Lead Review (The Convenience Story By The Sea)

• Book: The Convenience Store by the Sea
• Location: Kitakyushu
• Author: Bruno Navasky (Translator), Sonoko Machida

Review Author: tripfiction

“Tenderness” is a convenience store chain that operates only on Kyūshū. Their motto: ‘Caring For People, Caring For You’. This is how care in the community is executed, everyone living in and around The Golden Villa Tenderness on Ōsakamachi Avenue in Mojiko are furnished both practically and emotionally to seek succour at this “konbini” (say the word out loud and you will understand how the concept of ‘convenience’ store has been assimilated into the Japanese language).

The short novel opens with women seeking the attention of Mr Shiba, who clearly relishes the adoring crowd. It’s a little too sexualised, perhaps, for the main tenet of the evolving stories, slightly creepy, if I am honest, so it’s not an ideal prelude for the rest of the book.

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Soon, however, the author gets into her stride and the story develops into another feel-good set of stories set in Japan, providing a warm, fuzzy feel of comfort. Each story segues into the next, building up a sense of community and the individuals involved. There is a good appreciation of food as the locals come to feast on dishes that are readily available.

The novel is engagingly translated by Bruno Navasky and it is very easy and quick to read. Generally I would say that it isn’t quite up there with some of the other exquisite Japanese texts, penned by Michiko Aoyama, Hisashi Kashiwai or Satoshi Yagisawa, for example. It is certainly evocative of Japan, both in place and manners, but, at times, the  overall story feels just a touch rudderless.

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