Tales from the Café by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

The Aroma of Second Chances

In the bustling heart of Tokyo, nestled in a quiet back alley, there’s a café that serves more than just coffee. It offers something far more precious—the chance to travel back in time. Welcome to Café Funiculi Funicula, where the past and present mingle like cream swirling in a freshly brewed cup.

Toshikazu Kawaguchi’s “Tales from the Cafe” is a warm, bittersweet collection of interconnected stories that picks up where his debut novel “Before the Coffee Gets Cold” left off. Like its predecessor, this book invites readers to cozy up with a steaming mug and ponder life’s great “what ifs.” But be warned – time travel comes with a strict set of rules, and the coffee must never, ever get cold.

A Familiar Blend with New Flavors

For fans of Kawaguchi’s first book, stepping back into Café Funiculi Funicula feels like coming home. The same charming cast of characters returns – stoic waitress Kazu, boisterous little Miki, and the enigmatic woman in the white dress. But this time, we’re treated to four new tales of temporal tourists, each grappling with regret, loss, and the burning desire to change the past.

1. The Best Friend: A Bitter Taste of Guilt

We meet Gohtaro, a man who’s been living a lie for 22 years. He raised his best friend’s orphaned daughter as his own after a tragic accident, but now faces the prospect of revealing the truth before her wedding. His journey to the past is a poignant exploration of guilt, friendship, and the true meaning of fatherhood.

2. Mother and Son: A Complex Brew of Family Ties

Yukio’s tale is perhaps the most heart-wrenching of the bunch. Unable to attend his mother’s funeral due to circumstances beyond his control, he seeks closure by visiting her in the past. But what starts as a simple goodbye becomes a profound lesson in the power of a mother’s love and the importance of choosing happiness.

3. The Lovers: A Bittersweet Blend of Romance

Katsuki Kurata’s story adds a unique twist to the café’s time-traveling tales. Instead of revisiting the past, he comes from the past to glimpse the future. His selfless act of love for his fiancée Asami serves as a touching reminder that sometimes, letting go is the greatest gift we can give.

4. The Married Couple: A Rich, Layered Finale

Tales from the Cafe closes with retired detective Kiyoshi’s journey to see his long-dead wife. This tale beautifully ties together themes from the previous stories while adding depth to the café’s lore. It’s a fitting end that leaves readers with a sense of hope and the gentle reminder that it’s never too late to choose happiness.

A Masterful Brew of Magical Realism

Kawaguchi’s prose, expertly translated by Geoffrey Trousselot, retains the simple, almost fairy-tale-like quality of the first book. The author has a knack for weaving profound truths into seemingly mundane conversations over coffee. His characters feel achingly real, their pain and joy palpable on every page.

The time travel mechanic, while central to the plot, never overshadows the human stories at the heart of each tale. Instead, it serves as a clever device to explore themes of regret, forgiveness, and the ripple effects of our choices. Kawaguchi gently reminds us that while we can’t change the past, we always have the power to shape our future.

A Cup Half Full: Strengths and Weaknesses

What’s Brewing Well:

• Character Development: Kawaguchi excels at creating multidimensional characters in just a few pages. Each protagonist feels distinct and relatable.
• Emotional Resonance: The stories pack a powerful emotional punch, often leaving readers misty-eyed.
• Interconnected Narratives: The way the tales weave together adds depth to the café’s world and its inhabitants.
• Thematic Depth: The book tackles heavy subjects with a light touch, offering wisdom without preachiness.

Room for Improvement:

• Repetitive Elements: The explanation of the café’s rules can feel redundant for returning readers.
• Pacing: Some stories move slower than others, which might test the patience of readers seeking more action.
• Limited Scope: The focus on personal, intimate stories might disappoint those hoping for broader explorations of time travel.

A Satisfying Sip in a Larger Story

“Tales from the Cafe” is the second book in what has become a beloved series. It builds beautifully on the foundation laid in “Before the Coffee Gets Cold,” expanding the café’s mythology while introducing new characters to love.

For those new to Kawaguchi’s work, it’s possible to enjoy this book as a standalone, but reading the series in order provides a richer experience. The subtle callbacks and character growth are more rewarding when you’ve followed the journey from the beginning.

Fans will be delighted to know that the story continues in “Before Your Memory Fades” and “Before We Say Goodbye,” with a fifth installment, “Before We Forget Kindness,” on the horizon. Each book promises new visitors to the café, new chances at redemption, and new opportunities to ponder life’s big questions over a perfectly brewed cup of coffee.

Final Verdict: A Comforting Blend Worth Savoring

“Tales from the Cafe” is like a warm hug in literary form. It’s a gentle reminder that while life can be messy and painful, there’s always hope for healing and second chances. Kawaguchi’s unique blend of magical realism and heartfelt storytelling creates a reading experience that’s both comforting and thought-provoking.

This isn’t a book for those seeking high-stakes drama or mind-bending sci-fi paradoxes. Instead, it’s a quiet, introspective journey that invites readers to examine their own lives, relationships, and choices. It’s the kind of book that lingers in your mind long after you’ve turned the last page, like the lingering aroma of a particularly good cup of coffee.

So, pull up a chair, order your favorite brew, and lose yourself in the timeless magic of Café Funiculi Funicula. Just remember – drink your coffee before it gets cold. You never know where (or when) you might end up.

For Fans Of:

• “The Midnight Library” by Matt Haig
• “The Time Traveler’s Wife” by Audrey Niffenegger
• “A Man Called Ove” by Fredrik Backman
• Japanese slice-of-life anime and manga

Food for Thought: Discussion Questions

• If you could travel back in time to a single moment, when would you go and why?
• How do the café’s strict rules about time travel enhance or detract from the stories?
• Which of the four tales resonated with you the most, and why?
• How does Kawaguchi use the café setting to explore larger themes about life, death, and human connection?
• In what ways do the characters’ journeys to the past change their present, even if they can’t alter events?

A Final Sip: Quotes to Ponder

“There is no greater suffering than that of a parent who is unable to save their own child who wants to die.”

“If you try to find happiness after this, then this child will have put those seventy days towards making you happy. In that case, its life has meaning.”

“You’re allowed to be happy.”

Remember, like a good cup of coffee, life is meant to be savored, even in its bitterest moments. Kawaguchi’s “Tales from the Cafe” serves as a gentle reminder that it’s never too late to find sweetness, forgiveness, and a second chance at happiness. So, what are you waiting for? Your seat at Café Funiculi Funicula awaits.