The Lantern of Lost Memories is a heartwarming book that explores the profound impact of memories on our lives. It is set in a serene photography studio between worlds, the story follows a kind man named Hirasaka who helps recently deceased individuals relive their most cherished moments.

The concept of a photo studio where people can revisit their past is both imaginative and comforting. It created a unique and enchanting atmosphere. Each of the 3 guests encountered has a different story to tell. Finally learning about what happened to Hirasaka and his memories is heartbreaking.

The Lantern of Lost Memories ultimately celebrates the beauty of life and the importance of cherishing our memories. It's a reminder that even in the face of loss, there is hope and joy to be found.

Sanaka Hiiragi’s episodic novel builds on Japanese mythology around fate, memory and death, particularly Yomotsu Hirasaka as a place marking a boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead. Here that liminal space’s occupied by a studio run by genial photographer Hirasaka. It’s Hirasaka’s duty to prepare the newly dead for entry to the afterlife, although his own origins are shrouded in mystery. Each visitor to his studio’s presented with images from their past, they must choose one for each year of their existence. This selection will be slotted into a twirling lantern, a variation on a slideshow, so their lives appear to flash before their eyes and they can move on. Sometimes a visitor picks a blurry or damaged photo, these can be repaired via a guided visit to the past to get a cleaner shot.

One of these visitors is Hatsue who’s 92. Hirasaka takes her back to a suburb of Tokyo in July 1949, where Hatsue observes her younger self. Her experiences enable a vivid reconstruction of postwar Japan, the damaged buildings and struggling inhabitants. Hatsue was employed by a nursery to take care of impoverished workers’ children, and Hiiragi bases her section on aspects of Japan’s history particularly the establishment of Nitta Nursery School in Tokyo’s Adachi Ward.

Hirasaka’s next two clients are among his most challenging cases: one’s a murdered yakuza, Shohei Waniguchi who finds it difficult to locate any happy memories; the other’s a small girl killed by abusive parents, a child whose suffering will lead to Hirasaka taking unprecedented action. Although Hiiragi’s novel can be sentimental and a little uneven - Hatsue’s narrative was by far my favourite – it’s also well-researched, atmospheric and absorbing. The style and unusual blend of genre conventions is likely to appeal to fans of books like Before the Coffee Gets Cold. Translated by Jesse Kirkwood.

It is a cosy-styled but emotional book that, through its believably flawed characters, explores the themes of life after death, life, loss, and redemption. The characters are ordinary people, but all have extraordinary life events. The story has a supernatural element that intrigues, and the author handles the triggering themes sensitively. I like the distinct ethos of this book, the positivity, the lyrical writing and the vivid sensory imagery that draws the reader into the stories.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

actual rating: 3.5

this is a short, heartwarming, and hopeful read that follows three people who have died—some from old age, others with their lives cut short by another. before they can move on to the afterlife, they must choose a photo from each year of their lives and hang them in a lantern to witness in their final moments. often, the pictures they chose were too blurry, so they had to revisit those moments in time, capturing them again with a real camera. this process offers a deeper glimpse into their lives before they entered the photography studio. it’s a peculiar and intriguing concept, yet it captures that familiar blend of dread and hope often found in japanese literature dealing with life and death.

in books where multiple independent stories are combined, it’s easy for them to feel disconnected. but what i loved about ‘the lantern of lost memories’ is how it seamlessly intertwined these tales. the three characters’ stories come together beautifully at the end, leaving a lasting impression on me. though the book is short, it’s not something i took lightly. i was especially moved by the second story—it was bizarre yet sweet, and it actually made me cry.

that said, i did feel that the writing and pacing became a bit flat at times. i just wish the story had been expanded, with more perspectives and more fitting prose to fully capture its depth.

thank you sm sanaka hiiragi and panmacmillan for this e-copy <3

Book review 📚
The Lantern of Lost Memories by Sanaka Hiiragi
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is a very mixed review, but in a great way because the book itself absolutely deserves 5 stars.

It’s a mixed review in the sense of the story. Was I happy? Yes. Was I sad? Also yes. Let me explain:
Happy – you reflect on parts of your life when you die, watching life literally flash before your eyes.
Sad – being with these characters when they die and watching them relive parts on their life.

This book is so unique and unlike any other. You follow 3 people who are in between life and death, they are in a cosy photography studio with friendly man named Hirasaka. In this moment between life and death they are given the opportunity to choose pictures from their life to best represent their most treasured moments and memories. These memories are then placed into a lantern which is released and leads them into their final destination.

The characters are so utterly relatable and completely perfect in their flaws, achievemtents and their treasured moments. They are described with such authenticity and genuineness from the writer. It is so easy to see them as normal every day people. It really is a celebration of life and those moments that make us who we are.

