The Lantern of Lost Memories

Hirasaki’s photography studio exists between death and what comes after in this short, quirky Japanese novel. There, the newly deceased awaken confused and are soon tasked with sorting through copious photographs of their lives. When they’ve chosen the best, Hirasaki creates a beautiful display that will ease the deceased onto the next mystery, more at peace with their end. An aging school teacher, a yakuza man, and a young girl each arrive and need Hirasaki’s gentle guidance—with a bit of time travel—to discover what’s important. Like several other recent popular Japanese novels, the narrative is composed of episodic meditations on life. But the stories are less random than they appear, and Hirasaki’s own mystery runs through them. Unlike his clients, he possesses only a single photograph and no memories. Though lacking in identity, his personality shines through in his compassion and sincerity, which help him find hope amid the human horrors that cage his final client.