First published in 1988, this Japanese bestselling novel has been on my radar for a while, even before I read The Premonition. It comprises a novella and a short story, about different characters but featuring the same themes of loss, loneliness, wonder and food. I found it a little underwhelming but I think this is because I’ve read several books by later Japanese authors which were probably influenced by Kitchen.
The protagonist of the novella, Mikage, feels adrift when her last relative, her grandmother, passes away. She is taken in by Eriko and her son Yuichi, where she enjoys their friendship and feels most comfortable when cooking in the kitchen. The loss of Eriko then pushes them further apart, before bringing them together. The most interesting element of this novel is that Eriko used to be a man and works in a nightclub. The language and attitudes in this book towards trans people, while sympathetic, are probably not up to today’s standards, but surely it must have been a rare inclusion in Japanese books at the time. The short story, I felt was unnecessary and didn’t have enough detail. It’s about a young woman who lost her boyfriend; she connects with his brother, who also lost his girlfriend, and perhaps there is a way they can see them again.
The writing style is elegant yet easy to read. There’s some magical realism in there, philosophy and a bit of humour. I didn’t love it but I’m sure I’ll always remember it.
English translation by Megan Backus, 1994. Published by Faber.