A heartwarming Japanese novel, nestled in a seaside community, has been crowned the top choice among French readers in 2025 (you won't believe it!).
In the heart of Japan, a small, traditional stationery shop named Tsubaki weaves a subtle universe, as depicted in Ito Ogawa's 2016 novel, "The Tsubaki Stationery Shop." This trilogy presents an idealized Japan that is undeniably charming, blending gentle realism with warmth and focusing on emotional resonance over dramatic conflict.
The trilogy revolves around Kana, a young woman who inherits the stationery shop and discovers a collection of heartfelt letters written by former customers and the shop's founder. Through these letters and her interactions in the community, Kana connects deeply with themes of memory, connection, and the preservation of gentle human emotions in a fast-paced modern world.
Ito Ogawa's novels explore the value of handwritten communication in an era dominated by digital technology, the beauty of everyday life, healing and personal growth, and the power of community and human connection. Small acts of kindness, like Hatoko's hôjicha tea and kindness, play a significant role in maintaining bonds across generations.
The third volume of the trilogy introduces Hatoko, now a mother and a professional writer, who reopens her stationery shop in Kamakura, Japan. The narrative is enriched with sensory elements, exuding aromas and flavors of Japanese cuisine, and every detail in her shop, from the ink to the paper, the brush, and the scent of the envelope, is significant.
Ito Ogawa, born in 1973 in Yamagata, studied classical Japanese in Tokyo before turning to writing. Her works, including "The Restaurant of the Rediscovered Love" in 2008, delve into tensions between tradition and modernity in contemporary Japan.
The trilogy's success is evident in its recognition, with nearly 20,000 French readers voting for Ito Ogawa's novel, placing it at the top of the foreign literature category. The third installment also won the Babelio Prize 2025. Ito Ogawa is also a member of the Fairlife group and an author of children's books.
In "The Tsubaki Stationery Shop," Ito Ogawa weaves a subtle universe that emphasizes how the continuity of traditional crafts preserves cultural identity and emotional heritage amidst contemporary societal change. The narrative is a testament to the power of small, meaningful moments and the impact they can have on people's lives.
- Kana, while exploring the letters and interacting with her community, finds herself immersed in themes of lifestyle, particularly focusing on the importance of preserving gentle human emotions in a fast-paced modern world.
- In the third volume of the trilogy, Hatoko's stationery shop in Kamakura, Japan, offers a sensory experience with food-and-drink aromas, featuring traditional Japanese tea reminiscent of small acts of kindness.
- Ito Ogawa's books, such as "The Tsubaki Stationery Shop," "The Restaurant of the Rediscovered Love," and her children's books, often revolve around themes of fashion-and-beauty, home-and-garden, travel, and the interplay between tradition and modernity in Japan.
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