April 8, 2026 | Jaylin Emond-Hardin | Entertainment Editor
Content warning: this book contains spoilers for “Days at the Morisaki Bookshop” by Satoshi Yagisawa
I didn’t anticipate falling in love with “Days at the Morisaki Bookshop” when I first picked it up at the Book Bin in Salem. It sat quietly on my bookshelf for nearly a year before I finally decided to read it this past spring break.
Honestly? It’s one of the best books I’ve ever read.
Set in Tokyo, Japan, the book follows Takako, who discovers her boyfriend, Hideaki, is going to marry someone else. Takako also learns that Hideaki had been in a relationship with the woman he would marry for much longer than he had been with her, and that she was, unknowingly, the other woman.
Devastated, Takako moves into the second floor of the Morisaki Bookshop, which is owned and operated by her Uncle Satoru in Tokyo’s Jinbōchō District. Jinbōchō is famous worldwide for its multitude of used bookstores, publishing houses and antique stores.
During her time at the Morisaki Bookshop, Takako begins to heal and eventually moves on from Hideaki. Later in the book, Satoru’s estranged wife, Momoko, returns, and Takako becomes close with her before helping the pair with their complicated feelings.
The book itself is only 150 pages, meaning it’s short and bittersweet. I read it in an hour, and by the end, I was absolutely sobbing. Takako’s story of healing with Satoru, then in turn, Takako helping Satoru and Momoko heal was beautiful. It felt full circle, and if it weren’t for what Satoru had done for her, Takako would not have been able to help him and Momoko.
Takako’s story of healing was beautiful, as well. At first, she didn’t want to even be at the Morisaki Bookshop, but had to be due to her leaving her job and not being able to pay rent. While it wasn’t an ideal situation in her mind, she slowly found herself enjoying it more and more, especially when she made friends with people working at the nearby coffee shop, and eventually moved on from Hideaki.
Satoru and Momoko’s storyline is especially fulfilling. When Takako goes on a hiking trip with Momoko, she discovers that her aunt is sick, refusing treatment and has only returned to see Satoru one last time. When they return home, Takako tells Satoru what she learned, and Satoru goes after Momoko, so they may be together again and he can support her. The book ends with a year’s time skip and the three of them getting coffee together.
Reading this book honestly felt like curling up under the covers with a mug of tea — which I did while I was reading.
The book has two sequels, as well: “More Days at the Morisaki Bookshop” from 2011 and “With Love from the Morisaki Bookshop” from 2024. While the first two books — “Days” and “More Days” — have been translated into English, “With Love from the Morisaki Bookshop” has not yet been translated.
I wholeheartedly recommend these books. They’re the absolute perfect slice-of-life stories that have arcs of healing and finding one’s place in the world.
10/10.
Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu
