Toshikazu Kawaguchi

In a small back alley in Tokyo, there is a café that 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 and Tales from the Cafe comes another story of four new customers, each of whom is hoping to take advantage of Café Funiculi Funicula's time-travelling offer. Among some familiar faces from Kawaguchi's previous novels, readers will also be introduced to a daughter, a comedian, a sister, and a lover, each with something they wish they had said differently.

With his signature heartwarming characters and immersive storytelling, Kawaguchi once again invites the reader to ask themselves: what would you change if you could travel back in time?

A Novel

Before Your Memory Fades

思い出が消えないうちに

Something I strongly believe is that we mustn't allow the death of a person to be the cause of unhappiness. The reason for that is simple: if we let everyone who dies be a cause for unhappiness,that would mean people are being born to become unhappy. But the opposite in fact is true. People are always born for the sake of happiness.

'I'd be happy to be born, even for only one day, if one day was all I had.

If I get born, then who knows what the future will be? No one really knows. Maybe the world doesn't end at all. That's why I choose number one.'

I want to do my best and always be with you.

"But in spite of that, I'm not going to discard my dream. I'll never throw it away. So, I'll go to Tokyo. Life without enough food might continue. But unfortunately for you, you become my wife. I'm saying it happens, so it will happen!'

Perhaps I've always liked Nanako. I've just always taken it for granted and simply never questioned it. Maybe my dream and Nanako are inseparable.

Reiji was now realizing how important the ordinary life that we take for granted is and how much happiness can be experienced from having someone you care about by your side.

Things that you put off saying until tomorrow are sometimes never said.

It will be too late tomorrow, when the world ends.

But in this world that was not going to end, maybe what he needed to do now was to be honest about his feelings. He needed to forget everyone else and just tell the person who was important to him what was needed to be said.

We do not know what the future holds for us. I want to see Nanako's face now! What 's the harm in that? If she is feeling anxious, what's wrong with wanting to say something to her! I want to tell her it s going to be OK. I want to tell her that she doesn't have to become Setsuko. I don't know the point of saying that, but considering that Nanako goes to America no matter what, then what's the harm in telling her that before she goes? Will it cause strife for someone? No, it wouldn't hurt anyone.

'If it was just a matter of travelling back to the past, anyone could do it. But this cafe chooses people... By its rules... And some people hear those rules and give up. But those people who are resolved to go back, despite the rules, have a reason for doing so. It doesn't matter what that reason is. If there is someone they must see, or someone they should see... even if the present reality won't change... then, that's all that matters.'

But it felt to him as if Sachi was asking, 

If the world were to end tomorrow, which would you do?

Inside every person is an inherent capability to make it through any kind of difficulty. Everyone has that energy. But sometimes when that energy flows via our anxiety valve, the flow can be restricted. The greater the anxiety, the greater the strength needed to open the valve and release the energy.

That strength is empowered by hope. You could say that hope is the power to believe in the future.

'In the half a month I've got left, I'll also live with a smile.'

'But what's really strange is the thought of dying is not so scary...

Is just that I'm worried that you will forget how to smile when I die...'

'The only thing he's better at than anyone is his ability to never give up on a dream.'

People's true feelings are not in plain sight.

'She is always inside me. She's living inside us both...' Us both, of course, meaning him and his daughter Miki.

'Don't ever forget me until the end of ages.'

'Because my love runs deeper than any grudge.'

'I won't let you say it's over just because I'm gone.'

'Even though I die, as long as you don't forget me, I'll always be in your heart. The reason you kept working hard even after I died was that I was still in your heart, right?'

'With you gone, there's nothing to live for.'

For Setsuko, it was a typical conversation but for Todoroki, it was the first time he had laughed with her for five years.

Setsuko, as she lived in Todoroki's memories, had died in spring of that year. So of course, she hadn't aged.

The more precious those feelings, the stronger the sense of disorientation. The reason for that was simple. You can reverse time and meet the person you most dearly love, but you cannot reverse death. That was the rule. No matter how hard you try, you cannot change the present.

He was enveloped in a deep grief, and the stronger his desire to fulfil her wishes became, the greater his sense of loss must have felt.

The weakest entry in the series. Most characters blur together with nearly identical reasons for returning to the past, making their stories feel repetitive. The ghost’s backstory had real potential but was barely explored—a missed opportunity. The theme of death is present but lacks depth. Still, it was nice to return to the café’s quiet charm and Kawaguchi’s thoughtful reflections.

