(tent) Saying Goodbye, Slowly

“The places I’ve stepped into most often in life: first, bookstores. Second, supermarkets. Third, probably bars. It doesn’t make for a particularly colorful life, does it?” Through every season—spring, summer, autumn, and winter—Hiromi Kawakami reads, wanders, and writes. She might encounter a tree frog at a bar counter, or be asked to watch over a fishing pole on a quiet riverbank. Her days unfold gently, full of small wonders, moments of hesitation, and quiet joy. This collection of essays is a slow, deep breath—an invitation to pause, notice, and savor the richness of the seemingly ordinary.