Hot Chocolate on Thursday by Michiko Aoyama
Michiko Aoyama’s latest novella Hot Chocolate on Thursday, translated from the Japanese by E. Madison Shimoda, invites readers to take a break and relax in the fictional Marble Café. This tiny bistro, located in a quiet Tokyo neighborhood situated on a riverbank, has three tables and a counter with seating for five. There are ornamental cherry trees along the way that seasonally shower passersby with blossoms. Cross a short bridge to enter a peaceful magical world to be greeted by Waturu, a friendly and quite competent young waiter, who manages the place in the absence of the Maestro who owns the business but has many outside interests. The otherwise nameless Maestro frequently appears in the background as a shadowy figure. However, he is a highly intuitive and benign instrument of positive change for several of the loosely connected characters who patronize the establishment.
A Café of Quiet Connections
Chapters, each captioned with a brief title and color, serve vignettes providing insight into each individual through their narration of episodes of their personal everyday, ordinary moments. The customers are linked by their mutual desire for a respite from daily bustle in the special hideaway the Marble Café offers.
Two years ago, Waturu had been laid off from a chain restaurant when he wandered into the Marble Café with just enough money for a single cup of coffee and to his astonishment was immediately hired for a newly created full-time position. The Maestro had uncannily perceived his potential. Waturu now lived in a pleasant studio apartment a short distance away, had expanded the simple menu, enjoyed meeting the growing number of customers and was quite satisfied with his employment. Six months ago, he developed a crush on a new customer whom he mentally christened “Ms Hot Chocolate” for her habit of coming in on Thursday afternoons for that preferred beverage. She always chose the same table at which she wrote long letters by hand. Appearing to be a few years older than 23 year-old Waturu, she clearly possessed a superior education as she wrote in English.
Threads of Fate and Everyday Wisdom
The patrons are of different ages and come from a wide range of backgrounds. Asami, otherwise referred to as kindergartner Takumi’s mum, is an executive businesswoman married to Teruya, an agreeable househusband and fine arts painter. Cheerful manager of cooking and chores, he is much admired by the mothers who greet him as he accompanies his son to school. Asami is consequently at a loss when Teruya is away for several days in Kyoto to prepare for an art exhibition of his work arranged by The Maestro. Now more cognizant of his sterling contributions, a phone call to her husband seeking help to make a rolled omelet for their child’s school lunch reinforces their marriage.
Ms Yasuko Ena is Takumi’s kindergarten teacher. She is young, inexperienced and unsure about her choice of career after 18 months of teaching under the direction of an authoritarian headmistress. Yasoka brings her childhood friend Risa to the Marble Café to discuss Risa’s wedding plans which include her desire to have “something blue” as suggested in the traditional English rhyme. An auspicious connection occurs later when honeymooners Risa and husband Hiroyuki encounter a couple from their hometown who are celebrating their 50th anniversary which proves to be a serendipitous opportunity to accept some valuable advice.
Risa comments to the pair, “Your destinies must be connected by the red thread of fate” which could equally be applied to all of the people who have visited the Marble Café and experienced the serenity of its influence. The Maestro’s instincts were undeniably correct when he hired Waturu who is ever-ready to share something inspiring with each customer, particularly those who seem troubled or out-of-sorts. His soothing, comforting advice to Ms Hot Chocolate provides the opportunity for her to recognize his special qualities and become better acquainted. There are several other stories presented in Hot Chocolate on Thursday that will similarly touch readers’ hearts. It’s a short book to read, savor and share. Michiko Aoyama writes beautifully with an inner wisdom about deriving happiness in mundane occurrences. Benefit from emulating patrons of the Marble Café; take the time to pause, reflect and slowly sip your favorite beverage with gratitude in your heart.
About Michiko Aoyama:
Michiko Aoyama was born in 1970 in Aichi Prefecture, Honshu, Japan. After university, she became a reporter for a Japanese newspaper based in Sydney before moving back to Tokyo to work as a magazine editor. What You Are Looking For Is in the Library was short-listed for the Japan Booksellers’ Award and became a Japanese bestseller. It is being translated into more than fifteen languages. Michiko Aoyama lives in Yokohama, Japan.
