The Kamogawa Food Detectives: The Heartwarming Japanese Bestseller Paperback – 4 April 2024

I'm so glad I read this book, which I happened to find by chance. I feel I was destined to read it, just like the characters who find their way to the restaurant.I think I have changed a lot after reading this book, it's difficult to say how.If I ever meet the detective father-daughter, I would like for them to find a dish for me, something from my childhood, too! :)This has to be one of my favourite books ever. I can't say enough how much I loved reading it, and how many times my eyes filled up with tears reading about the emotional journeys of the characters.❤

A beautiful collection of mouth watering dishes and nostalgia.

A heartwarming read that leaves you feeling like you just had a meal at the Kamogawa restaurant.

Right off the bat, I'll mention, this isn't a fascinating story. It is a regular one, one that I enjoyed quite a bit. With nearly everyone having the means to travel to Japan, maybe this book and it's stories may sound more repetitive than they already are.Maybe the essence of the mannerisms were lost in Jesse Kirkwood's translation from Kashiwai's Japanese to English!? I'm not sure. Basically the story is of an ex police officer and his daughter's food proprietorship - this diner that makes exclusive meals and doubles up as an entity that can recreate food from memories, some logic, and enquiry, to help recreate joy or comfort while first eating it.The premise of the book, and the value of this "business" offering is standard and so each of the six stories have a fair deal of monotony in the ritual of receiving clients, disdain for traditional marketing, living on account of fate to pay the bills (surprisingly while Kashiwai seems to have strong feelings about his protagonists advertising their business, he never bothers to speak about how they are getting by with their diner).What this book and Kashiwai's writing does brilliantly is introduce the reader to the intricacies of Japanese cooking, and culinary treasures. This book is proof that you can travel to new places in stories from books. Not just the six recipes that became stories, but each of the meals served in any of these stories is described in delicious detail. Including what these ingredients, many of which I don't know about, should taste to the tongue. What is found where in Japan, and why it's the best produce, and how climate, consumerism, and attachments inform the food we eat, and how food is always more than food.He wrote a book about food being memories, and that memories can always be brought back to front and centre. In this world of thick books, "important" narratives, and heavy stories - I was incredibly relieved and happy to read a light one with a feel-good aftertaste!

One of the coziest books I’ve read so far. The concept itself is interesting- detectives finding and recreating the dish one likes! I’m sure it’ll be a booming business in reality. Every story has an emotion attached to a recipe. Each such story is beautifully brewed in this book. It’s a short read and it brings some form of nostalgia even though we’re not from Japan. A must read!

Father-daughter duo of Koishi and Nagare Kamogawa run the Kamogawa Diner and Detective Agency. Here they help people track down recipes from their past and recreate them. Each of the customers from the 6 stories in the book has some pressing reason for wanting to have a particular dish from their past and the point at which they are at in their lives is what has led them to the Kamogawas.✨✨Each story has a set template but gives a very different perspective with each customer and their dish. Plus being a food writer, it was so much fun to learn about all these different ingredients that sound so exotic to my Indian palate! 🤩🤩It is a set of feel-good stories that you find in The Kamogawa Food Detectives and that’s all it offers. The book is a simple read and nothing more should be expected from it.On a hard day, if you’re looking for a light read, then this is the book for you 📖

This book feels like warm tea on a winter morning ! Got to know so much about the Japanese food culture

Here are 5 Reasons Why The Kamogawa Food Detectives Will be your Next Wholesome Read!1. DETECTIVES BUT FOR FOOD?! - We have all heard of detectives sleuthing around for clues and solving crimes. But have you ever heard of detectives who somehow EXACTLY recreate a dish from your past that you have no clue about yourself? Nagare and Koishi Kamogawa, the father-daughter duo who run the Kamogawa Diner, also run the Kamogawa Detective Agency at the back of the restaurant. Not only do they recreate a dish from your past, but they always happen to NAIL IT! How?!? Pick the book up to find out!2. MOUTH-WATERING FOOD IMAGERY - Trust me on this: this book will have your salivary glands working overdrive! The vivid descriptions painted a delicious image in my mind and had my mouth literally watering from time to time! You will end up having a major craving for ramen by the end of this book, like I do now!3. NOSTALGIA - If there is one theme that takes center stage throughout the course of the book, it’s nostalgia. We have all heard of eating with our senses, and not just our mouths, but wow, nostalgia is such an important factor to enjoying a meal and this book gloriously uplifted that one smidge of nostalgia!4. OVERFLOWING WITH WHOLESOMENESS - I have always been a fan of feel-good Japanese fiction books just for how wholesome they are and how they will always leave you with a feeling of warmth and contentment. This book is no different! There are quite a few tear-inducing moments sprinkled throughout the book and when you turn the last page, it feels like a warm bear hug from a loved one. 🥺5. TIME TO BOOK YOUR TICKETS TO JAPAN! - Japan has been on my travel bucket list since forever and once you are done reading this book, you will want to visit Japan soon too, and of course, try some authentic Japanese food! 😍Thanks to Pan Macmillan India for sending me a copy for review! <3

This was my first foray into Japanese literature, and it surely won't be my last!This is a tender and cozy story about reconnecting with the past and allowing yourself to move forward at the same time. All while being centered around delicious food. I LOVE books about food and how often it leads to fond memories with family and friends.The beautiful yet simple writing style really compliments the setting. The Kamogawa diner, from the outside, looks abandoned, but inside, you will find much more than a good meal.I can't wait to read the next one!

Reading this makes you hungry. The cosy descriptions have you whisked away to Japan as you explore the culinary delights and investigative tales of each chapter.

This is not like your typical mystery stories. You don’t really go on the hunt, you sit there like the customers in the stories.It’s really more like a collection of stories, where you come in, have a request and wait for the results. It’s not complicated, yet at the same time it is, because life is complicated. And then you are warmed up by the characters’ kindness.If anyone has watched “Midnight diner”, its short stories and warmth are similar. Please read

This is basically 6 stories over 6 chapters. All of which are almost identical in structure but with different characters and foods. Made me drool when the dishes were described and I fell for the father and daughter and some of the clients. A good read but it is translated into English and so language can seem clunky at times, but it is relaxing and calming to read when you tune into it.

I struggled between giving two or three starts; I gave it three because it has a great premise and is a collection of very sweet vignettes. It wouldn't be hard for the author to turn this into an amazing book; just take the reader through the events needed to find the recipes rather than providing a summary.More information on the dishes would be great too.Maybe this is just a poor translation of the original?I was disappointed; had planned to recommend this book for our family book club.