Liana

this might be my favorite out of the series so far. i don't know how or why, but this felt much warmer, like i was there with them in the cafe, a regular observer of how it's like to be a part of their family. i felt like each story was given more focus so i was able to form a deeper connection with each character and that's what made the whole book so good. moreover, i think that former characters like nagare and kazu were also able to showcase development which i really loved to see. the addition of new characters, especially sachi (my pookiebear!! my favorite!!) and reiji and nanako were lovely. i truly felt the seasons passing and beginning as i was reading. i now hold this book dear to my heart 💌

Di sebuah lereng indah tak bernama di Hakodate, Hokkaido, berdiri Kafe Dona Dona yang menawarkan layanan istimewa kepada pengunjungnya: perjalananan melintasi waktu. Seperti di Funiculi Funicula yang ada di Tokyo, hal tersebut hanya dapat dilakukan jika berbagai peraturan yang merepotkan dipenuhi dan dengan secangkir kopi yang dituangkan oleh perempuan di keluarga Tokita. Mereka yang ingin memutar waktu adalah seorang wanita muda yang menyimpan dendam kepada orangtua yang menjadikannya yatim piatu kesepian, seorang komedian yang kehilangan tujuan hidup setelah berhasil mewujudkan impian mendiang istrinya, seorang adik yang khawatir kakaknya takkan bisa tersenyum lagi setelah kepergiannya, dan seorang pemuda yang tak mampu mengungkapkan cinta terpendam kepada sahabatnya. Mungkin perjalanan mereka hanya akan menyisakan kenangan. Namun, kehangatannya akan membekas dan barangkali, pada akhirnya, menumbuhkan tekad baru untuk menjalani hidupÉ

Funiculi Funicula#3: Dona Dona

Maybe the book is entitled Before Your Memory Fades because us humans are afraid of forgetting our loved ones who passed away. 

This book gives us different perspective about death and while it is scary to be left behind, maybe it is also scary to leave people behind, especially when you haven't told your loved ones your true feelings. Or maybe we're just afraid to miss on life. 

I love the last paragraph of the book as it gives us another notion about death that can be applied by anyone. 

While it is scary be left behind, maybe we can still live a happy life; or we can at least continue to be happy in homage to our loved ones who already passed. 

Maybe the book is entitled Before Your Memory Fades because us humans are afraid of forgetting our loved ones who passed away. 

This book gives us different perspective about death and while it is scary to be left behind, maybe it is also scary to leave people behind, especially when you haven't told your loved ones your true feelings. Or maybe we're just afraid to miss on life. 

I love the last paragraph of the book as it gives us another notion about death that can be applied by anyone. 

While it is scary be left behind, maybe we can still live a happy life; or we can at least continue to be happy in homage to our loved ones who already passed. 

This book was my favourite in the series. I liked how they had a whole new setting and lots of new characters. I liked the ending. Overall it’s a good book.

Olivia

Didn’t like it as much as the book before, but it flowed very nicely and I finished it in a day. Made me think of morality and making the most of your life

Rebecca Joy Tan

Another comforting read, although the theme being a little repetitive, with each sub plot, yet did shed a tear or two. The ending was bittersweet but aligned with the overall theme.

Not a huge fan of this book. Honestly, only the first book of the series has been good. However, there were parts that were thought provoking and emotional - specially parts where the characters answer the "one hundred questions" if the world were to end tomorrow. 

Natasha Mok

Kat Albanese

Even though I wanted to be consistent and give all the books in this series a 3.5 stars, I couldn't resist giving this one a higher rating. It had all the good elements the previous books had, but it also made me feel emotional at times, which warrants an extra 0.5 star. I was worried at first I wouldn't like the change in setting, but it was surprisingly fine and refreshing. 

blue

a change of setting made this book feel refreshing when compared to the previous two but the whole time travel scenario does start to feel a little repetitive even though we get to know more characters who are connected to the main cast in one way or another

as i was about to finish i felt that this book didnt make me feel as emotional as the previous two until that last passing hit me hard

Lettuce Wrapped Cabbage Cat

a change of setting made this book feel refreshing when compared to the previous two but the whole time travel scenario does start to feel a little repetitive even though we get to know more characters who are connected to the main cast in one way or another

as i was about to finish i felt that this book didnt make me feel as emotional as the previous two until that last passing hit me hard

I loved it. I have no words right now. I’m devastated. (Also I love Sachi so much) 

