Good Food, Good Story: a review of The Kamogawa Food Detectives

Good food brings people together. We reminisce about meals we ate and loved in the past, and end up sharing our pasts with those around us. It is good for the soul.

The Kamogawa Food Detectives is a book about food and people. Originally published in Japanese and now translated into English, it takes a minute to get used to the writing style. However, once you do, you will find yourself curled up with the epitome of cozy reads.

There is little to no plot. Each chapter is it's own unique story that seems to use the same outline as the chapters before. While this might be a bit repetitive, it does mean that it is highly accessible and easy to put down and pick up again without losing any context.

What overarching story that is there surrounds a father-daughter team who run a restaurant/detective agency. But don't get your hopes up for a cozy crime drama! The detective work that they do is in tracking down dishes from different peoples' pasts. First of all, the food in the story is always well-described and all sounds perfectly delicious. Secondly, it begins to make you think: what meal from my past would I recreate if I could?

But this story is about more than just food. It is, arguably, primarily about people. When people approach the detective agency to have a meal recreated, usually it is because they are seeking to come to terms with something (or someone) from their past. The heroes of the story are usually able to piece together both the meal as well as the interpersonal need, which provides a warmth to this book that would be lacking if it was only about food.

The characters are simple without being one dimensional. The author does not feel the need to go over the top with details. After all, the characters come and go in the story, moving on with their lives after they are able to relive (or, really, re-EAT) a moment from their past. Where the details shine are in the food. But I would recommend having Google handy if you are not too familiar with Japanese cuisine!

As I wrap up this review, I would like to mention that this is my first foray into literature from another culture, originally written in a different language. My husband and I would love to visit Japan someday, and I think before we do, getting a taste of more Japanese literature will be both eye-opening and fun!