I was immediately drawn to this title as a stationery lover and just look at how stunning the cover art is! As I read it as an arc, I would love a physical copy for my shelves, it's so beautiful.
This work of translated fiction follows five vignettes of different characters that find themselves in the Ginza Shihodo Stationery shop with their worries and needs. It's worth noting that there is no magical realism in this story like other translated fiction it is being compared to.
The intricate details of the story may not be the most memorable, but the experience reading this was very enjoyable. It wasn't as emotionally impactful as I had hoped but it was still very touching. The characters and cosy feel of the stationery shop really grew on me as Ken, the store owner, radiated such passion. There is also a minor romance subplot which was truly heartwarming.
I'd definitely recommend this to those who enjoy translated fiction, but in particular stationery lovers who are looking for a cosy warm hug of a book.
3.5 stars (rounded up to 4 on NetGalley)

Thank you to NetGalley, Bonnier Books UK and Kenji Ueda for the opportunity to read this advanced reader copy.

Review posted to Goodreads, The StoryGraph and Amazon. Rating to be posted on monthly wrap up on Instagram.

This is such a beautifully written gentle story, full of good intentions. I found it a very uplifting read. The book unfolds as a series of stories, and I really enjoyed this format. Each short story was engaging and had its own message to deliver. But unlike an anthology, the stories flowed into one another seamlessly.

The author manages to highlight lots of Japanese culture, which I found really interesting. I found the descriptions so visceral. I could imagine the food and smell the rich perfume of tea as I was reading!

I loved some of the characters, especially stationery shop owner Ken-chan. He had such a kind nature and knew what each customer needed before they did.

I thought the book was translated perfectly, and it was easy to read and keep track of all the characters. I'd love to listen to this as an audiobook as it just had such a nice wholesome feel to it.

Letters from the Ginza Shihodo Stationery Shop by Kenji Ueda.
This has several short stories in it that centres around a Stationery Shop. This was very well written. It was beautifully translated from Japanese. Each story was different. It was a nice and cosy read. I loved the characters. Especially Ken. I loved how helpful he was. It was a nice change to have lovely characters. This was a Nostalgic and unique book. It was a quick and easy read for me. I would recommend this book.

There seems to be a lot of these healing books, mostly Japanese or Korean, coming out at the moment, and I think I've read too many of them just lately.

This one is set in a stationary shop, is also episodic, though each story is connected. They centre around a stationary shop and the owner. Each chapter has a character come in to the shop with a problem that they get to solve with the help of Ken, and a desk where they are able to write a letter to resolve their situation.

I certainly liked it; it has that same slightly wistful,
gentle, feel good vibe that most of these books have. I think I'll leave a longer gap before reading another one though.

*Many thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a review copy in exchange for an honest opinion.*

Translated Asian fiction has become one of my favourite reads over the last year & I know for some it may feel like the book market has become a bit flooded with them but honestly they are some of the most beautiful books I have read. My love of translated Asian fiction was just one of the reasons I was drawn to this book, another was the stunningly beautiful cover that instantly put a smile of my face and thirdly the title, I absolutely love stationary, I still write all my work notes by hand despite literally typing and working at a computer all day, I also have a slight addiction to buying notebooks & pens and keeping the really nice ones for a special occasion (if someone could please tell me what special occasion warrants the ‘nice’ notebook please let me know)

Letters from the Ginza Shihodo Stationery Shop is a series of four short stories centred around a stationery shop in Ginza Tokyo. Each story involves a very different individual who enters the stationery shop with a writing task they are struggling with, which shop owner Ken helps them with, in turn the physical act of letter writing unlocks different emotions and memories helping the letter writer break through the writing block and complete the task while also leaving the shop in a peaceful and content state. I loved all of the characters but especially loved Fumi-mama, the supportive cheerleader everyone needs & shop owner Ken, my only complaint would be that I would have loved to have had more of his story.

This is a love letter to all things stationery and the beauty & power of letter writing. It’s a reminder that digital communication has replaced so much and that the simple act of putting pen to paper allows you to slow down, reminisce about the past, remember those who mean something to you or you met along the way or simply clear all the noise & fog from your mind to allow you to reset & center yourself.

