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純喫茶トルンカ #2
More Days at the Torunka Café: The Scent of Happiness
Not yet published
Expected 10 Nov 26The internationally bestselling author of the beloved Morisaki Bookshop series welcomes us back to the Torunka Café, down a narrow side street in the Tokyo neighborhood of Yakata, run by its stern-seeming owner, Tachibana, and his teenage daughter Shizuku.
Stopping in for a cup of coffee or a sweet treat at the Torunka Café, locals and tourists from all stages and walks of life experience interactions and small miracles that unexpectedly offer joy and connection.
A little old lady named Chiyoko Obāchan sits alone in a corner with her balls of yarn and knitting needles. One day, hearing a Chopin melody playing in the café she is reminded of the days of her lost youth, when she fell in love for the first time.
Shizuku’s childhood friend Kōta is fiercely protective and believes he’s responsible for keep her safe. But as he confronts the limits of his own strength, he finds help in a surprising place when a film crew arrives at the café’s door.
Ayako, a quotation-loving illustrator, is at a crossroads, feeling burned out by her career yet not knowing what direction to take next. Then, a chance encounter with an old friend changes everything.
Charming and delightfully heartwarming, More Days at the Torunka Café is a delicious and satisfying slice of life in all its flavor. Wise and endearing, it reminds us that all our lives are threads in the beautiful and wondrous tapestry of humanity.
Stopping in for a cup of coffee or a sweet treat at the Torunka Café, locals and tourists from all stages and walks of life experience interactions and small miracles that unexpectedly offer joy and connection.
A little old lady named Chiyoko Obāchan sits alone in a corner with her balls of yarn and knitting needles. One day, hearing a Chopin melody playing in the café she is reminded of the days of her lost youth, when she fell in love for the first time.
Shizuku’s childhood friend Kōta is fiercely protective and believes he’s responsible for keep her safe. But as he confronts the limits of his own strength, he finds help in a surprising place when a film crew arrives at the café’s door.
Ayako, a quotation-loving illustrator, is at a crossroads, feeling burned out by her career yet not knowing what direction to take next. Then, a chance encounter with an old friend changes everything.
Charming and delightfully heartwarming, More Days at the Torunka Café is a delicious and satisfying slice of life in all its flavor. Wise and endearing, it reminds us that all our lives are threads in the beautiful and wondrous tapestry of humanity.
Kindle Edition
First published February 15, 2015
About the author
Satoshi Yagisawa
14 books2,303 followers八木沢 里志 (Satoshi Yagisawa) was born in Chiba, Japan, in 1977. Days at the Morisaki Bookshop, his debut novel, was originally published in 2009 and won the Chiyoda Literature Prize.
千葉県生まれ。日本大学芸術学部を卒業する。2008年、『森崎書店の日々』で東京都千代田区が主催する第3回ちよだ文学賞を受賞し、デビュー。2010年、同作が菊池亜希子主演で映画化される。神田伯剌西爾によく訪れ、コーヒーを嗜む。趣味はギター。
千葉県生まれ。日本大学芸術学部を卒業する。2008年、『森崎書店の日々』で東京都千代田区が主催する第3回ちよだ文学賞を受賞し、デビュー。2010年、同作が菊池亜希子主演で映画化される。神田伯剌西爾によく訪れ、コーヒーを嗜む。趣味はギター。
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
July 5, 2026
"They say the best medicine has a bitter taste, and while I know it usually means good advice is seldom easy to hear, when it comes to coffee it might literally be true."
As with the Morisaki Bookshop, I unfortunately found the sequel to be a less enjoyable read. This story was worst, though, because something seemed off with the writing. One thing I liked about Ozawa’s work is that it was so fluid it didn’t feel like reading a translation, but I didn’t sense that at all this time around. The constant and sudden change in tenses was particularly weird; plus, dialogues were often awkwardly written…
Perhaps I’m the one who remembers Yagisawa’s other novels differently, because surely his style couldn’t have changed that much. But what also ticked me off is the way he allows his characters to blame themselves entirely for things that aren’t solely their fault. Of course self-reflection is great and helps you become a better human, however when other people/matters are involved (here: bullies, a difficult work environment), this one-sided guilt cannot be the solution. Everyone must be held accountable, perpetrators even more. And not to be pernickety but the Torunka café wasn’t central to the story anymore, which was a bit of a shame.
Nonetheless, the author’s effort to capture each narrator’s voice didn’t go unnoticed, especially between the first and second parts. The characters’ journeys were interesting to follow and always concluded with them being taught an important lesson. I, myself, learned many things through this book: how coffee reduces dementia risk, where Chopin’s heart is preserved, how essential shade trees are… Yagisawa also explored meaningful topics that are still taboos in societies like Japan’s, such as depression.
The ending is very beautiful, with everyone reunited for a final goodbye, and the front cover is a real piece of art. Thanks to Harper Perennial via NetGalley for the ARC!
