Toshikazu Kawaguchi

The second novel in Toshikazu Kawaguchi's internationally bestselling 'Before the Coffee Gets Cold' series

Hidden down a side street in Tokyo, Cafe Funiculi Funicula boasts many things: good coffee, good conversation, a friendly cast of regulars But the cafe also offers its customers a unique experience the chance to travel in time.

There are rules you must stick to you have to sit in the right seat, accept the coffee poured for you, and finally- most importantly- you must return to the present before the coffee gets cold.

Following on from Toshikazu

Kawaguchi's sensational debut. Before the coffee gets cold, in Tales from the cafe we meet: the man seeking the best friend whose daughter he raised as his own: the son who did not come home for his mother's funeral, the lover who travelled to see the girl he couldn't marry; and the ageing detective who couldn't save his own wife...

Beautifully told and brimming with warmth. Tales from the cafe explores how we carry our past with us, and how far we will go to see - perhaps for one last time the ones we love.

Tales from the cafe

在謊言拆穿之前

Life too, passes through difficult winters.

But after any winter, spring will follow.

beautiful ending once again 🤍 this made me cry :( kazu you deserve to be happy

Kazu drew in a deep breath in this cafe where time seemed to stand still and placed her hand on her stomach.

As she said this, Kaname, while still looking down at her novel, smiled warmly. It was the same smile that Kaname had given Kazu when she was alive.

'Mum?' said Kazu, and at that moment Kaname's body, like vapour rising from freshly poured coffee, rose upwards.

The vapour hung in the air for a moment and then simply vanished into the ceiling.

We can never truly see into the hearts of others. When people get lost in their own worries, they can be blind to the feelings of those most important to them. 

When spring begins, however, cannot be pinpointed to one particular moment. There is no one day that clearly marks when winter ends and spring begins. Spring hides inside winter. We notice it emerging with our eyes, our skin and other senses. We find it in new buds, a comfortable breeze and the warmth of the sun. It exists alongside winter.

'Why do you think the child you were carrying was granted life in this world for those seventy days?'

'That child used its seventy-day-long life for your happiness.'

'But if you try to find happiness after this, then this child will have put those seventy days towards making you happy. In that case, its life has meaning. You are the one who is able to create meaning for why that child was granted life. Therefore, you absolutely must try to be happy. The one person who would want that for you the most is that child.'

On hearing these words, Asami gasped.The deep despair that had been weighing on her heart began to shift, and everything before her appeared a little brighter.

By trying to be happy, I can give meaning to this child s life.

Her tears were less from sadness than from joy at seeing a way out from the bottomless pit and experiencing something like happiness again.

It's a part of life, and carrying out acts of mourning allows us not to forget. Perhaps in the case of the large Christmas tree that Kei had left, the tree embodied not only her wish to never be forgotten but was also a sign that she would always be watching over them. 

His despair at life had metamorphosed into hope. His outlook had changed unrecognizably.

I'll live for my mother who never stopped wishing for my happiness, right until the very end...

For a parent, a child is a child for ever. Never ever expecting anything in return, she was simply a mother who wanted her child to be happy, always, to shower him with love.

'There is no greater suffering than that of a parent who is unable to save their own child who wants to die.'

A parent's love for their child is bottomless. Their children remain children, no matter how old they grow.

It wasn't that he was dissatisfied with his ordinary life, it was just that from somewhere in his heart he heard, 

I want to find work that is worth spending a lifetime on.

When people choose presents hoping to delight the recipient, they have in mind that special person's reaction. And as they do, they often find that time has suddenly got away from them.

And like always, he was being the man who, even after learning of his own death, could think of the happiness of others.

But the happier he felt, the stronger his suspicion that with Shuichi left by the wayside, that happiness was not his to grab...

If he had been able to tell Haruka that he was not he real father earlier, perhaps the relationship built between the two of them would be different. But there was no point imagining what might have been.

He felt a weird calmness sweep over him, as if the contents of his heart had been laid bare.

The novelist Fyodor Dostoyevsky once said, 'The most difficult thing in life is to live and not lie.'

*EDITION SIGNED BY THE AUTHOR*

In a small back alley in Tokyo, there is a café which has been serving carefully brewed coffee for more than one hundred years. But this coffee shop offers its customers a unique experience: the chance to travel back in time...

From the author of Before the Coffee Gets Cold comes a story of four new customers each of whom is hoping to take advantage of Cafe Funiculi Funicula's time-travelling offer.

Among some faces that will be familiar to readers of Toshikazu Kawaguchi's previous novel, we will be introduced to:

The man who goes back to see his best friend who died 22 years ago The son who was unable to attend his own mother's funeral The man who travelled to see the girl who he could not marry The old detective who never gave his wife that gift...

This beautiful, simple tale tells the story of people who must face up to their past, in order to move on with their lives. Kawaguchi once again invites the reader to ask themselves: what would you change if you could travel back in time?

