Having read the author's previous book I was eager to start this one. And I am so glad I did! What a delightful story, much in the same theme of interlinked chapters told from different people's perspectives. Here we have the star of the show Kabahiko, a hippo shaped animal ride, who is situated in Hinode Park. The legend is if you touch him he has healing powers. And thus we meet both young and old throughout the book who all live in Advance Hill and need the hippo's help.

A book of hope, kindness and healing this is uplifting and whimsical with a bit of magic thrown in. I encourage you to read everything that Michiko Aoyama ever writes! Highly recommended.

Thanks to all for the advanced copy!

I loved this book! I really enjoyed What you are looking for is in the Library, so I was super excited to read this, and it did not disappoint. The story follows five people who have an ailment that is impacting their daily lives, and luckily they stumble upon the Healing Kabahiko who is known for magically curing people. Each of the main characters felt well developed and real, and you genuinely wanted them to heal. I enjoyed Sawa’s story in particular. Each story feels complete on its own but together they create a beautiful, heartwarming book. This book is filled with hope, family, friendship, love and is a genuine joy to read.


Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this eArc in exchange for an honest review

Hinode Park is a children's playground by an apartment block. In this park is Kabahiko, a hippo.

Kabahiko is said to have magical properties, and can heal the community.

So wonderful

Absolutely loved this book, devoured it in a day, could not put it down.

Advance Hill is a newly constructed condominium, where familes have bought properties there for many differing reasons. Nearby is Hinode Park which is home to a play area watched over by the magica Kabahiko (sounds like hippo!)

His guardian is the lady who runs the Sunrise Cleaners, she dispenses wisdom which often includes visiting Kabahiko, and telling him your problems.

Beautifully written, some stories are weaved slightly together, just a real feel good book.

Highly recommended

I absolutely love an interconnected story line and I love translated fiction even more. This gave me everything I crave from healing translated fiction, leaving me feeling very content and heart-warmed! I really enjoyed the juvenile writing style (contradictory to other reviewers). It made me feel reminiscent of my childhood and childhood imagination, which was a joy to revisit.

A really really sweet book. I loved all the characters and how their lives intermingled. Highly recommended.

A sweet, charming and touching story of a hippo that helps people heal themselves emotionally. Each of the different characters we meet goes on a journey of self discovery and they end up reconnecting with the people around them.

I jumped at the chance of reading this book after reading and enjoying What you are looking for is in the library, by the same author last year.

The healing hippo of hinode park is a beautiful novel about the impact a children’s item of play equipment in a neighbourhood park can have on the lives of the people around it.

I found this to be a very endearing and comforting read, I loved how the different characters crisscrossed with one another and how each point of view was interesting and relatable.

I don’t think there is anything I would change about this book and that is why I have given it five stars. It was exactly what I needed to read and I recommend it for anyone who enjoys reading.

I can’t wait to read more from this author.

"Legend has it that if you touch it with the part if your body that needs healing, Kabahiko will make it better"

A beautiful book of sweetly connected stories written to remind us what's important in life and how important it is to keep an open mind and be willing to look at life in different ways.

There are many different types of people in this story, from preschoolers to the elderly, each going through their own troubles. They all pass by Hinode Park during their difficult time and meet The Healing Hippo, Kabahiko. Once they've had a little chat with him, each person starts to notice a change in their lives.

"If we kept shrinking back, worrying about how others saw us, trying not to show the uncool parts if ourselves or avoid being laughed at, we would probably lose sight of what those things even mean."

An absolutely wonderful story suitable for ages 13+, in my opinion, that really helps us evaluate what's important in life!

A huge thanks to Netgalley, Transworld Publishers/Penguin Random House and the wonderful Michiko Aoyama for this beautiful book in eARC form.

Thanks so much to Doubleday and the author for the eARC, all opinions expressed are my own.

I really struggled with this one, I liked the general premise and the concept of healing, a particular element that stood out to me was the commentary on anxiety, but in general I found this quite difficult to read, it didn’t capture my attention enough and at times found the pacing a little slow.

I don’t think this book was for me

This book had a charming premise but I feel like some things were lost in translation. It was very different to Michiko’s other book. I will reread it when the final copy hits the shelves

It feels like many Japanese contemporary writers have decided to dive into the genre that I would call "I can change my own life with a bit of magic". This book definitely falls into that category. It is an easy read that focuses on some of the typical traits of Japanese society like the extreme competition, the rigidity of societal expectations etc. When you look at the covers of these books, you know what you are going to get. This is not necessarily a bad thing. When the stories are well written and have interesting characters, it gives the reader the idea that everyone can take their life into their own hands. It is a sweet book and if you want a feel good read, this could be one of the ones to choose from.

