Hey, what’s up?

Welcome to my next book review.

I recently read a book by a Japanese author, Hot Chocolate on Thursday by Michiko Aoyama, translated by E. Madison Shimoda. Overall, I would rate this book a 7 out of 10.

I bought this book when I was in Malaysia, and I remember it being quite expensive. That said, it is a beautiful hardcover edition, and the cover illustration immediately caught my attention. It is one of those books you would pick up simply because of how it looks.

As with any translated work, you cannot help but appreciate the role of the translator. Capturing what the author is trying to convey is not easy. It requires a strong understanding of both languages and cultures. In this case, I think the translation was done really well, and it reads very naturally in English.

What stood out to me most was the structure of the book. It is written as a series of interconnected short stories, following different characters across various stages of adulthood. It begins with a waiter and a regular customer who always orders hot chocolate, then gradually shifts to people connected to her, and so on. Each chapter links one character to the next, forming a chain that eventually circles back to the waiter in the final chapter.

Another unique aspect is the dual setting. Half of the stories take place in Japan, while the other half are set in Sydney. Each chapter carries its own quiet and reflective message, often centred around small but meaningful life changes. It is subtle, but that is part of its charm.

Apparently, there is a sequel titled Matcha on Monday, which has only recently been translated into English. It should be more widely available around the middle of this year, and I will definitely be picking up a copy when I can.

There were also a few quotes from the book that I really liked, which I will share below:

“We lives in ignorance of what the next seconds hold”

“Just being in a place you like can sometimes gives you strength”

“We may have many problems, but if we can gratefully enjoy our daily meals, things will work out somehow”

Alrighty, thanks for sticking around, and I will see you in my next post.