Days at the Morisaki Bookshop: Book Review

Today, we will be reviewing Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa and translated by Eric Ozawa, the first book in the popular Days at the Morisaki Bookshop series. Keep reading to find out what we thought of this novel and if you should add it to your reading list!

Days at the Morisaki Bookshop Summary

When twenty-five-year-old Takako finds out that her boyfriend is engaged to another woman, her world comes crashing down. She is heartbroken and doesn’t want to do anything except for sleep. 

Takako’s uncle Satoru reaches out and offers her to live rent-free in a tiny room above the Morisaki bookshop that has been in the family for three generations. She reluctantly accepts and starts working at the bookshop located in Jimbocho, a neighborhood in Tokyo dedicated to bookstores. 

Even after moving to the bookstore, Takako doesn’t find much motivation in her new location. She has never enjoyed reading books and hasn’t seen her uncle in years. But new acquaintances change how Takako sees the world and with the help of her uncle, to make right what is wrong so she can heal and move forward.

Commentary

Days at the Morisaki Bookshop is by Japanese writer Satoshi Yagisawa’s debut novel and was published in 2010. The novel ended up winning the 3rd Chiyoda Literature Prize and was adapted into a feature film the same year. The translated novel was released worldwide in July 2023.

While reading this novel, you will learn a lot about Japanese authors and Satoshi Yagisawa’s love for them shows throughout. Satoru is full of personality and everyone needs an uncle like him. I enjoyed reading this novel and it made me appreciate bookstores and books even more.

Jimbocho is an actual neighborhood in Tokyo, Japan that harbors many bookstores. They sell new and used books and many publishing houses are located there. The neighborhood came into existence when Japan underwent modernization, leading to multiple universities opening up in the neighborhood. That led to many bookstores to pop up and it has been a book town ever since.

I have had the pleasure to visit Jimbocho and it is magical. There are endless bookstores and many of them have books lined up inside and outside the store. If you are ever in Tokyo, then you have to visit Jimbocho and see why it is beloved by millions of people in Japan and around the word. 

Conclusion

If you want a feel good novel to read, then Days at the Morisaki Bookshop should be your next read. It combines great storytelling with life lessons that we all should remember. But ultimately, this is a love letter to books and bookstores. Happy reading!

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