"Dream-like and elegant... These tales are compelling. All life is here, and Yoshida's writing is a perfect lens to see into the dark recesses of the heart."― CrimeTime FM
A symphony of interconnected lives that offers a compelling reflection on life in modern-day metropolises at the intersection of isolation and intimacy in Yoshida’s English-language debut
Set over several nights, between the hours of 1:00 a.m. and 4:30 a.m., in and around Tokyo, this mind-blowingly constructed book is an elaborate, energetic fresco of human nocturnal existence in all its mystery, an enigmatic literary mix of Agatha Christie, Teju Cole, and Heironymous Bosch.
On this journey through the labyrinthine streets and hidden corners of one of the world’s most fascinating cities, everybody is searching for something, and maybe searching in the wrong places. Elements of the fantastical and the surreal abound, as they tend to do in the early pre-dawn hours of the morning, yet the settings, the human stories, and each character’s search are all as real as can be.
Goodnight Tokyo offers readers a unique and intimate take on Tokyo as seen through the eyes of a large cast of colorful characters. Their lives, as disparate and as far apart as they may seem, are in fact intricately interconnected, and their fates converge against the backdrop of the city’s neon-lit streets and quiet alleyways. In his English-language debut, Yoshida masterfully portrays in captivating and lyrical prose the complexities of human relationships, the mystery of human connection, and the universal quest for meaning.
"The timeless quality of Tokyo in the wee small hours is evoked as taxi driver Matsui encounters eccentrics and insomniacs alike. . . rewards are plentiful.”― Financial Times
“This short novel is the perfect introduction if you’ve not encountered the world of Japanese fiction.”― Buzz Magazine
"A charming collection of interlinked short stories that take place in the Japanese capital by night....it’s a lot of fun, packing a lot of ‘adventures’ into its twelve stories." ― Tony's Reading List
"A charismatic reading experience. Exploring the fragility of human nature it examines the concept of fate and why, as individuals, and for whatever reason, we journey on a path that can take us on an unexpected yet, ofttimes, welcome adventure."― Swirl and Thread
“There’s something magical about these late-night fairy-tale interactions, every person unwittingly walking the city with the key to a stranger’s mystery in their pocket.” ― Kirkus Reviews
“Best-selling Japanese writer Yoshida’s English-language debut, enabled by Australian literary translator Haydn Trowell, is a delightful montage portraying strangers serendipitously connecting in the wee hours despite the vast anonymity of living in one of the world’s busiest, most populous cities.” ― Booklist
“A tender ode to life’s unexpected moments of happiness.” ― Frankfurt Allgemeine Zeitung (Germany)
“A quiet slice-of-night-life novel, Goodnight Tokyo explores the hushed surprises and understated mysteries enmeshed in daily human connectivity.” ― Foreword Review (starred review)
“Readers will be reminded of Jim Jarmusch's 1991 movie Night on Earth, which also takes place in the wee hours of the morning and threads together the stories of strangers." ― NPR
“After closing this book, think of a friend or someone you know. Try to imagine their friends, the people they know whom you don’t. Tokyo is made of such people. Definitely.” ― Sankei Shimbun (Japan)
“A must-read for Murakami fans.” ― Hotlist (Germany)