This is a beautiful collection of heartwarming stories from great characters. A must read for fans of the 'Before the Coffee Gets Cold' series, translated Asian fiction or if you just want a feel good read or to escape from the noise of the world outside.

I read an eARC of this book on NetGalley so thank you to the author and publisher.

If you need something uplifting or feel in the moon for something a little more comforting then this might be a good book to pick up.

This is a series of four short stories all connected by a stationery shop in Ginza in Tokyo. We have four different people all who have a unique stationery item that triggers either a moment of reminiscing, a period of healing or a trigger for self discovery.

This is very low-maintenance reading. It’s one that you can enjoy the stories all at once or read the four individually. While there are connections between them, that can be read on their own.

As with a lot of collections of Japanese short stories this is very slice of life, capturing a specific moment in the lives of the four people as they interact with the stationery shop. It’s very comfortable, uplifting and driving a sense of nostalgia.

I found this a very good book to read when I needed something more cheerful to balance out a day of bad news. Comforting and hopeful.

#lettersfromtheginzashihodostaioneryshop written by #kenjiueda translated by the hugely talented @emilybtiger #emilybalistrieri

As my previous post talks about, there is a saturation of #translatedjapanesefiction that looks very similar, but as with #thelanternoflostmemories, this book delivers something new and original. I enjoyed the different characters and stories and similarly to #beforethecoffeegetscold there is potential for the main protagonists and wider characters to develop and become a part of future stories and plots.

I love stationary so I was very happy to haha, it's a great story and has potential for future books, so fingers crossed! Give it a look, you won't regret it!

#honnomushi100 #reading #japanesefiction #translatedfiction #translatedjapaneseliterature #booksfromjapan #booklover #bookstagram #translatedgems #japaneseauthor #translatedjapaneseliterature #japaneselit #JAPANESEAUTHORS #newjapanesefiction #newbooks2024

The art of letter writing is dying due to instant communication in this digital age.

Whether it is putting pen to paper in a heartfelt way or the feeling of joy as a recipient, letters have always been an intimate and enduring form of personal communication. This is why Letters from the Ginza Shihodo Stationery Shop is an absolute treat to read.

Compiled of several short stories in which stationery has been described in intricate detail - it is fascinating to read. It is the actual letter writing by the various characters that acts as a catalyst in helping the characters explore their feelings and ultimately offers them healing.

I definitely felt very cosy going into reading this and that feeling stayed with added feelings of poignancy, hope and love. This was such a beautiful read overall.

The author hinted on the importance of hand written notes/letters in this digital world. It was a mix bag of  short stories. I loved the characters of fumi-mama , Nanami and the owner of stationery ken takarada-san. I liked the use of some untranslated Japanese words to retain the originality . Overall it's a good book with some feel good stories.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.
4 stars book from me. Loved the plot and the storytelling and relatable, likable characters,. Loved every single second reading it.

In an age of digital communications, this reads as a love letter to the power of actual handwriting on beautiful paper. Each chapter features a character with a problem which they solve by being brought to the desk on the first floor of the stationery shop and talking it through/reminiscing with owner Ken. What makes this book stand out from the crowd is the character development of Ken himself - he’s not just a wise cipher but grows into a more rounded character and may even need to write his own letter. If you like this style of novel then I’d recommend this one.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I really enjoyed this book!

I didn’t think a book set in a stationery shop would be this engaging, but I learned a lot and really enjoyed going through life with the characters.

I wish there had been a bit more development of Ken the shop owner as I would have liked a chapter on his life and especially the hint of his love life but maybe for the next book.

Overall, this is a really gentle and engaging book I really enjoyed dipping into.

In this touching novel made of interconnected stories, a thoughtful stationery shop owner in Tokyo's Ginza district helps customers find not just the perfect paper or writing implements, but also paths to healing and connection through the simple act of putting pen to paper.