Valentina

- Pantes judulnya beda, karena emang nama dan letak cafenya berbeda, meski keajaibannya sama.
Cafe yg dikelola oleh Yukari ini kemudian dititipkan kepada anaknya, Nagare yg juga pernah mengelola cafe Funiculi Funicula di Tokyo.
Latar waktu bergulir di tahun 2030 dengan latar tempat di sebuah cafe dekat Pelabuhan Biru Hakodate (sampul buku ini sangat indah dan menggambarkan latar tempat di novel ini).
- Terdapat empat kisah didalamnya, yang seperti biasa, selalu menyentuh dan menghangatkan hati. Ada yg kembali ke masa lalu, ada juga yg datang dari masa depan.
1. Kisah Anak Perempuan yang Tidak Bisa Mengatakan "Dasar Menyebalkan".
2. Kisah Komedian yang Tidak Bisa Bertanya "Apa Kau Bahagia?"
3. Kisah Seorang Adik yang Tidak Bisa Mengatakan "Maaf"
4. Kisah Pemuda yang Tidak Bisa Mengatakan "Aku Suka Padamu"

- Menurutku, kalo ga baca buku pertama dan kedua, masih bisa ko mengikuti alur di buku ini. Karena latar belakang tokoh dan peraturan cafenya dijelaskan lagi dengan detil.
- Hantu penunggunya tetap ada, cmn beda bentuk dan kelihatannya ga terlalu ketus spt hantu di buku 1 dan 2. Latar belakang hantu ini blm dibahas, mungkin bakal dibahas di buku keempat (?)
- Dari buku ini aku belajar, meski gabisa mengubah kenyataan, dengan berani ambil resiko, setidaknya kita bisa mengubah perasaan. Nah perasaan2 itu yang meski sedikit, bisa mengubah hidup seseorang menjadi lebih baik lagi.
- Ada banyak hal yg masi bikin aku penasaran, selain Hantu penunggu, sosok Yukari juga ingin aku kenal lebih jauh.
Trus, ini kan latar waktunya 2030 ya, aku gapaham apa emang konsepnya begitu atau ada maksud lain, tentang pemakaian kartu pos, aku pikir udah ga jaman (?). Tapi di buku ini masih sering dipakai. Kupikir bisa diganti dengan email? Atau aplikasi lain yg lebih canggih.
- Tokoh yg paling aku suka tuh si Sachi!
Lucu banget kalo ngebayangin dia ada di dunia nyata. Anak umur 7 tahun, tapi rajin baca buku, sehari minimal bisa abis 2 buku berat dong. Mana dia kan yg bertugas jadi pramusaji utk melintasi waktu, rasanya doi ini bener2 spesial.
- Aku kepengen banget kisah2 ini entah buku 1/2/3 dibikin film. Keknya bagus yaa, magicalnya kerasa gitu, dengan visual yg lebih tegas.
- Aku rekomendasikan buku ini utk pembaca yg menginginkan bacaan ringan, menghangatkan hati, penuh keajaiban dan sarat makna. Empat kisah didalamnya bener2 bisa bikin kita bisa menghargai hidup, orang terdekat dan bersemangat dalam menyongsong masa depan.

Quotes fav : 
"Hati manusia memang tidak bisa ditebak. Ada kalanya manusia tidak bisa mengungkapkan perasaan karena secara sepihak menebak perasaan lawan bicara mereka, bahkan meskipun apa yang ada di hati si lawan bicara sebenarnya tidak seperti yang diduga."

"Manusia punya kekuatan untuk melalui kesulitan apapun. Setiap orang memiliki energi itu, tetapi terkadang menjadi terhambat oleh keran bernama kecemasan. Makin besar kecemasan itu, makin sedikit kekuatan untuk memutar keran tersebut.
Kekuatan itu dikuatkan oleh harapan. Kau juga bisa menyebutnya dengan kekuatan untuk memiliki keyakinan terhadap masa depan."

"Menurutku,  kematian tidak seharusnya menjadi alasan seseorang untuk tidak bahagia. Sebab, tak ada orang yang tak akan mati. Jika kematian adalah penyebab ketidakbahagiaan, berarti semua orang dilahirkan untuk tidak bahagia. Hal itu tidak benar. Setiap orang tentu dilahirkan demi kebahagiaan."

