Review: Days at the Morisaki Bookshop review + best quotes

A Japanese novel about books and self-discovery...

“Days at the Morisaki Bookshop,” a highly acclaimed novel in contemporary Japanese literature, narrates the journey of a 25-year-old woman who, after enduring a series of unfortunate events, moves in with her uncle in a quiet corner of Tokyo.

There, she begins a profound journey of healing and self-discovery.

Satoshi Yagisawa's debut novel, published in 2009 and honored with the Chiyoda Literary Prize, captivates readers who loves books, books about books, and stories of healing and finding one's way.

Days at the Morisaki Bookshop summary

25-year-old Takako has a good job and a happy relationship. However, her life takes a turn when she discovers her boyfriend has been cheating on her.

This betrayal, since her boyfriend is also her coworker, makes it unbearable for Takako to continue working at the same place, eventually forcing her to resign.

The betrayal and subsequent job loss drain Takako's zest for life. She spends her days sleeping, with no motivation to do anything, reaching a point where everything feels meaningless.

Just when her life hits rock bottom, Takako receives a life-changing phone call from her uncle Satoru, whom she hasn't seen in at least ten years.

Satoru, who runs the Morisaki Bookshop, a family-owned bookstore for generations in Tokyo's famous Jimbocho bookstore district, invites Takako to come and help him for a while.

Though initially reluctant, Takako accepts the offer due to financial and other reasons. Besides, she has nothing left to lose. Soon, Takako finds herself at the Morisaki Bookshop, assisting her uncle in a street filled with bookstores.

Her time spent with her uncle and the dusty books turns into a journey of self-discovery and finding her way again.

Jimbocho Booktown- Japan

Days at the Morisaki Bookshop review: How is the book?

Although "Days at the Morisaki Bookshop" is the first book I've read by Satoshi Yagisawa, it's not the first book I've encountered that revolves around peaceful settings and books.

As someone who loves stories with themes of cozy places, inner journeys, and books, such as "Before the Coffee Gets Cold" and "Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop," Yagisawa's work was already on my reading list.

"Days at the Morisaki Bookshop" is a story that anyone tired of the hustle and bustle of modern life and relationships, who wants to retreat to a quiet place to find themselves, will love and find something relatable.

The book has an intriguing story and successfully draws the reader into the narrative from the first pages.

The uncle-niece relationship, especially as two people who heal each other, touches the reader's heart. You appreciate Uncle Satoru's efforts to be there for his niece during her dark days and to bring her back to the light.

Since the book is about a second-hand bookstore in a street famous for its bookstores, I think the reader naturally gets the chance to learn about many book titles throughout the story. I think this serves as a small but significant guide for your next Japanese literature reads.

The first half of the book describes Takako's adventure of getting accustomed to this new district, its people, and rediscovering her love for books. In the second half, the story slightly shifts focus to the uncle's estranged wife, who left him years ago.

When I picked up the book, I was expecting to read about a 25-year-old woman's healing journey surrounded by books, so honestly, I didn't particularly like the shift in focus to another character's story in the second half.

I would have preferred to read more about Takako talking about books or spending more time with her friends at the cafe.

However, I believe this aspect adds to the realism of "Days at the Morisaki Bookshop."

While Takako hasn't fully resolved her own issues, she finds herself helping her uncle and unintentionally becomes involved in the story between him and his wife. During this period, readers gain deeper insights into the lives of the uncle, the aunt, and their relationship.

The people and problems at the center of Takako's life come and go, replaced by new ones, much like in real life. Therefore, I didn't find the second half, which shifts focus slightly away from Takako and books, to be boring or irrelevant.

Who would enjoy this book?

Days at the Morisaki Bookshop briefly takes you away from the noise of modern life, offering a chance to relax in a cozy booktown and you accompany Takako on her inner journey.

If you enjoy reading about books, stories about books, narratives exploring the impact of books on people, and warm, deep human relationships, I believe you will enjoy "Days at the Morisaki Bookshop" as your next read.

Days at the Morisaki Bookshop review - Jimbocho Booktown

Days at the Morisaki Bookshop sequel: More Days at the Morisaki Bookshop

Following the success of "Days at the Morisaki Bookshop" both domestically and internationally, the author released a sequel. The sequel, titled "More Days at the Morisaki Bookshop," continues to engage its fans as well.

Days at the Morisaki Bookshop Quotes-Lines 

“Even now I still go back and forth all the time. But, I don’t know, maybe it takes a long time to figure out what you’re truly searching for. Maybe you spend your whole life just to figure out a small part of it.” 

“It’s important to stand still sometimes. Think of it as a little rest in the long journey of your life. This is your harbor. And your boat is just dropping anchor here for a little while. And after you’re well rested, you can set sail again.”

“I was overly self-conscious, I had too many ideals and ambitions for one person, and because of that, I ended up without a single one I could hold on to. I was an empty person. That’s what I was. It seemed like there was absolutely nowhere I belonged in this world.” 

“That’s when I made my decision. It was time to stop shutting myself up in a cage. It was time to get moving, to look around, and learn what I could from it all. Time to go in search of a place where I belonged, a place where I could say with confidence that I felt right. All the trips I went on, all the books I read, were the consequences of that decision. In other words, Takako, meeting you led me to a kind of epiphany.” 

Thank you for reading!

Thank you for reading my review of "Days at the Morisaki Bookshop"! What did you think about the book? I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

This is my first book review on Substack, but I'll be sharing more about writing, books, life, movies, and TV shows. If you enjoy these topics, feel free to follow me for more content like this! 😊