Over five separate but connected tales, we meet characters seeking something deeper than notebooks or pens: a man struggling with a eulogy, a woman trying to find the right way to depart, a high school athlete struggling to confess something, and more. Being a stationery lover myself, I love how each story demonstrates how the physical act of writing can unlock emotions and memories in ways that digital communication cannot.

Each of these stories show how life's fractures can be carefully repaired, for others, and for yourself. While addressing themes of loss, loneliness, and change, the book maintains an uplifting tone throughout. I have to admit, I got teary at more than one of these tales.

The author beautifully captures the sensory pleasures of fine stationery - from the satisfying weight of a fountain pen to the weighty texture of premium paper. For anyone who has lovingly browsed in a stationery shop, these descriptions will resonate deeply. The book also weaves in fascinating details about Japanese stationery culture, which I enjoyed learning more about.

If you are not familiar with the Japanese style of storytelling, the end may seem abrupt. This is a book of processing, not of finality. It is best to think of this novel as a slice of life, not only of all the customers, but especially the shop owner.

This book is a timely reminder that in our digital world, there's still something irreplaceable about the personal touch of writing things out, and sharing our handwritten words. I really hope that I can find more works by this author in the future.

Thank you so much to Manilla Press and NetGalley for providing me with an eArc to review.

This was pure joy from start to finish. A love letter to all thing stationery, the book is a collection of 5 short stories - Fountain Pen, Organiser, Notebooks, Postcards, Memo Pads - all centred around a stationery shop in the Ginza region of Tokyo.

In each chapter the owner of the shop, Ken, assists people who need help moving something forward. There's a eulogy to write, a romance to start and a chef to thank, amongst other things. All the stories are delightful, real hugs in books, and I was sad to end it.

It regularly refers to many stationery items losing places to digital versions and it's so true. However, whilst I love the ease of using Google Keep (I'm writing this review on it!) you cannot beat a lovely notebook, decent pen and stickers/stamps. (On a side note, this is why I love Postcrossings, because I get to hand write postcards to people all over the world - drop me a message if you are curious)

Sorry, back to the review! I'm obsessed with the shop in this book. Think Paperchase but independent. There are journals, post its, fountain pens, colouring pencils, postcards, writing paper and envelopes. I think it I wandered into a shop like this I would never leave. The author also clearly has a love of food, as it is always so beautifully described. I found myself pausing to look up Japanese words too, so I could full engage with the stories.

Thanks to Manilla Press for a digital ARC in exchange for my review. I'll be needing to get a copy of this to add to my translated fiction shelves. It's out on 7th November.

Advertised for fans of Before The Coffee Gets Cold and Days at the Morisaki Bookshop, for me is nothing similar to the first one andmaybe closer to the latter one.

I love Before The Coffee Gets Cold series, is one of my favourites! I can't say the same about Days at the Morisaki Bookshop. I didn't really enjoyed it as much. And this one for me didn't have that great feeling. It was a nice read without the wow factor,

3.5 I so enjoy the serial short style where each story contributes to an overall arc. I thought elements of this were really strong from that perspective.

The characters were a mixed bag. Nanami and Fumi stood out as favourites and their stories were most enjoyable for me. I liked Ken but I didn’t care for the pressure people were putting on him to get involved with Ryoko. As I reader, I didn’t sense he had a romantic interest in Ryoko so all the pressure felt almost coercive.

I loved the setting at the stationery shop. I have such a soft spot for stationery and really liked the themes the author chose. The research into fountain pens and notebooks were a nice touch too! I love learning stuff in fiction and the way the author wove the research into the narrative was well done.

For the most part, the stories were varied and enjoyable. Some themes I found a bit sickly sweet (implausibly financially generous employers, a horrible man’s ex-wives who are all BFFs). I enjoyed the food theme of the final section.

While I loved some of the untranslated Japanese words and the care taken with cultural and kanji details, the translation felt a bit flat in speech: character interactions felt forced and didn’t flow well. I noticed an overuse of the word “venerable” and some colloquialisms/expressions that felt more western than Japanese, particularly in the first two sections.

It didn’t end so much as just stop. I’m not sure how I feel about that. 🤔