Takahashi’s tender and evocative novel The Chibineko Kitchen belongs to the popular narrative mode of contemporary Japanese ‘iyashikei’ or ‘healing’ literature. Closely associated with Japanese manga and anime, it is a style which depicts a gentle and comforting pace of life in a peaceful environment far removed from the rush and tumble of a world full of violence, stress and disasters. The novels are brief and episodic, heightening their appeal to a reading audience with shorter attention spans and less time to engage with wordy literary tomes, an audience in need of the emotional soothing provided by these heart-warming, tranquil and subtle narratives.
These stories, which include Toshikazu Kawaguchi’s series ‘Before the Coffee gets Cold’ and Sosuke Natsukawa’s ‘The Cat Who Saved Book’, have acquired a wide readership across the world. The understated narrative evokes a sense of mystery and magic gently interwoven with the quiet rhythms of everyday life. In Kawaguchi’s novels, the protagonists are granted a fleeting, ephemeral moment to reconnect with lost loved ones, over a steaming cup of coffee. Similarly, The Chibineko Kitchen spins a deceptively simple but rich narrative built around food and the quiet persistent magic of everyday rituals like the offering of ‘Kagezen’, Buddhist remembrance meals, to the departed. Set in the warm, welcoming and comfortable interior of the restaurant or even in the kitchen in the home of Yiusho, one of the protagonists, the book uses food to create an ephemeral link between this world and the other. The meals cooked and eaten bring back special memories and the aroma and flavour of the food is critical in establishing this connection.