The Delights of Tokyo, D. Sukegawa: pastries, tradition and Japanese lifestyle

"You are like a powerful ally who has appeared. That said, fate is never tender. – What fate? Fate is not a word to be spoken lightly. (The Delights of Tokyo)

• Translator: Myriam Dartois-Ako
• Release date in France: 2017 for the paperback version
• publishers: Le Livre de Poche / Albin Michel for the large format version
• 224 pages
• Pocket price: 7,99€

Inspiring author born in Tokyo in 1962, Durian Sukegawa is an enigmatic creative who has many codes to his bow: poet, clown, graduate in philosophy and screenwriter, he even founded in the 90s the Society of Screaming Poets. A crazy project that combined poetry reading and punk music. Les Délices de Tokyo is his first novel translated into France, and was awarded the Prix du roman du Livre de Poche in 2017. It has also been adapted into a film, which we invite you to discover the review here ! Two other of his novels are currently available in French: Le rêve de Ryosuke (2017, Albin Michel) and L'enfant et l'oiseau (2019, Albin Michel).

The story

On Cherry Street, Sentarô works in a small shop in Dorayakis, a delicate pastry shop very popular with passers-by. But despite this, they are becoming less and less numerous and gradually desert the place. One day, while he is working hard, an old lady with crooked fingers introduces herself to him, and asks him to hire her. She wishes with all her heart to work on the making of this pastry, which she seems to master despite her old age. He hesitates, wonders, and decides to hire old Tokue in his store. And… It was a good idea since the trade that was gradually sinking is starting again. Customers flock to taste the dorayakis. The reason for this miracle? Tokue. She makes a bean paste with a recipe that she masters to perfection, and which nevertheless remains foreign to Sentarô. Days, weeks, months go by. Together, they see many people passing by, including Wakana, a young student who gradually becomes their friend. One day, the old lady disappears… leaving behind a lot of questions. Sentarō discovers that she hides many secrets behind her skillful hands. "At this point in his story, Tokue paused. Staring at the table, she slowly closed her eyelids. With her deformed fingers, she took out her pack of tissues again and dabbed her eye and nose delicately. Distraught, he decided to continue his work and continue to offer his customers this famous bean paste. And at the same time, he conducts an investigation, with Wakana, to understand the mysteries of Tokue.

Authenticity and the Japanese art of living

Les Délices de Tokyo bears its title very well: greedy, bewitching, it takes the reader into the flavors of Japan and invites us to meditate, to take a step back from life. We dive into a very traditional part of the country with its know-how, its values … and its respect for the old. Enjoy the moment and enjoy a dorayaki on its terrace… or just listen to the sound of rain behind the window. This novel is an ode to tranquility, but also an enigmatic book, and full of beauty.