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

Memories are the central theme of The Lantern Of Lost Memories. It’s said that when we die, our whole lives flash before our eyes. What if you got to choose those memories? What if you got a chance to look upon one of those days and rephotograph it? That’s what Hirasaka helps people do when they are passing from the land of the living to the dead.

Like a lot of other Japanese fiction books, this one is also composed of chapters, each chapter the experience of a different person in Hirasaka’s studio. I love how the writer has chosen an old lady, a former yakuza, and a child to contrast the meaning of memories for people from different walks of life. And through it all is Hirasaka’s search for his lost memories.

It is one of those warm cosy books that you want to read slowly and reflect upon. It gave me so much to think about the memories we make in our lives and if we would be content with what we see in the afterlife.

I loved it a lot. The timeline confused me a bit but I had fellow readers who helped me parse through that confusion. I am glad I picked it as part of Women In Literature Month.

I hope you’ll pick up the book and that you’ll cherish it the way I know I would. Thanks to picador books for sending me a beautiful proof copy.

Thanks to Picador and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this. Such a unique and wholesome concept in which people choose their favourite photographic memories of their life, at the end of it. Some of these memories have been long forgotten by them or seemed meaningless at the time but once they are chosen for the lantern of lost memories we see how important they really were.

The Lantern of Lost Memories - out August 22nd✨🌸 Thank you sooo much for the arc in exchange for an honest review NetGalley/BookBreakUK/PanMac

One photograph, one treasure memory, one chance to go back ✨📸 🌸

In the mountains between this world and the next, you can find Mr Hirasaka’s photography studio. If you wake up here, it means it’s your time to go on to the other side. Before you go, you’re given photographs from every day of your life, and you’ll take one from each year and turn them into a beautiful lantern.

Some of these memories fade, which is why each visitor is given a chance to return to one picture, one day in their life, and take the photograph again. 📸

Once the photos are selected, the lantern will be set spinning, your life will flash before your eyes, and you’ll go on your final adventure ✨

This is such a beautiful exploration of life, death, and what we might find ourselves reflecting on in our final moments. Pretty much sobbed from start to finish.

At this point I can anticipate if a translated fiction book will make me cry, if it has a cat on the cover 😅🐱 I’m sure it could be a coincidence, but it’s interesting that it’s happened more than once 😂

We follow Mr Hirasaka in his studio as well as three people who find themselves in the one step closer to the other side. Each story was rich (even the shorter ones of the book), emotional, and full of moments to reflect on. Each characters experience in the studio was unique, and it was wonderful to see how Mr Hirasaka engaged with each of them differently.

I found this a surprisingly comforting read, and was grateful to have been on the journey with these characters ✨ I could honestly read a dozen more books meeting other people in this studio 😭

I would whole heartedly recommend this, especially if you enjoyed Before The Coffee Gets Cold as I’ve seen a lot of reviewers say they enjoyed both!

Please do check the trigger warnings before reading as there were some difficult themes discussed!

Thank you again to NetGalley/BookBreakUK/PanMac for the arc in exchange for an honest review!!

I am loving Japanese cosy fiction right now so this book found me at the right time. It was such a beautiful read that show the stories of love and loss that everyone carries around with them.

This imaginative take on life flashing before your eyes is charming, poignant, thought-provoking and beautifully written. The three stories are beautifully stitched together by the journeys of the characters through the photography studio anteroom to the afterlife. I really enjoyed the weaving of the magical and the realistic. Real people, who had real lives, yet are able to relive moments and retell important aspects of those real lives in a magical/spiritual place to a magical person/spirit. The poignant dénouement was uplifting. I absolutely loved it.

This is a short and quick to read, and heartwarming, heartbreaking and emotional story.

Mr. Hirasaki owns a peculiar photo studio--the studio is a different one and serves as a place between life and death and a door to afterlife. The studio will help the people, who have already died to recount their stories by flashing pictures of their lives, during their lifetime. We meet an eighty year old woman named Hatsue who worked as a nursery teacher, Wanaguichi who is a rowdy yakuza overseer and a young girl named Mitsuri who tragically died at the hands of abusive parents.

This is an unusual concept and plot of the story. You die and before you enter into he afterlife, you get final glimpses of your own life before heading off to afterlife. It's emotional and kind of sad as well. I am particularly sad at Mitsuri's life story, as she died so young compared to the other two characters. The story itself if very unique and the writing was also engaging as well. You get glimpses of what these three character's lives were, their experiences, their life overall, before they died.

Overall, I actually enjoyed reading this book and I am looking forward to read more from this author. Worth four stars.

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

Really love thi s book! It reminds me with Hotel de luna and Funicula Funicula.

About the concept:
This book contains 3 story about people who had died, and then they stay for a while in a Studio Photo for collecting their memories through Photograph. First Story about a woman who dedicated her life for nursery School. second, about Yakuza who never realize that he also did good thing in his past. Third, about a little girl who has to struggle with her life ( I can't tell further cause don't want to accidentally spoil it). The host of Studio Photo itself is Hirasaka, a mysterious man, who can remember anything about his past.

The concept of story is really interesting. We can see how important decision of each person can affect their future, and no matter bad or life we think, it always have bright sides.

About the main character:
I think the main character here is Hirasaka. Hirasaka l really mysterious. He himself can not recognize how his life had been. I though, in the end of story, author will reveal about his past. Instead, author only reveal "why his memories fades". I love how every character can develop, each of them has meaningfull lesson for reader. It contains little trigger warning ( Mashe) however, all ot them il really heart-warming.

what's make me uncomfortable maybe are the typos and the changing of point of view which made me confused.

