(tent) Here, There, and Everywhere

The theme of this book is place—what it means to belong somewhere. For Hiromi Kawakami, “place” can mean a physical location like Asakusa, Tsurumaki Onsen, Ginza, or Lake Biwa. It can also mean smaller, more intimate spots: a neighborhood market, a favorite bar, a quiet inn, a hidden path, a beloved cherry blossom viewing site, a college dormitory filled with memories, even a telephone booth. It may be the place she visited on her honeymoon—or a place where she happened to pick up something unexpected: someone’s molar, an antique eyeglass frame. In this quietly resonant collection of essays, Kawakami reflects on the landscapes she has inhabited, passed through, and returned to—sketching a map not just of geography, but of personal memory and emotional terrain.