The Filmscape Reverie

By: Maria Cieslarczyk

Quite recently, I finished reading Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa (translated by Eric Ozawa) and my heart was at peace. This feeling did not come from knowing what was coming next, but in finding comfort in the (oftentimes confusing yet humbling) present moment…which is exactly what the novel is about.

My best friend Lexie and I did a 12-hour read-a-thon to celebrate her birthday (shout-out again to her for 1.) being my soul sister and 2.) sharing my obsession of literature)! It was on this day that I finally turned to the last page of Days at the Morisaki Bookshop, and desired to bawl my eyes out.

This moving story focuses on new beginnings and unexpected connections that make life worthwhile, all while intertwining the concept of the love of reading. I love how it explores how reading impacts each character’s personal journey.

Days at the Morisaki Bookshop is based in Jimbocho, Tokyo and centers around 25-year-old Takako, an introverted office worker whose boyfriend suddenly drops the bomb that he’s going to marry someone else (um, major a-hole move!!!) After her world is turned upside down, Takako moves into her eccentric Uncle Satoru’s second-hand bookshop where she falls in love with books and rediscovers who she is.

The two form an unlikely bond as Takako comes to understand Satoru’s devotion to the bookshop, especially after his wife Momoko left him five years ago. After befriending a slew of unlikely folks that share a passion for literature, Momoko returns…and it’s up to Takako and the lessons she’s learned at the Morisaki bookshop to initiate healing in order to move forward.

The story itself is not tragic – rather, it resonated with me as a 20-something-year-old woman trying to puzzle the confusing parts of my life together. It was bittersweet as I read about Takako’s struggles with letting go of her heartbreak and finding comfort in all kinds of treasured tales.

From an Asian standpoint, it was comforting to read about complex Asian familial traditions and challenging dynamics within one’s inner circle. It made me feel seen as Takako grieved the life she lost; and gave me hope as she crawled forward through the coming months to recreate her destiny. She thought she would be alone, but newfound connections with people she’d never expected – especially her Uncle Satoru – definitely made her feel loved and supported as she rebuilt her life.

A neat addition from the author was that he included suggestions for Japanese literature that the protagonist Takako also enjoyed reading. It was fascinating to see how the books that she ends up reading (like Saisei Muro’s Until the Death of the Girl or Soseki Natsume’s Kokoro) actually relate or influence her life, proving how stories truly can connect us all…even in the strangest of ways. My TBR (to-be-read list) grew by a dozen new books that will also help bring to light some aspects of Asian culture as I continue to venture into this realm of literature.

Something I admired about this book was how the author demonstrated Takako’s depression and anxious thoughts through raw scenes that vividly portrayed her emotions, especially in the first half of the novel. These scenes did not shy away from the truth of what Takako was experiencing. Takako’s journey towards healing is also shown, through beautiful imagery and cozy sequences in her interactions with fellow book-lovers and customers.

A prevalent theme within the novel is growth. Takako never discovered her passion for books until she moved into the bookshop and took a chance on one. It quite frankly changed her life. On a deeper level, Takako also grows from being quiet and timid, to learning to stand up for herself (no spoilers, but it make me cry). I know I am the same way; I need to let my hurt out of my system to breathe easy again, which is why I related to Takako’s growth so much.

Finally, the theme of finding the courage to open up and live for yourself is a nostalgic one. It is a happy ending as Takako reflects on her time at the second-hand bookshop that changed her life and revels in the prospects of her exciting life ahead.

Moral of the story? Take time to rest. Take time to breathe. Your life is not slipping away from you after a set-back or a failure (even if it may seem like it).

There is a quote that Satoru says to Takako that struck a chord with me: “I think 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.”

We can keep pushing ourselves forward, like boats on the horizon. However, it is sometimes in our rest that we come to terms with aspects of our past or identity that we can only begin to heal once we’ve had time to reflect. Days at the Morisaki Bookshop explores that idea perfectly.