 Before the Coffee Gets Cold: Tales from the Café

Aina

Seasons flow in a cycle. Life too, passes through difficult winters. But after any winter, spring will follow.

We can never truly see into the hearts of others. When people get lost in their own worries, they can be blind to the feelings of those most important to them.

Bereavement. It's a part of life, and carrying out acts of mourning allows us not to forget.

There is no greater suffering than that of a parent who is unable to save their own child who wants to die.

Srijita Sarkar 

It’s a part of life, and carrying out acts of mourning allows us not to forget.

People willing to help someone struggling, without expecting anything in return, are rare indeed.

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コーヒーが冷めないうちに #2
Funiculi Funicula: Kisah-Kisah Yang Baru Terungkap
Toshikazu Kawaguchi
, 
Asri Pratiwi Wulandari
 (Translator)
4.00
61,030 ratings8,084 reviews

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Funiculi Funicula, sebuah kafe di gang sempit di Tokyo, masih kerap didatangi orang-orang yang ingin menjelajahi waktu. Peraturan-peraturan yang merepotkan masih berlaku, tetapi itu semua tidak menyurutkan harapan mereka untuk memutar waktu.

Kali ini ada seorang pria yang ingin kembali ke masa lalu untuk menemui sahabat yang putrinya ia besarkan, seorang putra putus asa yang tidak menghadiri pemakaman ibunya, seorang pria sekarat yang ingin melompat ke dua tahun kemudian untuk memastikan kekasihnya bahagia, dan seorang detektif yang ingin memberi istrinya hadiah ulang tahun untuk pertama sekaligus terakhir kalinya.

Kenyataan memang akan tetap sama. Namun dalam singkatnya durasi sampai kopi mendingin, mungkin masih tersisa waktu bagi mereka untuk menghapus penyesalan, membebaskan diri dari rasa bersalah, atau mungkin melihat terwujudnya harapan…

Funiculi Funicula: Kisah-Kisah Yang Baru Terungkap

Just like the first book, reading the second book of Funiculi Funicula feels so warm. 🥹 I’m looking forward to the third book Dona Dona as I assumed it will tell more story about Kazu and her Spring; which just started to bloom.

beautiful, once again! the concept remains the same, just this time with new characters and their own inspiring stories. im really really happy how it ended, i think there was no better way to end it. the more i read, the more i love kazu! especially their family :> so excited for the next one

beautiful, once again! the concept remains the same, just this time with new characters and their own inspiring stories. im really really happy how it ended, i think there was no better way to end it. the more i read, the more i love kazu! especially their family :> so excited for the next one

3.75 ☕

I think it was ok. I wasn’t amazed by it but it wasn’t horrible. i felt like i was rooting for the character. The characters were likeable, which is good. It was sad and repetitive like the first book in the series.

Olivia

The book is divided into 4 sections and flows very well from the previous book. The last section made me cry!

Rebecca Joy Tan

just when i thought it couldn't get MORE sad

Sophie

Wowww!!! Cried so much again!! The ending touched my heart so much!! The ghost was always so intriguing to me and I’m glad she too has a happy ending. Toshikazu is so talented and never fails to bring heart-warming yet heart-breaking stories and deliver them so beautifully and simply. ❤️

Yalin Tsikun

A smooth follow up from the first book (till I thought I picked up the wrong book). We get a deeper chance to know the stories of the characters. Looking forward to reading the next sequel.

Natasha Mok

a good follow up to the first! i really enjoyed the continuation of the workers’ stories, as well as the additions of the people looking to travel in time. trying and failing to not be corny about this book tbh

camille paradis

** spoiler alert **
           This book was such a lovely sequel to read. Just as touching as the first one, it was interesting to see things change. I loved learning more about the woman in the dress and about Kazu as well, especially the ending brought a lot more depth to her character and I’m truly so happy she finally found her happiness.

Loved it. I loved it. Unlike the first book, this one revolves more around the backgrounds of the cafe workers, which then answered my questions while i was reading the first book AND MIKI IS SOOOOO VERY CUTE I LOVE HER!!!!!

Oh my god I need the 3 part. Kazu my beloved <3 ALSO the woman in the dress reveal 😧😧

Indi

This book reminded me of why I picked up the first one. I've always been a fan of observing the way others live their lives, which is why "before the coffee gets cold" appealed to me. What's more fun than observing the customers in a coffee shop? So many people, so many lives. Since this isn't your typical cafe, I was immersed in its ins and outs and forgot my original goal. This second book gave me what I was looking for in the first place, now that I'm familiar with the staff and the workings of the cafe, I could comfortably focus on the patrons. To put it briefly, I found this an enjoyable read. There were a lot of life lessons to pick on, but if there's one thing that will stay with me, it's that we should strive to live a life with no regrets. 

blue

Nova

My mind is so amazing I didn’t check what’s the difference between the yellow and blue cover when I got this copy so I didn’t know that this was the second book. Just thought that I didn’t want to be more depressed so I just chose the happier color lol. It’s ok to be read as a standalone, I think, I’m not missing much context. 