Dona Dona

- Pantes judulnya beda, karena emang nama dan letak cafenya berbeda, meski keajaibannya sama.
Cafe yg dikelola oleh Yukari ini kemudian dititipkan kepada anaknya, Nagare yg juga pernah mengelola cafe Funiculi Funicula di Tokyo.
Latar waktu bergulir di tahun 2030 dengan latar tempat di sebuah cafe dekat Pelabuhan Biru Hakodate (sampul buku ini sangat indah dan menggambarkan latar tempat di novel ini).
- Terdapat empat kisah didalamnya, yang seperti biasa, selalu menyentuh dan menghangatkan hati. Ada yg kembali ke masa lalu, ada juga yg datang dari masa depan.
1. Kisah Anak Perempuan yang Tidak Bisa Mengatakan "Dasar Menyebalkan".
2. Kisah Komedian yang Tidak Bisa Bertanya "Apa Kau Bahagia?"
3. Kisah Seorang Adik yang Tidak Bisa Mengatakan "Maaf"
4. Kisah Pemuda yang Tidak Bisa Mengatakan "Aku Suka Padamu"

- Menurutku, kalo ga baca buku pertama dan kedua, masih bisa ko mengikuti alur di buku ini. Karena latar belakang tokoh dan peraturan cafenya dijelaskan lagi dengan detil.
- Hantu penunggunya tetap ada, cmn beda bentuk dan kelihatannya ga terlalu ketus spt hantu di buku 1 dan 2. Latar belakang hantu ini blm dibahas, mungkin bakal dibahas di buku keempat (?)
- Dari buku ini aku belajar, meski gabisa mengubah kenyataan, dengan berani ambil resiko, setidaknya kita bisa mengubah perasaan. Nah perasaan2 itu yang meski sedikit, bisa mengubah hidup seseorang menjadi lebih baik lagi.
- Ada banyak hal yg masi bikin aku penasaran, selain Hantu penunggu, sosok Yukari juga ingin aku kenal lebih jauh.
Trus, ini kan latar waktunya 2030 ya, aku gapaham apa emang konsepnya begitu atau ada maksud lain, tentang pemakaian kartu pos, aku pikir udah ga jaman (?). Tapi di buku ini masih sering dipakai. Kupikir bisa diganti dengan email? Atau aplikasi lain yg lebih canggih.
- Tokoh yg paling aku suka tuh si Sachi!
Lucu banget kalo ngebayangin dia ada di dunia nyata. Anak umur 7 tahun, tapi rajin baca buku, sehari minimal bisa abis 2 buku berat dong. Mana dia kan yg bertugas jadi pramusaji utk melintasi waktu, rasanya doi ini bener2 spesial.
- Aku kepengen banget kisah2 ini entah buku 1/2/3 dibikin film. Keknya bagus yaa, magicalnya kerasa gitu, dengan visual yg lebih tegas.
- Aku rekomendasikan buku ini utk pembaca yg menginginkan bacaan ringan, menghangatkan hati, penuh keajaiban dan sarat makna. Empat kisah didalamnya bener2 bisa bikin kita bisa menghargai hidup, orang terdekat dan bersemangat dalam menyongsong masa depan.

Quotes fav : 
"Hati manusia memang tidak bisa ditebak. Ada kalanya manusia tidak bisa mengungkapkan perasaan karena secara sepihak menebak perasaan lawan bicara mereka, bahkan meskipun apa yang ada di hati si lawan bicara sebenarnya tidak seperti yang diduga."

"Manusia punya kekuatan untuk melalui kesulitan apapun. Setiap orang memiliki energi itu, tetapi terkadang menjadi terhambat oleh keran bernama kecemasan. Makin besar kecemasan itu, makin sedikit kekuatan untuk memutar keran tersebut.
Kekuatan itu dikuatkan oleh harapan. Kau juga bisa menyebutnya dengan kekuatan untuk memiliki keyakinan terhadap masa depan."

"Menurutku, kematian tidak seharusnya menjadi alasan seseorang untuk tidak bahagia. Sebab, tak ada orang yang tak akan mati. Jika kematian adalah penyebab ketidakbahagiaan, berarti semua orang dilahirkan untuk tidak bahagia. Hal itu tidak benar. Setiap orang tentu dilahirkan demi kebahagiaan."

This was my least favorite of the series so far, but still good. I just didn’t connect with the characters as much. Also the audiobook version…the way he does one of the character’s accent was a bit like nails on a chalkboard but that was probably a me issue lol. Overall I still really like the series and am looking forward to reading the next one! 

Coley T

repetitive and just a little boring… 🫣 I wish the author had elaborated more on the storyline than individual details. very heartwarming story though ☕️

mia ☕️

3.5... might be a me problem but i loved the other two books dearly. the characters did not connect with me on this one :(

the stories are sweet and touching, but so much like the first book. wish he would’ve switched it up even a little bit 

petrina

Kate

"Something I strongly believe is that we mustn't allow the death of a person to be the cause of unhappiness. The reason for that is simple: if we let everyone who dies be a cause for unhappiness, that would mean people are being born to become unhappy. But the opposite, in fact, is true. People are always born for the sake of happiness."