The best and most emotionally raw aspects of this book are the importance of our memories can shape out entire identities and how much we hold on to them. The Lantern of Lost Memories is a truly indescribable novel that will resonate with readers longer after they have finished the book.

A deceptively simple view of a complex and emotional subject, A man works in a photographic studio and is brought individual people who have just died, where he offers them comfort and supports them while they choose photographs to view at the end of their lives. He is more than just the guide that helps them, and this plays out through the book's gentle journey through time and feelings of a range of different people. Very stylized writing and simply told, the story will really stick with you and prompt you to think about the photos you would choose, and why.

The Lantern of Lost Memories is such a heartwarming tale! It plays with the idea of life flashing before our eyes when we die by setting the story in a photography studio that is situated in a sort of limbo, after a person dies but before they learn about what the afterlife is like.

In the studio, people are asked to choose one photo for each year of their lives to build a Lantern of Memories. It's an exploration of life, loss and the way we shouldn't leave to the end to take stock of our lives and people around us. The book is divided into three chapters, telling the stories of three very different characters, and I fell in love with all of them (as well as with Hirasaka, the kind man who welcomes these people to the studio)

This is such an incredible book! I loved it
Another read for Women in Translation month

Thank you very much to Picador for my copy!

Heartwarming quick read, emotive subject handled beautifully. Thank you netgalley for the advanced copy

This was such a heartwarming read. It reminded me of Under the whispering door by T J Klune. It is basically three stories interconnected mainly through the host at the photo studio. This photo studio is basically the brief stop along the way, before people go on with their actual afterlife.
It made me happy and sad. It made me think that kindness can be found even in the most unexpected places even when people could face retributions for the same acts.
What I didn't expect was to have a curiousity to go on and find out the mysteries, so it kept me going until the end. That's usually my issues with some translated books which are said to be heartwarming and emotional. But this one was really interesting.
I am so glad I picked this one, even though having some things left to my imagination is usually not my cup of tea.
Thanks to panmacmillan and netgalley for the ARC.

Imagine a place where the line between life and death blurs, where memories are revisited like old photographs, each one telling a story that has shaped a life. Imagine a book that feels like a cozy hug for the soul.

It’s a gentle nudge that reminds us how the little moments, whether joyful or painful, come together to shape who we are. While the premise might be a bit melancholic, the book ultimately leaves you with a sense of peace. It’s a reminder that even in our darkest moments, there’s light to be found in our memories, and perhaps, that’s all we need to guide us through.

One part of the book that really stood out to me is when they get to choose which camera to use to retake blurry memories. It’s such a beautiful idea —that even after death, you still have the power to choose.

Thank you to NetGalley & Pan Macmillan for the opportunity to read the ARC of this book.

Over the past few years, I've become a huge fan of Japanese fiction. There's something uniquely captivating about how these stories, often quietly meditative, help the reader find their place in the chaotic modern world. The Lantern of Lost Memories by Yu Ishino certainly lives up to that expectation.

At its core, this novel grapples with the age-old question, "What happens when we die?" In this story, people find themselves in a liminal space between life and death—an ethereal photo studio—where they must select one photograph for each year of their life. These photos are then watched within a lantern as they transition to their final destination; a beautifully imaginative concept inspired by the idea of one's life flashing before their eyes at the moment of death.

The characters, though from vastly different backgrounds and carrying varied life experiences, all find solace in the small moments of life. This focus on the little things is a wonderful reminder of the impact seemingly insignificant moments can have on our lives and how they shape the person we become.

I found myself deeply moved by the gentle, introspective narrative that Ishino weaves. The Lantern of Lost Memories is a fast, easy read, yet it's a story that will undoubtedly stay with me, as it delivers a poignant reflection on life, memory, and what lies beyond.

The Lantern of Lost Memories is a touching and evocative novel that delves into themes of loss, life, and important memories. It fits well in the current trend of cozy Japanese genre fiction, and it`s perfect for readers who enjoyed the Before the Coffee Gets Cold series or What You Are Looking for is in the Library.

The story is set in a photography studio in the afterlife we gradually learn about the intertwined lives of three characters: an elderly woman, a yakuza member, and a young child. When they arrive in the photo studio, each character is asked to sort through photos of their lives and select a memory from each year to preserve in order to make a spinning lantern. Although the topic of death is obviously a heavy one, the tone of the book is calm and contemplative. The character`s stories struck a good balance of joyful and melancholic.

Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What can I say other than that The Lantern of Lost Memories is a beautiful, poignant, sadly poetic, dark but also hopeful piece of writing. I loved it from page one and loved the three stories all with a connected element which together will make you smile, tear up, get angry and break your heart.