As with the Morisaki Bookshop, I unfortunately found the sequel to be a less enjoyable read. This story was worst, though, because something seemed off with the writing. One thing I liked about Ozawa’s work is that it was so fluid it didn’t feel like reading a translation, but I didn’t sense that at all this time around. The constant and sudden change in tenses was particularly weird; plus, dialogues were often awkwardly written…
Perhaps I’m the one who remembers Yagisawa’s other novels differently, because surely his style couldn’t have changed that much. But what also ticked me off is the way he allows his characters to blame themselves entirely for things that aren’t solely their fault. Of course self-reflection is great and helps you become a better human, however when other people/matters are involved (here: bullies, a difficult work environment), this one-sided guilt cannot be the solution. Everyone must be held accountable, perpetrators even more. And not to be pernickety but the Torunka café wasn’t central to the story anymore, which was a bit of a shame.
Nonetheless, the author’s effort to capture each narrator’s voice didn’t go unnoticed, especially between the first and second parts. The characters’ journeys were interesting to follow and always concluded with them being taught an important lesson. I, myself, learned many things through this book: how coffee reduces dementia risk, where Chopin’s heart is preserved, how essential shade trees are… Yagisawa also explored meaningful topics that are still taboos in societies like Japan’s, such as depression.
The ending is very beautiful, with everyone reunited for a final goodbye, and the front cover is a real piece of art. Thanks to Harper Perennial via NetGalley for the ARC!
May 24, 2026
I thought it was just okay. Maybe I would have had a different experience if I read the first book. Part 2 was my favorite of the three parts. I found myself zoning out towards the end of the book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
MORE DAYS AT THE TORUNKA CAFE
RATING: 3.5
GENRE: Translated fiction
More Days at the Torunka Cafe returns to our cozy cafe hidden in an alley in Yanaka. In the sequel, we follow three cafe regulars whom were previously appeared - Chiyoko Obachan, Kota, and Ayako , each in different walks of life.
Chiyoko, affectionately known as Obachan, is a retired housewife who lives alone. She visits Torunka Cafe regularly to get her social interaction with others. She is sparked by a memory when she hears Chopin’s Etude Op. 25 No.1, otherwise known as Aeolian Harp. She falls into memory lane and reflects on her past regrets in life and how she was not able to share how she truly felt with her first love.
Kota, a high school student, and friend of Shizuku (daughter of the cafe owner) is a spunky and energetic boy. However, he often hides his own troubles behind jokes and the need to constantly protect Shizuoka from life. He meets a young actress who opens his eyes to a different outlook on life.
Finally, we have Ayoka, a young struggling artist who lives in the neighborhood. She is burnt out by her lack of creativity and struggles to produce the work that her employer seeks. She runs into an old art school classmate and struggles to find her artistic voice again.
While each story is relatively slow, it is a nice glimpse into the daily struggles different people face each day. Yagisawa approaches each character with nuance and allows the reader to connect, no matter what age they are.
Thank you Netgalley and Harper Perennial for an ARC of this book. I love forward to adding this to my collection of Japanese cozy fiction on 11/10/26.
RATING: 3.5
GENRE: Translated fiction
More Days at the Torunka Cafe returns to our cozy cafe hidden in an alley in Yanaka. In the sequel, we follow three cafe regulars whom were previously appeared - Chiyoko Obachan, Kota, and Ayako , each in different walks of life.
Chiyoko, affectionately known as Obachan, is a retired housewife who lives alone. She visits Torunka Cafe regularly to get her social interaction with others. She is sparked by a memory when she hears Chopin’s Etude Op. 25 No.1, otherwise known as Aeolian Harp. She falls into memory lane and reflects on her past regrets in life and how she was not able to share how she truly felt with her first love.
Kota, a high school student, and friend of Shizuku (daughter of the cafe owner) is a spunky and energetic boy. However, he often hides his own troubles behind jokes and the need to constantly protect Shizuoka from life. He meets a young actress who opens his eyes to a different outlook on life.
Finally, we have Ayoka, a young struggling artist who lives in the neighborhood. She is burnt out by her lack of creativity and struggles to produce the work that her employer seeks. She runs into an old art school classmate and struggles to find her artistic voice again.
While each story is relatively slow, it is a nice glimpse into the daily struggles different people face each day. Yagisawa approaches each character with nuance and allows the reader to connect, no matter what age they are.
Thank you Netgalley and Harper Perennial for an ARC of this book. I love forward to adding this to my collection of Japanese cozy fiction on 11/10/26.
June 12, 2026
Quick and easy read. The book is split into three stories of interconnected people who frequent a cafe in Tokyo. I found all the main characters of the story to be likable and I thought that the author was able to successfully give each character’s POV a unique voice.
What surprised me most is that I thought this was going to mostly be a sweet and cozy ‘slice of life’ novel, but as it turns out, it also touched on very heavy and dark themes, like war, ptsd, and bullying. Unfortunately, because of the general tone of the book, I don’t think it dug deep enough to really tackle these parts that I felt the book was a little undercooked and that each story just concluded so easily.
