I think I”m about a year or two behind others who are reading some of these small Japanese books with entwined stories, but it was due to my own prejudice. I had read translated books in the past, and had not been impressed. I never knew if it was the writer or the translator. But Jesse Kirkwood, the translator, works well with Mai Mochizuki’s debut novel, The Full Moon Coffee Shop.

The Full Moon Coffee Shop has no fixed location, but it does appear under a full moon. And, it appears for those who can accept that it’s run by adult size cats who can also talk. Those who show up at the coffee shop need some sort of advice, and the cats, who use astrology, say their ancestors sought to understand the stars. Their advice can be world-changing for the right people.

Mizuki Serikawa is a scriptwriter who was once in great demand. But, over time, her stories lost popularity because they seemed to lack relevance in a changing world. Mizuki, who worked as a part-time primary school teacher while writing scripts, now finds nothing satisfying. But, the cats remind her that her forties are still young, and she needs to take ownership of everything she has learned in her life, and let her true ability shine.

While Mizuki is the primary character in her own story, her shadow falls over all the others with younger people who remember her as their teacher. A TV producer, two hair stylists, an actress, and an IT designer all have life lessons to learn at The Full Moon Coffee Shop where the cats provide no menus, but the food, drinks, and advice that each person needs.

The Full Moon Coffee Shop is a dreamy book with background music and a background story that links multiple characters. As I said, the stories entwine in a small book with a message from the cats. “To make your own way in life, first you need to know yourself.” Good advice whether it comes from cats, the stars, or life itself.

The Full Moon Coffee Shop by Mai Mochizuki. Ballantine Books, 2024. ISBN 9780593726822 (hardcover), 228p.

FTC Full Disclosure – Library book.