This is probably my favourite release in the publishing trend of Japanese translated, cosy, interconnected short story fiction works that we’ve seen over the last few years.

So human, so touching and so moving and one I'll return to repeatedly.

Thank you to Netgalley and Pan Macmillan | Picador for this digital review copy of "The Lantern of Lost Memories" in exchange for my honest and voluntary review.

So lovely and heartwarming. You wake up in a strange photography studio after you died. Hirasaka asks you to pick one photo from each year of your life, and helps you create a collage on a lantern which will spin and show you a film of your life - flashing before your eyes. This is how you will walk into the afterlife.
Some favourite photos can be faded so you get to revisit the memory and retake the photo, being in the moment one last time.

It was a beautiful read, touching on topics of loss, resilience, the power of memories and appreciating life in all aspects. It make me wonder what photos I would choose for my lantern and what kind of photos I wish I could see, and things I’d like to accomplish for some photos to exist.

Thank you NetGalley and Picador for the advance copy.

Long story short, I noticed this title on Netgalley quite some time ago and decided to take the plunge. When I saw the acceptance email in my inbox, I was overjoyed (seriously, thank you so much to the translators who take the time to bring all these marvelous works to those of us who don’t speak the languages of the East!). So, before I begin, I will just lay it out there that the opinions herein are my own and that I am grateful to Netgalley and Picador for allowing me to read this story ahead of its publication.

The Book Title and Cover

I honestly got drawn in thanks to that shade of blue and the book title. I found it mesmerizing and intriguing. I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect, since the illustration showcased a white cat against a traditionally infused picture of sakura flowers and a snowy mountain top, so I just went for it. The cover style reminded me of the "Tales from the Cafe" by Toshikazu Kawaguchi and "The Cat Who Saved Books" by Sousuke Natsukawa. They all seem to have a similar vibe.

The book title drew me in like a spell, too. Although I was not familiar with the legend of the soul lanterns, and the other traditional stories around the dead in the Country of the Rising Sun, I was pleased to learn some pretty interesting things. In any case, the title is a a rather neat invocation of what’s happening within the book’s pages. Old souls build their own lanterns with the help of a spiritual guide and several pictures of their memories.

The Characters and Plot

There’s a magical place between the world of the living and the world of the death. Within this space, we meet Hirasaka, a kind man who took it upon himself to guide the souls on their last path, to Heaven or Hell. Hirasaka, who lives in a photography studio, in the mountains, is usually visited by Yama (my mind instantly went like “LOOK, IT’S THE GOD OF DEATH WITH THE FACE OF A TRICKSTER!”), the postman from the other world, right before a new soul awakens within his studio. Of course, Yama, the messenger, presents Hirasaka with a bunch of photographs from the person’s life and gives him a few directions.

Once the soul awakens, as if from a dream, Hirasaka greets them with a warm smile, and usually with a cup of tea. He then explains how at the end of their life, each person has one last task to fulfill: pick one photo for each year they have lived on earth and decorate the lantern that would carry them on the other side. Unfortunately though, the fondest memories become faded with time, so each person has to go back into the past and take a new picture for the specific day.

The process is always the same, however Hirasaka never tires. He meets all his visitors in pretty much the same manner, and lives their happiest memory together with them.

Thoughts

Well. I ended up turning the last few pages with tears in my eyes. My heart was properly and utterly shattered (thank you, author). From the very moment we meet Hirasaka, we learn he has a bit of a handicap: he does not have any memories whatsoever. Aside from only one picture, of course. His fate seems somewhat tragic, as he spends his days in the photo studio waiting for that one person to meet him and open the dam of his memories. By the end of the book, when we meet his third visitor, we learn of an important secret, of the taboos of fate and bitterness of life and death.

The plot is heavy with themes such as the trying times after the war (and how joys could be found in the little aspects of life), spectrum disorders, bullying and child abuse. For those who are a bit more sensitive to these topics, the book might not turn out to be as easy to navigate. Yet, despite all these, I think it will be fairly easy to love the characters and that you will want to give a big, big hug to the poor struggling souls.

Now, since we’re on the topic of characters, I have to tell you how much I loved the Mouse, and how Waniguchi managed to crawl under my skin (why does it look like I have a thing for mafia guys now??). Honestly, I lived for the interactions between the Mouse and Waniguchi—man, those interactions were just… chef’s kiss. This is also the place where I should mention the story between Mitsuru and Hirasaka, and how strong she actually was.

Looking back at the stories that make up the book, I very much enjoyed how everything was connected, and the only criticism I have is regarding the over repetitions (how the faded memories work, or how cheerful Yama was—until he was no more, or how easy all souls accepted their new realities). Some of the characters’ interactions also left me craving more, but what can I do—other than wallowing in despair?