Okay. When I die, bury me with this book. 🥹

Bianca Boscaro

gostei mais dos outros mas esse ainda segue o mesmo padrão, histórias fofas e emocionantes e difíceis.

Tokijská kavárna Funiculi funicula není jediným podnikem v Japonsku, kde lze cestovat časem. V kavárně Dona dona ve městě Hakodate, kterou provozuje matka majitele tokijské kavárny Nagareho, je také možné vrátit se do minulosti nebo navštívit budoucnost. Pravidla tu platí stejná: do jiné doby můžete jen na tak dlouho, než vystydne káva. Ani tentokrát čtyři protagonisté realitu změnit nedokážou, mohou ale změnit svůj pohled na život – a tím i vlastní budoucnost. Příběh první Dcera, která nedokázala říct K čertu s vámi! Příběh druhý Komik, který se nedokázal zeptat Jsi šťastná? Příběh třetí Mladší sestra, která nedokázala říct Promiň. Příběh čtvrtý Mladík, který nedokázal říct Mám tě rád. Kdybyste se mohli vrátit do minulosti, s kým byste se chtěli setkat vy?

Než vzpomínky vyblednou

zase kouzelné a hezké. slabší než první díl (možná i než druhý, ale ten znám jen z převyprávění), něco tomu chybělo. i když nápad kavárny se stejným kouzlem a na jiném místě mi přijde moc super.

moc se mi líbí to propojení s ostatními díly, mé oblíbené pracovnictvo a stálé zákaznictvo kavárny, které už známe zas zažívá různé životní události na pozadí, zatímco se dozvídáme 4 příběhy různých lidí, kteří chtějí cestovat časem a změnit, ne sled události, ale jejich srdce. 

upřímně bych si tu knížku normálně nepřečetla, ale chceme v dramáku udělat divadelní hru o této kouzelné kavárně (byl to můj nápad, hihi), takže hledám jednotlivý příběhy, které bychom mohly*i ztvárnit

eve 

zase kouzelné a hezké. slabší než první díl (možná i než druhý, ale ten znám jen z převyprávění), něco tomu chybělo. i když nápad kavárny se stejným kouzlem a na jiném místě mi přijde moc super.

moc se mi líbí to propojení s ostatními díly, mé oblíbené pracovnictvo a stálé zákaznictvo kavárny, které už známe zas zažívá různé životní události na pozadí, zatímco se dozvídáme 4 příběhy různých lidí, kteří chtějí cestovat časem a změnit, ne sled události, ale jejich srdce. 

upřímně bych si tu knížku normálně nepřečetla, ale chceme v dramáku udělat divadelní hru o této kouzelné kavárně (byl to můj nápad, hihi), takže hledám jednotlivý příběhy, které bychom mohly*i ztvárnit

⋆｡°✩

The third novel in the international bestselling Before the Coffee Gets Cold series, following four new customers in a cafe where customers can travel back in time.In northern Japan, overlooking the spectacular view Hakodate Port has to offer, Cafe Donna Donna 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 and Tales from the Cafe comes another story of four new customers, each of whom is hoping to take advantage of the cafe's time-travelling offer. Among some familiar faces from Toshikazu Kawaguchi's previous novels, readers will also be introduced to:A daughter who couldn't say 'You're an idiot.'A comedian who couldn't ask 'Are you happy?'A younger sister who couldn't say 'Sorry.'A young man who couldn't say 'I like you.

A lot of the same old from the series, though this time the stories are set in a coffee shop in northern Japan. There is some link to the previous two but the new setting also gives an opportunity to freshen things up in a way and the book can be read as a standalone.

The book is still as sentimental as the previous installments but it is cosy; I am sure the recent cold and grey weather helped put me in the right mindset to be reading this. But there is also something very comforting in the series' acceptance of death as part of life.

My favourite incident in this one was "The Younger Sister". 

A lot of the same old from the series, though this time the stories are set in a coffee shop in northern Japan. There is some link to the previous two but the new setting also gives an opportunity to freshen things up in a way and the book can be read as a standalone.

The book is still as sentimental as the previous installments but it is cosy; I am sure the recent cold and grey weather helped put me in the right mindset to be reading this. But there is also something very comforting in the series' acceptance of death as part of life.

My favourite incident in this one was "The Younger Sister". 

Mia Caven

Coming soon! Before Your Memory Fades by Toshikazu Kawaguchi will be available Oct 11, 2022.

tori

I cried three times and enjoyed every moment. I hope there’s more to come for the series.

Before Your Memory Fades A Novel

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