An enchanting book. A 5 star read.

In a play area near the community of Advance Hill is an age-old hippo ride called Kabahiko. It is believed that if you touch the exact part of the hippo where you have an illness or ailment, you will see signs of recovery. It is called the ‘Healing Hippo’.

The book tells the tales of a number of individuals who visit hippo for help - each realises they must look at their lives differently and find a positive way forward.

A delightful tale of hope, friendship and community.

Very different to the books I usually read, but after reading the blurb I thought I’d give it a try.
Very quaint little story. Very Japanese. Polite and reserved. But it touches on some lovely points. Some of which really resonated with me.
Feel good stories, all concerning different people from one locale. All of whom visit the ‘healing hippo’
And their lives are changed for the better.
Lovely read.

This was such a cosy read! I read it on a rainy day tucked under a blanket. It did not disappoint m! Every bit as good as the previous book. A must read especially on a dreary day!!

imagine a magical hippo statue chilling in a random playground under a quiet apartment complex. now imagine a bunch of people going through mini emotional breakdowns and deciding, “yeah, lemme go rub my forehead on this hippo and see if that helps.”

that’s literally the book.

what i liked:
• the vibes were cozy. like, “rainy sunday with tea and a fuzzy blanket” cozy.
• i love a good interconnected storyline, and this one linked all the characters nicely. the dry cleaners, the apartment, the hippo — they all tied together in a cute lil bow.
• the stories told through the kids’ eyes? surprisingly deep. kids be saying real shit sometimes.

what had me side-eyeing tho:
• why was the conflict giving “just talk to someone” energy?? like bestie, you’re not cursed, you just need a nap and a conversation.
• every character kept saying “get it? kaba-hiko sounds like hippo!” like we didn’t get it the first four times. 😭 sir, we got it. please stop.
• the stakes were low. like, sleepy hippo in a chill park low. not a bad thing, just don’t go in expecting plot twists or life-shattering revelations. this ain’t that.

and the tone?
felt like it was trying to be adult lit but accidentally walked into a middle grade classroom. not that that’s always bad, but it did make everything feel a bit TOO soft and simple. kinda like eating soup with no salt. comforting, but… where’s the flavor?

final verdict:
this book is basically a group therapy session disguised as soft magical realism. if you’re in the mood for something short, sweet, and low-effort — go for it. but don’t expect to be emotionally devastated or spiritually reborn. it’s giving “aww cute” not “i need a moment to breathe.”

3/5 because i respect the hippo hustle but i need my emotional breakdowns with a bit more punch.

What You Are Looking For is in the Library is one of my favourite books from the wave of Japanese cosy books and I was very excited to be given advance access to this one and it was sadly a big disappointment.
I'm not sure if the translation was a bit creaky or if the jokes and word play just didn't translate to English idioms but I found the book very clunky to read. In addition to this there were so many stories about school children with just the odd adult tale that I wondered if this was just pitched wrong and that this would have made a good YA book

This is a short book with very low stakes that is a collection of short stories that are all linked by a hippo in the park that has "magical" healing powers. It's a story about friendship, love, family, and life lessons, told in a quite young voice. Some stories I think were better than others, mainly the ones that were told by a child's point of view rather than an adult's.

The translation was pretty good, but there were some jokes that didn't hit for me, particularly the "Get it? Kabahiko sounds like hippo!" Which was repeated every chapter and really didn't need to be. Other than this though, it was a very gentle and quick read, one definitely for a chill afternoon where you don't want to think too much.

Thank you NetGalley for the eArc in exchange for an honest review.

The Healing Hippo of Hinode Park was a cute and heartwarming book told as a series of five tales, each with a different protagonist but all set in the save neighbourhood and all revolving around an eventual trip to the hippo statute in the park. There is no magical realism aspect to this book; all the characters are instead helped through self-awareness and assistance from other people they meet during the story. Yet, the hippo is still the focal point around which their worries and hopes are given voice. If you enjoy these cosy and sweet Japanese contemporary stories, then this is certainly a book you'll have fun reading. I am giving it four stars.

This book is like a cup of tea on a rainy day—warm, reassuring, and quietly joyful. It celebrates everyday kindness, small acts of courage, and the beauty of ordinary lives. Nothing flashy, just a lovely reminder of how meaningful simple human connection can be. It left me smiling long after the final page.