All in all, this is definitely a book I recommend reading, as the characters are quite interesting and the stories they lived gripping. The Japanese folklore and retelling also added a nice touch.

Review: The Lantern of Lost Memories by Sanaka Hiiragi

In my opinion you can never read too many translated Japanese books - so here’s another one that i read in one sitting and would absolutely recommend.

The Lantern of Lost Memories is set in a cosy photography studio in the mountains that sits between this world and the next.

You follow different characters as they enter this middle ground after death and are met with Hirasaka, who gives them one final task. They are given a box of photos, one for each day of their life, and now they must chose their most treasured ones to be placed in a magic lantern. Once completed, it starts spinning, causing their most cherished moments to flash before their eyes, guiding them to another world.

Each visitor gets the chance to visit one of those moments, and retake the photo.

I loved that some of the memories were more faded than others, and those are the ones that are most visited. And it explained really well how memories and preserving moments is important and define us.

Despite the stories being short, the characters are richly drawn out and flawed. You experience their heartwarming stories and it made me feel quite emotional after finishing. It’s so nice visiting other peoples favourite moments in their lives such as a lady visiting a community she helped rebuild and a former Yakuza member who rediscovered his capacity for kindness.

Highly recommend this one for short story lovers, translated fiction lovers and those who love a bittersweet read.

A beautifully written book.

You know they say your life flashes before you when you die? Well in this book the concept is taken to mean a lantern which shows a photograph for every year of your life. The choosing of which photographs are in the lantern is down to the deceased. They meet with a special man in a photography studio while they pass between this world and the next. It is he who helps them navigate the selection of their photographs from a stack of photos, each one a day in their life.

Sometimes the memory they favour the most is not very vivid because it has been replayed by the deceased many times. The photography studio has an answer for this. They let you select a camera and take you back to the day of the memory to retake the photograph. We also get to go back with them, and this is how we learn about the life they have lived.

As you can imagine this is a story for those who like a little fantasy and are not hung up on facts. We meet three people in the book as they decide on their photographs for their lantern. Although this sounds very cosy it does also deal with some very real abuse issues. However they are dealt with sensitively and not too graphically.

There is a little twist toward the end of the book which I just loved. Maybe there will be a follow on book? Which would be very nice to have.

“The Lantern of Lost Memories” is a beautifully crafted tale that delicately explores the profound connection between life, death, and memories. Set in a unique photo studio between life and death, the story follows Mr. Hirasaki, who helps the deceased choose a cherished photo from each year of their life to reflect upon before moving on to the afterlife. The concept of selecting the final moments you see before you die is both thought-provoking and deeply compassionate, offering a touching exploration of how we come to terms with our mortality.

The narrative, told through multiple points of view, reveals the stories of three individuals and their most treasured memories. What makes the story even more intriguing is Mr. Hirasaki’s own mysterious past—he cannot remember his life before, with only a single photograph to hint at who he used to be. This adds a layer of mystery and emotional depth to the story, making it both heart-wrenching and beautiful.

Hiiragi Sanaka’s writing is simple yet poignant, allowing readers to dive into the heavy themes without feeling overwhelmed. The book manages to be both a quick and bittersweet read, with its exploration of memories ranging from life-changing moments to small acts of kindness. It’s a reminder to appreciate the beauty in every moment, no matter how mundane.

Though the book has a gentle and hopeful tone, it also touches on some darker themes, particularly in the last story, which might shift it away from being a fully cozy read for some. However, for those who enjoy thought experiments, Japanese speculative fiction, and stories about the power of memories, “The Lantern of Lost Memories” is an absolute must-read. It’s a charming, introspective tale that will leave you reflecting on your own life and the memories you hold dear.

Content warning: The book includes depictions of child abuse, which may be distressing for some readers.

Hiiragi explores the concept of a pause in time when a person comes to a photo studio to look back at their life before moving to the afterlife.The story surrounds individuals reflecting on their memories in a place where wealth and importance no longer matters.

The story was almost too short for me, as I wanted to continue the journey with each character. It was bittersweet and left me wanting to make more memories within my life. Hiiragi successfully embodied both the happy and the sadder themes in a beautiful narrative, even allowing the deceased to retake their most precious moments and exist in the memory for a moment.

For people who enjoyed "before the coffee gets cold" and "the midnight library", The lantern of lost memories is a perfect story to further cherish the meaning of our lives.

4.5 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Sanaka Hiiragi and Pan Macmillan for an ARC in return for an honest review.

This is a beautiful book. It definitely fits the cosy Japanese fiction genre but the author dives into each character so well, exploring the beauty in each individual life despite how long it was or the activities they took part in during it. My only complaint would be how quickly I finished it, I wanted more! I've already ordered some copies for Christmas presents and would 1000 percent recommend it