‘No matter what difficulties people face, they will always have the strength to overcome them. It just takes heart. And if the chair can change someone’s heart, it clearly has a purpose.’

‘I was so absorbed in the things that I couldn’t change; I forgot the most important thing.’

Picture the scene: Funiculi Funicula, a quaint windowless basement café hidden in a winding back alley in Tokyo. The retro interior contains three two-seater tables and a three-seater counter, all cast under a mysterious sepia hue. Three huge antique clocks line the walls – curiously, all three display different times with only the middle clock displaying the correct time. With its cold temperature and vintage décor, it may seem dreary, minimal, and outdated. Yet, this café has a fascinating secret, an urban legend surrounding it that only the regulars and staff know to be true… This café can send customers back in time (but only if you follow the extensive rules correctly!).

Before the Coffee Gets Cold, the touching novel written by Toshikazu Kawaguchi, unmasks the true face of human relationships, revealing the intricacies and complexities underpinning all our connections through black coffee and time travel. Before the Coffee Gets Cold raises the multifaceted question of who you would want to meet if you could go back in time and what you would say to them one last time.

Oftentimes, people say the wrong thing, leave words unspoken until it is too late to utter them, and leave them with regret and longing. Part of living is accepting unpredictability and the inevitability of death, but ultimately, we can never predict when we may lose those closest to us – be it through breakup or loss. Kawaguchi’s novels remind us of this fact, urging us to always appreciate those around us; to forgive, to be brave with our feelings, to live on and be happy so those who have passed can look back and see us smiling (the author compares it to them watching from a black box), even in the face of heartache and controversy, and to seize opportunities whilst we still can. After all, we never know what the future holds…

Through the setting of the cozy Japanese café, we are introduced to an array of charming customers and the unique café staff, learning about each of their individual motivations for wishing to return to the past and meet that one special person, including a past lover, a husband whose memory is fading and a lost sister. Despite the heavy themes, the way the novel approaches topics such as grief, the effects of Alzheimer’s on a family, and a lover’s longing is so gentle, tender, and quiet that one can’t help but feel safe and cozy, immersed in the rather simply written words. 

When Toshikazu spoke at the 2024 Emirates Literary Festival, he mentioned that the café was inspired by the fact that he always writes his novels in different old-style Japanese cafes. Meanwhile, the rules of the café further highlight the strong will and commitment the people deciding to travel in time display to gain closure and speak to their special person one last time (even knowing that nothing they say will change the present): ‘It needs to be a blend of magic and realism.’ The short timeframe of being in the past, only until the coffee goes cold, means that people show less hesitation in talking about their true feelings as opposed to trivial topics: ‘During the time you have, there are more important things to talk about.’

The underpinning concept of saying goodbye throughout Before the Coffee Gets Cold and getting closure stems from the fact Toshikazu lost his father at age 12 and couldn’t say goodbye: ‘I always thought if I was happy then my father would be happy.’ In his mind, his father is always happy even though he has passed. According to him, he wants to encourage people to be kind and forgiving through his novels: ‘I made a lot of mistakes in my life, so forgiveness is very important to me.’

This book changed my outlook on life. Sometimes, it is hard to be fully present in the moment, with my mind jumping from one racing thought to another and taking my focus along with it. This book moved me to tears and has made me reflect on all my choices, my memories and those I hold most dear to my heart. It reminded me to cherish them even more, to always be kind, to smile more, and prioritize my own joy and dreams. Indeed, life is short, and I do not wish to ever live with regrets.

I also seek to follow Toshikazu’s parting advice as an aspiring writer: ‘You must write to the end. Finish it.’