The Nakano Thrift Shop by Hiromi Kawakami

 

Paperback Edition

From the author of Strange Weather in Tokyo comes this funny, heartwarming story about love, life, and human relationships that features a delightfully offbeat cast of characters.

Objects for sale at the Nakano Thrift Shop appear as commonplace as the staff and customers that handle them. But like those same customers and staff, they hold many secrets. If examined carefully, they show the signs of innumerable extravagancies, of immeasurable pleasure and pain, and of the deep mysteries of the human heart.

Hitomi, the inexperienced young woman who works the register at Mr. Nakano's thrift shop, has fallen for her coworker, the oddly reserved Takeo. Unsure of how to attract his attention, she seeks advice from her employer's sister, Masayo, whose sentimental entanglements make her a somewhat unconventional guide. But thanks in part to Masayo, Hitomi will come to realize that love, desire, and intimacy require acceptance not only of idiosyncrasies but also of the delicate waltz between open and hidden secrets.

Animating each delicately rendered chapter in Kawakami's playful novel is Mr. Nakano himself, an original, entertaining, and enigmatic creation whose compulsive mannerisms, secretive love life, and impulsive behavior defy all expectations.

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Title : The Nakano Thrift Shop

Author : Hiromi Kawakami

Published date : June 2017 (English Ver)

Genre : Fiction, Contemporary

Language : English

I have had a strange coincidence in the last several years, reading Hiromi Kawakami's book at every beginning of the year. From Strange Weather in Tokyo to the Ten Love of Mr. Nishino, I love the strange feeling whenever after I read her books.

The Nakano Thrift Shop brings back the same formula of her previous book, an encounter with peculiar persons in a daily mundane environment. The protagonist is Hitomi, a woman in her early 20s, has no experience and is just between teenage life and adulthood, works in a thrift store, owned by Mr. Nakano.

There are only two employees, Hitomi, and a man named Takeo, aside from Mr. Nakano. Mr. Nakano has a sister, Masayo, who an artist, eccentric, and very romantic, often visit the store and have a chat with Hitomi.

The story is mostly about an ordinary day in the store. A pick-up, house call, strange customers, strange objects, and days when the season affect the store. 

While Hitomi is doing storekeeping, she usually has a chat with Mr.Nakano or Masayo. Takeo is very introverted and seldom makes a long conversation. But three of them always indulge the peculiarity of Mr. Nakano. 

Mr. Nakano visits ‘the bank’ very often, which means he has a mistress and makes a visit during daylight. He also talks oddly, starting with “ as you know” as the opener. Hitomi didn’t understand why the woman in middle age was so attracted to Mr. Nakano. Maybe the way he smiles, or talks. But surely, Mr. Nakano has a very beautiful mistress.

Meanwhile, Hitomi is exploring herself. She is attracted to Takeo but has zero experience regarding man or boy. She seeks advice from Masayo, who has a very romantic ideal about love, and many experiences with the man. 

Slowly but sure, the season has changed, so do the shop. More customers are coming, more house pick-up, even Mr. Nakano asked by several customers to value their items. Hitomi’s relationship with Takeo also shifted. Is she really in love with Takeo? How to be brave when it is a time to fight for love or just surrender? 

Masayo and Mr. Nakano’s life also shifted. A year passed by without they even realizing it, and everything’s changed.

There are many reasons why I love Japanese literature, from classic to contemporary. They humbly raise the issue in mundane life. There is no big-bang or general formula: intro-conflict-climax-ending. Sometimes there is no climax or conflict at all.

In this case, this is a humble story about an inexperienced girl working for the first time in a relatively small working place. She falls in love with her co-worker but struggles to find the bravery to make a decision. On the plus side, she has a very interesting boss. Even he’s a petty man, he’s a decent human being and usually has a very mind-blowing perception. 

Yes, at first, it is very slow-moving, but not painful. The reader can enjoy the conversation and banter between cheeky Mr. Nakano with anyone else. Subtly, there is a plot, Hitomi’s relationship development with Takeo, and later, how working with Mr. Nakano not only gives her valuable experience but an attitude toward life.

It is simple yet very moving writing. Maybe, a lot of people will struggle with the very ordinary Hitomi. She’s an average girl working in not-so-fancy-place.

From my point of view, it was a difficult task to keep the reader engage in a ‘pointless’ conversation without getting bored and Kawakami-San did a really good job in this book. Mr. Nakano’s character reminds me of the eccentricity of Mr. Nishino in her previous book.

In conclusion, yes, please read it. It is a very enjoyable book. 

Bonus, here is a quote from the book that I found has a very deep meaning:

“When you get old and far-sighted, you can’t look your sweetheart in the eye from close up. You need a little distance so that you can focus on each other. So that your faces don’t look blurry.” 

A very good metaphor for a relationship of the ‘old’ couple.