Overall, it’s still great and I had a really fun time reading the stories. It has a lot of life lessons to teach a reader. 3.5 ⭐️
(I got an eARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Many thanks to NetGalley, Satoshi Yagisawa and HarperCollins).
What surprised me most is that I thought this was going to mostly be a sweet and cozy ‘slice of life’ novel, but as it turns out, it also touched on very heavy and dark themes, like war, ptsd, and bullying. Unfortunately, because of the general tone of the book, I don’t think it dug deep enough to really tackle these parts that I felt the book was a little undercooked and that each story just concluded so easily.
Overall, it’s still great and I had a really fun time reading the stories. It has a lot of life lessons to teach a reader. 3.5 ⭐️
(I got an eARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Many thanks to NetGalley, Satoshi Yagisawa and HarperCollins).
Review of advance copy
মোর ডেইজ অ্যাট দ্য তোরুনকা ক্যাফে, সাতোশি ইয়াগিসাওয়া, অনুবাদ: ওয়াসি আহমেদ, Short Review.
ফিলস গুড টাইপের ভাইব দেওয়া একটা বই। মূলত মানুষের অনুভূতির গল্পই বলেছেন লেখক। কিছু স্মৃতি আর ক্যাফের ভেতরকার ছোট ছোট মুহূর্তের মধ্য দিয়েই গল্পটা ধীরে ধীরে উষ্ণ হয়ে ওঠে। একাকীত্ব, অনুশোচনা, জীবন নিয়ে কনফিউশন কিংবা সম্পর্কের জটিলতা এসব অনুভূতিই এই বইয়ের মূল বিষয়। আমার কাছে সবচেয়ে বেশি ভালো লেগেছে দ্বিতীয় গল্পের কনসেপ্টটা “ছায়াতরু”।
বইটিতে তেমন বড় কোনো ঘটনা নেই বরং আবেগ, স্মৃতি আর আত্মচিন্তার দিকটাই বেশি ফুটে উঠেছে। কিছু জায়গায় গল্পটা একটু নাটকীয় বা কাকতালীয় মনে হতে পারে আবার কিছু জায়গায় একটু ধীরগতিও মনে হয়।
অনুবাদ মোটামুটি ভালোই বলা যায়।
সবমিলিয়ে, বইটা খারাপ না কিন্তু আমার কাছে এটাকে “মাস্ট-রিড” টাইপের কোনো বই মনে হয়নি।
ফিলস গুড টাইপের ভাইব দেওয়া একটা বই। মূলত মানুষের অনুভূতির গল্পই বলেছেন লেখক। কিছু স্মৃতি আর ক্যাফের ভেতরকার ছোট ছোট মুহূর্তের মধ্য দিয়েই গল্পটা ধীরে ধীরে উষ্ণ হয়ে ওঠে। একাকীত্ব, অনুশোচনা, জীবন নিয়ে কনফিউশন কিংবা সম্পর্কের জটিলতা এসব অনুভূতিই এই বইয়ের মূল বিষয়। আমার কাছে সবচেয়ে বেশি ভালো লেগেছে দ্বিতীয় গল্পের কনসেপ্টটা “ছায়াতরু”।
বইটিতে তেমন বড় কোনো ঘটনা নেই বরং আবেগ, স্মৃতি আর আত্মচিন্তার দিকটাই বেশি ফুটে উঠেছে। কিছু জায়গায় গল্পটা একটু নাটকীয় বা কাকতালীয় মনে হতে পারে আবার কিছু জায়গায় একটু ধীরগতিও মনে হয়।
অনুবাদ মোটামুটি ভালোই বলা যায়।
সবমিলিয়ে, বইটা খারাপ না কিন্তু আমার কাছে এটাকে “মাস্ট-রিড” টাইপের কোনো বই মনে হয়নি।
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.5 stars! I will read any book that Satoshi Yagisawa puts out. This author knows how to do sequels! So incredibly cozy; the vibes are everything with every single book. Honestly, I think I might like the cafe setting more than the bookstore (both are amazing). The author truly encapsulates the environment into the writing. I enjoyed following every character's story, and I felt connected to them. You truly learn about their lives and experiences. There's something special about that.
Thank you NetGalley, Harper Perennial & Paperbacks, & Satoshi Yagisawa for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. More Days at the Torunka Cafe is released on November 10, 2026!
Thank you NetGalley, Harper Perennial & Paperbacks, & Satoshi Yagisawa for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. More Days at the Torunka Cafe is released on November 10, 2026!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
More Days and the Torunka Cafe was a warm and inviting sequel, the perfect cozy read to enjoy with a cup of coffee. It was so nice to be reunited with this charming cast of characters and I hope the author brings them back for a third time
May 24, 2026
Thanks Harper for the early copy!
Similar to more days at the morisaki bookshop, this let me down in comparison to the first. It felt like it had all the bones of the first? But none of the soul.
Similar to more days at the morisaki bookshop, this let me down in comparison to the first. It felt like it had all the bones of the first? But none of the soul.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews