A cozy collection of short stories based in a stationary shop. I appreciated how you got to know the characters over only a few pages.

A great work of translated fiction,

Thank you to the Author, Publisher and NetGalley UK for a free ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: A Journey Through Paper, Ink, and the Heart

For fans of Before the Coffee Gets Cold and Days at the Morisaki Bookshop, this evocative novel about a humble stationery shop tucked away in Tokyo’s Ginza district is a heartwarming exploration of human connection, loss, and self-discovery.

The story unfolds in a magical yet unassuming shop, a haven for stationery enthusiasts and seekers of solace alike. The detailed descriptions of the store’s treasures—delicate paper, customized pens, and luminous inks—create a sensory-rich setting that feels both tangible and enchanting. But it’s the top floor of the shop, with its small wooden table and an almost spiritual aura, that becomes the heart of the narrative. Here, the act of writing transcends mere words, transforming into a path to understanding and healing.

The shop owner, a figure of quiet wisdom and impeccable manners, serves not only as a guide to the perfect stationery but as a confidant and catalyst for change. Each customer brings a unique story: a young employee grappling with the weight of his past, a club hostess seeking clarity, a high-school archer aiming for emotional balance, an aging businessman reflecting on his legacy, and a sushi chef finding his way back from the brink. Through their interactions with the shop and its owner, they unlock long-buried memories, confront their secret desires, and rediscover their personal truths.

The beauty of this book lies in its simplicity. Each vignette is imbued with subtle yet profound emotion, exploring universal themes of regret, longing, and the resilience of the human spirit. It’s a quiet celebration of the written word and the tangible power of pen and paper to bridge the distance between hearts—both others’ and our own.

Fans of reflective, character-driven narratives will find themselves deeply moved by this novel. It’s a gentle reminder that even the smallest, humblest objects—like a pen or a piece of paper—can hold immense meaning, and that sometimes, the act of writing can change the course of a life.

This book is not just for lovers of stationery, but for anyone who has ever sought to reconnect with their past, their passions, or the people they hold dear. A poignant and tender tale, it’s sure to leave readers with the urge to pick up a pen and begin writing their own story.

A warm hug in book form. Beautiful story set in a stationery shop which gives people pause and an opportunity to reflect on the impact people have had on their life. Lovely!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a free eARC of this book

This was a lovely collection of stories all based in the Ginza Shihodo Stationary Shop, where the owner seems to just know what his customers need. These are stories of reconnection, understanding and processing the past and moving forward.

I enjoyed some stories more than others but they were all charming, and different enough that it didn't feel repetitive.

Another translated from Japanese novel that offers the reader a fuzzy heart-warming and cosy read. As I have often said about books in this genre the way the chapters are intertwined yet not ultimately connected, mean that it is what I would consider the kind of book that is a perfect commuter read in that you can you can dip in and out and still feel sated of reaching a fuzzy warm hearted conclusion at the end of a chapter as the customer resolves their difficulties with the help of Ken the store owner, be that writing a letter or bringing the other person to the shop to discuss face-to-face.

I really recommend this book to anyone who has read other Japanese cosy reads, as you will not be disappointed.

Thank you netgalley and Bonnier Books for the e-arc.

I'm fairly new to translated Japanese works, but I've quite quickly become a fan of them. I don't know if it's just the ones I've read, but they have such a gentle, almost magical quality to them. Even when nothing in particular happens they are so lovely to read. I feel very relaxed having read it.

This series of short stories all feature the stationery shop in Ginza, an area of Tokyo, and it's mysterious owner Ken-chan. I think, if I could meet one fictional character, I'd possibly choose him. He somehow knows exactly what his customers need, not just in the stationery sense, but what their heart and soul need too. And he gives the impression that stationery has a soul too and that we have to treat it with respect.

The actual stories themselves had varied themes, from love to loss, via business and gratitude. I think my favourite story was Fountain Pen, mainly because of the beautiful relationship between Nitta and his Grandmother. I used to love writing to my own Grandma, and receiving her replies, usually on flower fairy paper. I've still got them all in a box and give them a re-read every so often.

The only thing I think this book lacked was a list of Japanese terminology, as at times I didn't know what things meant and had to Google them. Having said that, it's also sparked a bit of an interest in Japanese writing. Lucky for me, DS2 knows a bit about it so could explain what it meant when it mentioned names containing the kanji for "seas" despite the name itself not having that word.

I had been really excited for this one as I love this genre of Japanese fiction but this one fell a little short for me unfortunately!

Some of the stories were really endearing but others just felt like they were missing something for me personally.

A beautiful and heartwarming book that I really enjoyed! Both emotive and sweet, this book shows the power of talking and communication, as well as the joy of friendship and love. Each chapter being someone else’s story was a gorgeous experience and the linking to the stationary was amazing and very poetic. Overall an easy 5 star read from me.

Lovely story, heartfelt. Full of good intentions. It's not got anything magical in this book which i liked, it's more to do with real life issues and I think it was executed beautifully. The cover is just gorgeous and who doesn't like stationary.

So cosy, so heartwartming, so typical of Japanese literature. Love these types of books. They are the gift that keeps on giving.

I see a real trend of these books these days - usually from Japan or Asia, set in a cute shop or business, with an owner who is wise and patient, and with customers who keep coming back and magically find peace and wisdom in (pick one) a coffee shop, a bookshop, or, as with this book, a stationery shop.

It's a funny genre, and I can see the appeal, but I think at times they all blend together and become similar. This one follows the customers of the Shihodo Stationery Shop, in Ginza, Tokyo, and their stories and reasons for visiting this shop that has belonged to Ken's family for several generations. Ken is discreet and listens, gets involved occasionally and has the right advice for everyone. The customers are all different - a businessman trying to write a eulogy for his first wife, a high-school archer in love with the team captain, a young employee missing his grandmother... My favourite was probably the young woman who works in a hostess club and takes compulsive notes to learn everything she can about the business, and wants to start her own club, I liked the characters.

Overall it was a cute, cozy read, but I am not sure I will remember too many details in the next few months. I found it enjoyable and very quick to read though.

After several slightly disappointing reads in this genre of Japanese cosy literature this book was like a breath of fresh air. The connected stories felt very real and I loved the emphasis on old school letter writing manners.
As someone who could spend almost as long in a stationery shop as she can in a bookshop this book really spoke to me.

A curious set of mini stories that centre upon people visiting the stationery shop for supplies, be it to write a letter to their grandmother, an invitation to a mentor or to write an obituary for a former wife. The manager of the shop knows their needs and provides the perfect stationery for the situation.

I received this book from netgalley in return for a honest review.

I love Japanese translated fiction and this is a new love of mine .... yep give me it all. This was such an endearing story about this little stationary shop which becomes the center of this book. The way that the author has framed this story that when you visit the store then you will find the stationary of your dreams. The book give me the feeling of a hug in a book which helps you to connect with memories which have been long forgotten. Obviously none of this could happen without the loveable shop owner. I would love to hear more from this little shop.

First of all, a moment for that beautiful cover. I would want to read this book on the strength of that alone. There seems to be something of a fashion for Japanese books of late, a lot of them based around coffee, and having read this one, I can see why. There is something very peaceful about this book. It feels measured and intentional. It's a TikTok cliche to say it is very cutesy, very demure, very mindful, but it actually is. The story is heartfelt and told gently, beautifully. I was gripped, in the best way possible. This story is warm and soft and l adored it.

Thank goodness that translators exist! Beautifully rendered into English by Emily Balistrieri, this work of Japanese fiction is an uplifting and cosy collection of stories that seamlessly flow into each other.

Ken Takarada is the owner of a respected stationery shop hidden away in a corner of the Ginza neighbourhood in Tokyo. His shop has something magical about it, with its tidy displays of fine articles and the brightly lit first floor, where customers are invited to gather their thoughts before putting pen to paper.

What is truly magical, however, is Ken-chan himself. Finely attuned to people’s feelings and needs, he always seems to be in the right place, at the right time, with the right advice. With a friendly smile, a warm cup of tea and a seasonal sweet treat, he delivers way more than his impeccable knowledge of pens and notebooks.

Infused with that warm glow that only seems to come from Japanese literature, this is a little gem to read (and re-read) in any season.

Thank you so much to the publisher and to NetGalley for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book hit the shelves last week. It was an absolutely delightful read, there is just something for me about translated texts from Japanese that gives them an air of wonder and warmth. The shop owner Takarada-san is almost a fairytale character in the way that he uses his knowledge to let the various characters go on their journeys of discovery. You almost forget that the book is set in modern times as the book invites the reader to pause from the frenetic world of emails and reminds them that there is great pleasure and self care in going analog.

This is definitely a perfect book for the current colder months as it is all about the characters introspecting, writing their letters with a lovely hot comforting drink. It's just a lovely unpretentious book showing a slice of life for the various characters who find themselves visiting the stationery shop. A book needs to really impress me to mark that "would you gift this to a friend" checkbox, but I will do it for this book and while reading I was already thinking of various people I could recommend it to. It will make a perfect Christmas gift.

With beautiful descriptions of stationery, a sales assistant who goes above and beyond and the potential of Japanese tea and snacks, this book makes the reader really want to go to the Shihodo Stationery Store. I could just picture settling myself at the writing desk with a nice new notebook and a cup of steaming sencha beside me to write this review. It would be an experience to treasure.

This book follows a similar format as the Kamogawa Food Detective books in that it has short stories that show the customer coming to Shihodo and then reflecting back or recounting whatever is going on in the lives that’s brought them to this moment in time. It made for a good range of different characters and stories and made for a format that could go on and on without getting stale.

I loved how cosy this book was. There were repeating elements in each story that really brought all the stories together and it just really made me feel warm inside. The stories themselves also had narratives of all different kinds of love and relationships, including familial, romantic and mentor/mentee, which just made the whole thing so warming to read.

I hope they do another book because I enjoyed this one so much.

I really struggled to get into this book. I am a big fan of Japanese fiction and the feeling it evokes in me, but I found this book lacking in substance.

It is quite well written but just didn't suck me in.

Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for gifting me this arc in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

A beautifully cosy collection of short stories, set in a stationery shop, what more could you want?
The novel captures the magic of kindness whilst keeping the mood lighthearted, and with a wonderful exploration of japanese culture, letter writing and the value of sharing feelings with those who have helped us along the way.

I particularly enjoyed the realness - I feel like a lot of novels I have recently read set in Japan are speculative fiction, and this book felt particularly grounded whilst also maintaining a sense of whimsy