A series of interconnected short stories as characters join the Hankyu line at various stages, stay on the train for a stop or two, have some interactions with each other then get off the train. The first half of the book sees the train travelling in one direction then the second half is the return jounrey around 6 months later. Through these interactions and reflections, we see the characters make changes. Each chapter is quite short so our time with most characters is quite minimal. A light read, perfect for an afternoon on a sofa. With swearing and domestic abuse. I received an advance reader copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I expected delightful and that's what I got. As we traveled back and forth, down the Hankyu line we followed people and Snippets of their life's. While story in essence lighthearted and delightful, it masterfully navigated some really heavy topics and events in people's lives. I loved reading it.

Loved this book! It was such a cozy and sweet story following the passengers on the Hankyu Line. My favourite character was the Granny 🥰 It was a quick read, very entertaining and I loved travelling on the train with these characters. Some beautiful imagery and heartwarming lessons. Highly recommend!

‘The Passengers on the Hankyu Line’ tries to bring to life the game you play when you’re riding a train and you try and imagine the lives of all the other passengers based on the fleeting interactions you have with them. We end up meeting several characters and see just how impactful the short exchanges they have with other passengers can be but something fell a little flat. The characters don’t really feel fleshed out enough (aside from Shoko, she was easily the best character with the best story) and the overlap between the stories often feels quite forced. Slimming down the cast of characters and going deeper into the lives of a select few would have been a better approach and probably would have helped the overlaps feel more believable.

I was really looking forward to the next Hiro Arikawa translation as I adored the ‘Travelling Cat Chronicles’ and ‘The Goodbye Cat’ but this book really doesn’t have the same emotional depth and the story telling feels a lot simpler. It’s not a bad read- it was a quick and easy read, not boring but not particularly memorable either- but it didn’t pack the punch I was expecting based on Arikawa’s previous translations. Nor is it a particularly strong addition to the collection of cosy Japanese fiction translations- if you’re a fan of the ‘Before the Coffee Gets Cold’ series you’ll probably enjoy this book too but it is weaker overall- and it does feel like it was translated purely to ride the hype train.

If you’re a fan of translated Japanese fiction and you want something simple and inoffensive, I’d say definitely give it a go- just lower your expectations if you’re expecting this to be on par with ‘Travelling Cat Chronicles’.

Thank you to Random House UK, Transworld Publishers | Doubleday and NetGalley for the chance to read this ARC. This review can be viewed on my Goodreads page at the following link: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7603472429

I was really pleased to get an advanced copy of this as The Travelling Cat Chronicles is probably one of my favourite Japanese fiction books. Whilst this book doesn't quite have the same impact as "The Cat" (it was a relatable story due to the narrators loving his cat so much he drove all over the country to find someone to take care of him when he couldn't and those that know me know I would do ANYTHING to protect my cat) it was still a beautifully told story.

It is written from the viewpoint of several passengers who use the same trains, their stories interweaving as the book progresses. At 240 pages, it is an easy read, and I read most of it on a wet bank holiday in one sitting, The characters are mainly good people, their stories mostly sweet, without being too saccharine. It's a brilliant observation of people, their behaviours and how they interact with others. There is always something different about a Japanese story, I don;t know if it is the translation or just the style of writing, but they always have a quirky, cosy feel.

Thanks to Doubleday and Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.

Making its way through the Japanese countryside, the burgundy carriages of the Hankyu line are a familiar sight to onlookers, as well as to the commuters who have been journeying on it for years.

Set over a 6 month period, this tale delivers to its readers the warm, human experiences of some of those travellers. From unexpected encounters over a library book to leaving abusive relationships, the characters' stories will have resonance for most book lovers, particularly those who like East Asian fiction.

An enjoyable read, and perfect for the fans of recent translated Japanese hits like The Full Moon Cafe, this gets 3.5 stars.

For someone who doesn't typically enjoy short stories, I really enjoyed this. There is always something nostalgic in the way Japanese slice of life stories are often told and this one is no different. It is literally a collection of snippets of people's lives but it feels very wholesome to read. I do think that these kinds of stories won't be for everyone, but it's a delightful little read for those who do.

Even though I call them short stories, they are interconnected in a most charming way. Each character has a different story to tell and it was interesting to see how they all crossed over from one to the other. Even more interesting was that the second half of the book showed us the same characters again half a year later and where their stories have led them. There were some stories I enjoyed more than others but my favourite was quite unexpectedly Shoko's. Given her starting point is as a rather vengeful wedding guest, I was surprised to see how her story captured me and had me thinking, good on you!

While by no means life altering, this is a lovely read that simply felt comfortable and wholesome in its attention to the little things. . Although I've never been on the Hankyu line myself, it felt reminiscent of other travels I've had and it's definitely put this area on my future travel list.

This was a cute read, dipping in and out of the lives of regular passengers on one of Japan's most scenic train lines, exploring how their lives intersect while weaving an overarching theme of community, friendship, and venturing outside of your comfort zone.

