I was really worried when I started this book because it didn’t feel how I expected. Don’t let that put you off!

As I have come to find out from the Japanese literature I have read so far written in a similar style, they revolve around one place and follow multiple stories. This style of story is such an excellent escape and I love getting small glimpses into everyone’s lives.

This story follows the staff and patrons of The Torunka cafe hidden away down an alleyway. Firstly the setting is perfect and makes me want to search Japan for little cafes with friendly albeit nosey staff in cosy corners of the city. There are three stories and each character varies in age and gender which I appreciated for the variety it brought to the story but I particularly loved the first story.

Overall this book embodied everything I love from Japanese literature and was so different from The Morisaki Bookshop without losing its charm.

As you might expect from the title, this book is in a similar vein to books like Before the Coffee Gets Cold and The Kamogawa Food Detectives. It’s a little different to Yagisawa’s Morisaki Bookshop books in that each part follows a different character. The three parts are interconnected, describing the characters’ journeys from past to present through love and loss.

I felt the first part was the weakest of the three, the opening is a bit jarring, it launches off with a strange tale about a past life which seemed like an odd way to start a book! The second part was my favourite, the main character is struggling to overcome his feelings of regret for his previous actions for which he is very remorseful and it takes the reader on a rollercoaster of emotions, ultimately ending on a hopeful note. The last part is about a young girl falling in love for the first time. It was maybe a little too romantic for my tastes but also brings in other elements which help to link the three parts together. I loved the story behind the name of the café and the owner’s attention to detail when preparing the perfect cup of coffee. The translator’s note at the back was also interesting.

Overall, an enjoyable and heartwarming read. I’m sure there will be more to follow! I enjoy this writer’s style and will continue to follow his work.

This is another book from Satoshi, but sad to say, it was a bit of a let down for me. It was hard for me to rate this one because Satoshi was the one who made me fall in love with Jap Lit books.

It was hard for me to start the book, that it even made me feel like putting it down and just let it pass. But thankfully, I didn't because the latter part towards the end kind of got me back on track with it.

But overall, I was sadly disappointed. I was expecting much from it since I loved Satoshi's Days at the Morisaki Bookshop and More Days at the Morisaki Bookshop.

A cute, cosy book perfect for the upcoming autumnal months. I really enjoyed this one.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this arc

Days at the Torunka Café is a tender, comforting and beautifully observed book that feels like stepping into a quiet corner of Tokyo where time slows down and healing begins. Tucked away on a side street, the Torunka Café is more than just a place to drink coffee. It is a sanctuary where regulars and newcomers alike find solace, reflection and small but meaningful connections.

Among those drawn to the café are Chinatsu, a mysterious young woman who leaves behind ballerinas folded from napkins, Hiroyuki, a man searching for the life he once gave up, and Shizuku, the owner’s teenage daughter, navigating both grief and the joy of first love. Each of their stories is gently woven together, revealing the quiet strength that emerges in the face of loss, regret and longing.

Satoshi Yagisawa writes with elegance and subtlety, turning everyday details into moments of grace. The café itself becomes a character, a warm and observant presence that witnesses human fragility as well as resilience. The slower pace of the story is part of its strength, reminding the reader that healing often takes place in the pauses and silences of life.

Days at the Torunka Café is a warm, reflective and deeply comforting book, perfect for readers who love gentle stories about community, connection and the simple moments that give life meaning.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.