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

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.