“The dead don’t go anywhere. They’re all here. Each moment is always overlapping with another.”
Chapter 1: The Beginning of Grief
Yoshie, a young woman in Tokyo, struggles to cope with the sudden death of her father in a double suicide with an unknown woman. She moves to Shimokitazawa, a trendy neighborhood, with her mother, hoping to start anew. The chapter establishes Yoshie’s numbness and her mother’s quiet despair.
Chapter 2: Settling into Shimokitazawa
Yoshie and her mother adjust to their new life in the vibrant district. Yoshie begins working at a small bistro, finding solace in the routine. She meets a musician, Shintani, who seems to have a mysterious connection to her father’s past.
Chapter 3: Echoes of the Past
Through fragmented memories and dreams, Yoshie starts uncovering details about her father’s secret life. Shintani reveals that he knew her father and the woman who died with him. Yoshie grapples with the realization that her father was not the man she thought he was.
Chapter 4: The Weight of Secrets
Yoshie’s mother begins to open up about her marriage, sharing painful truths. Yoshie visits places her father frequented, piecing together his hidden struggles. The chapter explores the theme of how well we can truly know those we love.
Chapter 5: The Living and the Dead
Yoshie experiences vivid dreams where she communicates with her father. These supernatural elements blend with her daily life as she works through her grief. The boundary between the living and dead becomes increasingly blurred.
Chapter 6: Moving Forward
In the final chapter, Yoshie begins to find peace with her father’s memory. She develops a tentative friendship with Shintani and starts envisioning a future where grief doesn’t dominate her life. The novel ends on a note of cautious hope and acceptance.
Key ideas
- The complex nature of grief and mourning
- Family secrets and the unknowability of others
- The coexistence of the living and the dead
- Urban life as both isolating and comforting
- The process of rebuilding after loss
Who should read this book?
- Readers interested in Japanese contemporary literature
- Those exploring themes of grief and family dynamics
- Fans of subtle, character-driven narratives
- Anyone who appreciates magical realism elements