That being said, it's not particularly memorable. The characters were a little flat, and some of their interactions felt sometimes forced, or awkward. It's not something that I think will stick with me for longer than a couple of days, but honestly, I'm not super bothered about it; some novels exist to be a sweet respite to escape into for a few hours, and this is one of those.

Arikawa provides small slices of life from the points of view of several passengers on a local train. Their lives all intersect in some way, creating a nice red thread between the stories.

The stories are unremarkable everyday observations which create a comforting atmosphere. The main theme of the stories is human kindness and connection, ranging from small, fleeting interactions between passengers and reflections on longer term relationships.

I thoroughly enjoyed this collection and look forward to the final version's publication.

Hiro Arikawa's The Passengers on the Hankyu Line is a journey not only through one of Japan's busiest train lines, but also through the lives of its passengers. We follow multiple story lines that converge and re-emerge throughout the novel, making sure you mainatin focus on the story whilst also providing you with further information on the snippets of life that Arikawa feeds you. The chapters are short, meaning you never get bored of one pespective and eagerly await what is going to happen next in their story, whilst being introduced to a new perspective. The passengers on the Hanku Line is a cleverly constructed book that depicts life in Japan from many perspectives and was ultimately very interesting and fun to read!

This slice of life translated fiction was as charming as this type of book always is, but it differed slightly from the usual formula. All the characters were so seamlessly intertwined, with the POV flowing between multiple people without distraction. I really enjoyed the snippet of each persons journey and was happy to see there was a conclusion to each one. My personal favourite was the ‘bride’ out for revenge.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This one fell flat for me.
Not the feel good Japanese novel I enjoy.
All the interactions felt forced for me and there wasn't a single character I liked.
Maybe the translation had a lot to do with it or maybe not, maybe the author was doing something different from previous books which I enjoyed more than this one.

"The Passengers on the Hankyu Line" is a quick an uncomplicated read, despite touching on quite loaded subjects, such as seeking revenge on a cheating ex-fiancee, intimate partner violence or romantic relationship between a teenage girl and an adult man. The plot is organised around one train line, on which the character's lives become temporarily interwoven in quite a serendipitous way.

What I found odd were the chapters that the author decided to place outside the train itself or the train stations - they seemed forced and created unnecessary distraction from otherwise quite a coherent narrative.

And there's the sex scene... It was so timid, cringey and completely unnecessary. I felt that the author decided to place some of the chapters outside the train line just to include this, even though it didn't serve the plot in anyway.

Not a novel to remember.

This book offered a delightful break from reality. It’s not overly complex, but sometimes that’s exactly what you need. Loved the characters.

I love Japanese fiction. There's something about it that is so soothing. It's quirky and whimsical and run, but with real heart and a real passion behind him.

I love that, whilst each character has their own story within the book, they all link, which showed a sense of continuity and community. It shows that what we do may affect complete strangers.

I do have an issue with the characters though. Their interactions felt a bit forced and weren't particularly well developed so I didn't really feel anything for them sadly.

This book, for me, really looked at what good can come out of exploring, making friends, expanding your horizons, stepping out of your comfort zone.

It's not my favourite translated novel I've ever read. There's nothing inherently wrong with it, it's easy to read, quick to read, comforting and uplifting, but it's also a bit...not boring, that's too strong a word, but maybe a bit too one dimensional. I wanted a bit more to happen. I don't mind less plot if the characters are well developed, but both the characters and plot seem to float around without ever really sticking.

I will always gravitate towards translated fiction, and this did have a pleasant feeling to it but it isn't one that will stick with me unfortunately.

This book is the translation of a Japanese text, about a trainline and the passengers that use it. The reader sees lots of small snippets of lives, and realise how seemingly tiny interactions can make a difference to someone you meet in passing. It would have been nice to have some of the stories extended, but a pleasant enough quick read.

A beautiful and emotional read that follows different people whose lives briefly connect during a train ride in Japan. Each chapter focuses on a different passenger, giving us a glimpse into their everyday lives, their struggles, and relationships.
The way the chapters move from one character to the next is easy to follow. In the second half, we get to see what happens to each character when they take the return journey, which brings the story full circle.

Overall, this is a warm, thoughtful, and feel-good read seeped in Japanese culture, it’ll be one that stays with you.

I had all the emotions whilst reading this book! It such a wonderful and so beautifully written. I loved the way that it flowed and you saw little snippets of different lives and characters. The only thing that let it down for me was the way it was sent via netgalley it had a bunch of numbers separating each sentence but obviously that is not the way it will be printed in the book

The author cleverly created the plot of the story using the daily life of people on the train. Honestly, every character had something special—it was tough to pick just a few to highlight. A set of well connected feel good stories. This is my first read by Hiro Arikawa , I am looking forward to read her other books.

A sweet read with the different characters on a train whose paths cross.
Funny and interesting slice of life stories.