Reading The Kamukawa Food Detectives felt like sitting down to a comforting bowl of ramen — warm, rich, and full of hidden ingredients that surprise you with every bite. I picked up this book expecting a cozy food mystery, but what I got was something deeper: a slice-of-life investigation story with heart, culture, and a quiet yet engaging pace that left me both full and curious.
Set in a fictional Japanese town, the story follows a small team of local officials turned unofficial “food detectives” who investigate the ingredients for a lost dish that their clients have had in one point in their lives, sometimes becoming core memories of their pasts.
What I love is the richness of the ingredients and the stories behind each dish. Here, there are no mysteries-but the depth of human emotions associated with each unforgettable dish.
It's similar to the food culture here in Zamboanga City where every dish brings core memories with loved ones, and how sharing a meal can feel deeply personal. Tetsuya Honda really captures that sense of food as a reflection of people’s lives. The writing is subtle, with each case unfolding like a mini-episode that touches on topics like family traditions, quick road trips, sentimental moments, and how food is both comfort and a recurring memory.
The lead character, Yuki, is soft-spoken but observant, and her sensitivity to people’s feelings — not just facts — makes her a very refreshing detective. I also enjoyed how the other characters (the clients) had distinct personalities that added flavor to the events in the book as they unfolded.
My only wish? How I wish I could try out the food described in the book for myself. As a reader who lives for food, and coming up with book recommendations (this month being Nutrition Month -please check out my previous blog post recommending food reads), this is an easy read and my brain is curious as to how these dishes taste like.
I could only imagine, layer by layer, following how each set menu is prepared and presented to the father-daughter duo's tandem hopeful clients who visit the quaint restaurant.
This is the kind of book that I’d recommend if you're in the mood for something cozy.
It’s not flashy, but it lingers with you — like the taste of miso soup on a drizzly evening.
This could even be a grown up version for fans of Kiki's Delivery Service, or anyone who enjoys a quick read, and an intersection of food, family, memories and light mystery.
I’m definitely hoping for more volumes or even a drama adaptation. In the meantime, I’ll be rethinking the stories behind every dish I eat — even the humble satti. 🍜✨
No comments:
Post a Comment