Overall, l ove this book! Thank you Pan Macmillan publishing for the ARC!

A cute short read with three stories of people's deaths and their arrival at Hirasaka's photo studio at the point they die. I was intrigued by Hiraska and glad that we got to see a tiny bit more of his story in the third short story, I also liked the subtle character link in all three stories.

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

I really loved this book, and would say that anyone that is a fan of books like 'Before the coffee gets cold' and 'Days at the Morisaki bookshop' then you're sure to enjoy this book too.

The Lantern of Lost Memories is a heart-warming novel that covers the topics of loss, life and the dearest memories we hold closest to us using the lens of a photography studio on the other side (after death) that allows you to fill a lantern with photos/ memories that you hold most dear (or sentimental) and summarises your life story. Much like other books within this genre 'The Lantern of Lost Memories' follows the stories of 3 separate yet entwined life's of an old lady, a yakuza member and a young child.

Thank you Netgalley & Pan Macmillan | Picador for the chance of reading this ARC.

I was so looking forward to reading this book and really enjoyed the turns it took along the way. I absolutely loved the idea of the lanterns (no spoilers as to why here!) and the lives that were explored through this book really surprised and captured me more than I expected them to. The way things all panned out and the links between were so interesting to work out and I felt that the pace and build up between the stories was very cleverly done. The tone throughout made the book so readable and I didn’t want to put it down! (There are some difficult topics that are mentioned and explored so please do check the trigger warnings before reading) ❤️‍🩹 ✨ Thank you so much to Sanaka Hiiragi, Pan MacMillan and Picador Books for access to the eARC ✨

4.5 rounded up on Goodreads. You can subscribe to my YouTube channel for the latest translated and global fiction news and reviews: https://www.youtube.com/@PageTurnersWithKatja

The Lantern of Lost Memories is a deeply moving and magical novel that beautifully captures life’s most precious moments through a unique and heartwarming lens. Set in a magical photography studio perched between this world and the next, the story offers a fresh perspective on life, memory, and the afterlife. Hiiragi masterfully blends slice-of-life storytelling with magical realism as we follow three very different individuals: an elderly lady, a middle-aged yakuza, and a young girl. Each character arrives at the studio at different times, surrounded by photographs that capture their most treasured memories. A kind man guides them through a special task—a chance to revisit a cherished moment.

Hiiragi delves into the depths of human experience, making the characters incredibly relatable. Their journeys add profound emotional depth to the narrative—honestly, the last story brought me to tears. Kirkwood’s translation brilliantly captures the essence of fleeting moments and the bittersweet nature of memory. The descriptions are vivid and atmospheric, making the setting feel both otherworldly and familiar.

This book is a celebration of life, love, and the connections that unite us all. While it touches on darker themes like bullying and physical violence, the overall tone remains hopeful. Hiiragi’s storytelling gently reminds us of the lasting impact of our most cherished experiences. Though some parts are more hard-hitting than similar cosy Japanese novels like Kawaguchi’s Before the Coffee Gets Cold and Aoyama’s What You Are Looking For Is in the Library, it’s still a positive and uplifting read. I highly recommend it to fans of literary fiction, especially those stories that touch the heart and remind us that, while we are all individuals, we share many common experiences.

What a cozy, heartwarming read!

The Lantern of Lost Memories is a comforting translated novel about the power of memories. It talks about how memories can give you solace and comfort.

My favorite aspect of The Lantern of Lost Memories was its stand-out characters. They have really interesting backstories that will make you smile, laugh, and even tear up. I didn't expect to be rooting for a former Yakuza as much as I did with this novel!

Overall, The Lantern of Lost Memories is a heartwarming page-turner that you can finish in one sitting. If you like Before the Coffee Gets Cold, you'll absolutely love this one!

This is a simply beautiful and well told story but like a lot of seemingly simple stories it actually has a great depth and a lot of meaning. This story is incredibly heart warming and just a perfect read.

I loved this gorgeous and gentle book. The Lantern of lost memories is about the ones that make us and the experiences or moments in life that change us. I keep thinking about which photos would I choose for my life. Each person we meet has had their own unique life and stories to tell, I was invested in them all and found their stories engaging.

I’ve reviewed The Lantern of Lost Memories by Sanaa Hiiragi for book selling and recommendation site LoveReading.co.uk

I’ve chosen the book as a Liz Pick of the Month and LoveReading Star Book.

Please see the link for the full review.

A good way to go.
I loved this, such a comforting thought that when you die you arrive at a photographers studio, pick a picture for each year of your life and watch a lantern show of them as you pass to the afterlife.
The first person to arrive is an old Nursery school teacher, who saved a child's life and goes on to help build a Nursery and care for many children.
The second person is a gangster who tells an engaging story of a money laundering shop, he employs a person go may be Autistic who goes on to repair articles bought in by people.
The last person is a child whom Hirasaka helps is a child who suffers abuse and cruelty and dies, he helps her in subtle ways, but this leads to him losing his own memories.
Thank you Sanaka, NetGalley and MacMillan for this delightful book.

This book is amazing. It is hard to describe but each visitor gets to select a photo for each year of their lives and then this becomes the "life flashing before your eyes".. If however a photo is missing then you can go back to that day and retake it. They are guided by the owner of the photo lab (the area they go to before passing on)
The premise is simple but the story arcs so well The owner has his own reasons for being there which start to be revealed.
I could not put this book down and it is probably one of my favourite books in this genre for a long while.

Interweaving 3 stories of disparate characters who each find themselves at the end of their lives with the task of looking back, this novel is a beautiful exploration of life that manages to be eternally hopeful even when exploring tough characters a situations.