do they bring back even more?

What happens in the Chibineko Kitchen isn't particularly surprising, even in the annals of ghost stories, and the lessons delivered by the dead are almost too simplistic (give up the guilt, be happy), but the interaction of food and ghosts - which is a particular comforting trope - is well done even before it slides a few recipes in. It is perhaps a little too short for its third story to be the reflexive one about the family that runs the Kitchen, there is a feel-good procedural aspect to this that could sustain a daytime cable TV show, but it probably takes it as read that after the second story we get the formula (the particulars of the lives involved is what makes the difference). But a lovely little read, comforting in aspects of how it deals with loss and with a model for remembrance that will work even if your version doesn't summon up the actual ghost of a loved one.

I expected to struggle with this one as I'm completely bew to Japanese literary fiction but it turned into an easy read for me. The story explores loss, grief and guilt in such a unique way. The whole story was charming and touching. It's not a long read at 192 pages, I'd encourage everyone new to Japanese fiction to give it a go. It might surprise you as much as it did me.

Out today!

Thank you @johnmurrays @NetGalley for my copy 🙏🏻

A really lovely, heartwarming read. Very similar to Before the Coffee Gets Cold, but that's no bad thing, you'll know what to expect; it's a cosy, touching, tug-at-your-heartstrings novel. I read it in one sitting, smiling and crying through each story. I loved the inclusion of the recipe for each of the remembrance meals, it made the experience more immersive.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the digital ARC.

A sweet and heartwarming book about love and grief and the healing power of food. A very matter-of-fact prose, really refreshing to read.

A lovely evocative read, a japanese tradition of remembrance meals brought into focus as a person can eat a meal and meet for one final time a lost loved one. A series of brief encounters allows the author to explore themes of loss and grief. and to keep hope alive through these meetings and through the romantic story developing between the restaurant owner and one of its customers. Gentle, hopeful and heart-warming.

If you love books like Before the Coffee Gets Cold and/or The Kamogawa Food Detectives, if you're a fan of healing fiction and food-related books and/or you enjoy reading Japanese literature, or all of the above (as is the case for me), this book is for you!

The Chibineko Kitchen is composed of short vignettes centred around the homonymous restaurant, which sells "remembrance meals" (i.e., meals that remind you of someone you lost). However, the "remembrance meals" at The Chibineko Kitchen are special because, while the food is still hot, you get to actually have one last conversation with the person you lost. Each tale is a love story in its many kinds, sibling love, romantic/first love, decades-long love and so on.

I loved this book! Even though the premise felt like an amalgamation of several books I've read before, the execution made this story very special. I cried at the end of each and every chapter, and I love books that are able to illicit that kind of emotion from me.

I've heard this book is part of a 7-book long series and I cannot wait to read more.

Thank you so much to John Murray and NetGalley for this e-ARC!

This is a sweet well translated/written story about the power of food and grief. The concept with this one is the Chibineko Kitchen makes remembrance meals for people where sometimes that person might just show up for once last conversation. There are four short stories, all interlinked, and honestly, 3 of them could be rewritten into one novel, but this style of format is very popular in Japan at the moment. For busy people, it is easier to read four short stories as you have time rather than one long novel. I also like the gimmick: a recipe was at the end of each book.

This was a very cute, emotional, heartbreaking read to me and I actually enjoyed this book really much.

The Chibineko Kitchen is a special kitchen, reserved to make remembrance meals. Kotoko lost her brother and she comes across this special kitchen, dedicated in serving the remembrance meals of the loved ones. The restaurant kitten plays a vital role in the restaurant which is why the name implied. The stories talk about how people visit this restaurant, orders the meal and then reconnect with their loved ones.

The story in general is well written and is quiet engaging. I like how after every chapter there is the recipe of that meal written so readers may have a taste of the meal. I love reading Japanese novels as most of the Japanese novels have a unique storytelling and this book is no exception. I realized that there is part 2 of the series which is not translated yet into English and which I am looking forward to read the part 2 and enjoy the taste of Japanese meal. Overall a four star read.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

Yuta Takahashi’s novel’s set in a small seaside town in Chiba Prefecture, an area she’s known since childhood. It centres on a small restaurant called The Chibeneko Kitchen after the owners’ succession of tiny cats (chibeneko). The slender plot revolves around the tentative but growing bond between Kai Fuchuki – son of the restaurant’s founder – and Kotoko Niki. Kotoko Niki first visits the restaurant on a recommendation, not long after her brother’s sudden death. The restaurant specialises in remembrance meals a variation on the “kagezen” offerings traditionally set out to honour the dead or as a reminder of loved ones far away. But eating the restaurant’s food can do more than that, it can briefly conjure the dead for those who’re grieving. The dead person can only stay for the meal’s duration but it’s just enough time for a final farewell and to express what’s been left unsaid – from expressions of love to regret.

Kotoko Niki’s experience at The Chibeneko Kitchen helps her come to terms with her loss. Later, she recommends it to other mourners. Yuta Takahashi's portrait of the restaurant with its charming cat and thoughtful, regionally-inspired recipes is meticulously detailed, accompanied by descriptions of the area of Japan where it’s based: from once-thriving peanut farms to local landscapes and sea-birds. It's the first in a loose series, set in and around the restaurant, that’s been extremely popular in Japan and nearby countries like South Korea. Now it’s being introduced to a broad range of European audiences. Yuta Takahashi’s published two titles featuring the restaurant and its customers every year since 2020, her themes and soothing style seem to have struck a chord with post-pandemic readers - although the author doesn’t shy away from discussing starker aspects of death and dying. It’s a well-crafted piece, an unusual blend of bittersweet and whimsical. I think it’s more than likely to appeal to fans of novels like Before the Coffee Gets Cold or The Kamogawa Food Detectives books – although it’s much less episodic. Translated by Cat Anderson.

I was craving a palate cleanser after some heavy, thought-provoking reads and "The Chibineko Kitchen" delivered beyond my expectations. This sweet story is about a small, unique restaurant where guests can order a "remembrance meal" for a loved one who has passed away, sharing one last conversation "before the food gets cold." With only a few chapters and characters visiting the restaurant, their stories intertwine in a deeply satisfying way. While the concept isn’t entirely new, the characters and their personal stories are filled with soothing, healing energy. I also loved the detail of the author adding each recipe at the end of every chapter—it made the experience feel even more intimate and inspiring. It’s a short read, yet genuinely heartwarming. Ah, yes... there is a cat in the restaurant! 😊

What a warm and lovely book. Sometimes, all you need is a gentle book to take you away from all the problems of the world. Yuta Takahashi's "The Chibineko Kitchen" tells the story of a small restaurant that offers a remembrance meal to honour loved ones who have died. By sitting down to eat these meals, the person can summon the departed one. This is the first part of a new series, and it's a collection of intertwined short stories about how we deal the loss of someone dear to us. How do we cope when there are still unanswered questions, or words that we wish we could take back? Takahashi's novel explores these questions with grace and kindness. Throughout the novel, we also get recipes for the for the food mentioned in the novel. It seems odd to a book about death a cozy read, but this slim novel is just the right balm for a world gone mad with violence and negativity.