Here in the Netherlands we have a name for these kind of books, healing fiction. This is an easy read with some repeating. Nice that some of the characters do reappear in the stories. It has not at all a Japan feeling, only maybe the foods.
I do feel lost in the world and was looking for new purpose in life, the book did help me with my own struggles. I went looking for volunteerwork in the library and ordered a course in hypermodern art.