It’s an okay read, not particularly heavy. Got sad a few times but I cry easily at any media I consume. I read that it’s adapted from the author’s play, and I can clearly see it as a play. It’s straightforward and you don’t have to bend over backwards to understand the hopeful message the book tries to convey. It’s good for people who’d like to find closure in a loved one’s death, people who feel guilty. Nice, sweet, short read.

This is the second book in the trending series. I am just as thrilled with the second book as I was with the first. Kawaguchi’s talent for character study is most appreciated and his ability to capture notions of the human experience is delightful.

Lily Cooper

Heartwarming as always, digging into the tales of the cafe owners was interesting. Kazu</3

Sweet! Great book to read when you need a lift.

Elizabeth Weiland

Sunmark Publishing Inc

The highly anticipated sequel to the international bestseller Before the Coffee Gets Cold, this book follows four new customers who hope to travel back in time in a little Japanese café. In a back alley in Tokyo, there is a café that has been serving carefully brewed coffee for more than one hundred years. Local legend says that this shop offers something else besides coffee--the chance to travel back in time. With faces both familiar and new, Tales from the Cafe follows the story of four customers who hope to take advantage of café Funiculi Funicula's time-travelling offer and revisit moments with family, friends and lovers. Each of them must face up to their past to move on with their life. Kawaguchi's wistful and heartwarming new novel once again invites the reader to ask themselves, What would you change if you could travel back in time?

A Novel

Tales from the Cafe

julianne 🤍 

mirin

would’ve been nice to read this in a cafe for the vibes, but then i’d end up crying in front of strangers

Lettuce Wrapped Cabbage Cat

- Ini lanjutan dari buku pertamanya. Menurutku kalo blm baca buku pertama sebenernya masih bisa langsung baca buku kedua. Karena setiap kisahnya tuh fleksibel, bisa berdiri sendiri, ga terlalu terhubung dengan kisah yang lain, kalo terhubungpun akan dijelaskan oleh penulis terlebih dulu.
- Tokohnya ga terlalu banyak, pembaca jadi ga bingung. Ada Diagram Karakter juga di bagian awal untuk memperjelas hubungan masing-masing karakter.
- Ada empat kisah utama di dalamnya.
- So heartwarming dan meaningfull!
- Beberapa pertanyaan yang muncul saat membaca buku pertama, terjawab di buku ini.
- Banyak kalimat yang relatable dan quotable.
- Penggambaran latar tempat, waktu, dan suasananya bener-bener detil.
Kalo kita baca buku ini di coffe shop, keknya tambah kerasa nyatanya.
- Dari buku ini aku belajar, penyesalan apapun gaakan mengembalikan masa lalu, kita berhak bahagia.
- Recomended kalo kalian butuh bacaan sekali duduk yang heartwarming. Aku yang cengeng, tiap kelar satu kisah pasti mewek hehe..

I Just loved it from the bottom of my heart. 

Valentina

amanda s

In a small back alley in Tokyo, there is a café which has been serving carefully brewed coffee for more than one hundred years. But this coffee shop offers its customers a unique experience: the chance to travel back in time...From the author of Before the Coffee Gets Cold comes a story of four new customers each of whom is hoping to take advantage of Cafe Funiculi Funicula's time-travelling offer.Among some faces that will be familiar to readers of Kawaguchi's previous novel, we will be introduced to:The man who goes back to see his best friend who died 22 years agoThe son who was unable to attend his own mother's funeralThe man who went back to see the girl who he could not marryThe old detective who never gave his wife that gift...This beautiful, simple tale tells the story of people who must face up to their past, in order to move on with their lives. Kawaguchi once again invites the reader to ask themselves: what would you change if you could travel back in time?

Before the Coffee Gets Cold: Tales from the Café

Loved how this book followed the main characters a bit more. Miki is super adorable and I was really invested in Kazu’s story :) 

Klara Hansen 

fatru tamzil

Di buku kedua ini, rasa-rasanya cerita-cerita yang ada jauh lebih menghangatkan hati. Karena kita sudah mengenal lebih baik karakter-karakternya, jadi rasanya apa yang terjadi pada karakter-karakter ini lebih mengukuhkan rasa sayang kita sama mereka. Seperti biasa, Funiculi Funicula alias Before The Coffee Gets Cold mengambil premis orang-orang yang kembali ke masa lalu ataupun pergi ke masa depan, menyampaikan pesan untuk orang yang ditinggalkan atau meninggalkan. Barangkali, cerita yang paling mengena di benak saya adalah cerita soal Ibu dan Anak, dengan satu kalimat: "Tidak ada yang lebih menyedihkan dari seorang Ibu yang gagal mencegah anaknya mati." 

Lalu, Kazu, dan semua yang membaca ini: kalian sangat berhak bahagia. Mau peluk Kazu erat-erat, kamu kuat sayang, kamu berhak bahagia. 

Omong-omong, terjemahannya 👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻✨

Tales from the cafe

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