Before We Say Goodbye by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

The Aroma of Nostalgia

There’s something comforting about returning to a familiar place, isn’t there? Like walking into your favorite cafe, where the barista knows your order by heart and the ambiance wraps around you like a warm blanket. That’s the feeling Toshikazu Kawaguchi evokes in “Before We Say Goodbye,” the fourth installment in his beloved “Before the Coffee Gets Cold” series.

As we step back into the subterranean Cafe Funiculi Funicula, the air is thick with the scent of freshly ground beans and… is that a whiff of magic? For loyal readers, it’s a homecoming. For newcomers, prepare to be enchanted by a world where the impossible becomes possible, if only for the length of time it takes for a cup of coffee to cool.

A Fresh Pot of Stories

Kawaguchi serves up four new tales in this latest volume, each as rich and complex as a perfectly pulled espresso:

1. The Husband with Something Important Left to Say

Professor Kadokura, an absent-minded archaeologist, seeks to deliver a long-overdue message of love to his comatose wife.

2. The Woman Who Couldn’t Bid Her Dog Farewell

Sunao grapples with the guilt of falling asleep during her beloved pet’s final moments.

3. The Woman Who Couldn’t Answer a Proposal

Hikari wrestles with regret and the chance to accept a proposal from her now-deceased boyfriend.

4. The Daughter Who Drove Her Father Away

Michiko yearns to mend fences with her father, lost in the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami.

Each story is a delicate blend of heartache and hope, regret and redemption. Kawaguchi’s characters are achingly human, their struggles universally relatable. Who among us hasn’t wished for just one more conversation with a loved one? One more chance to say the words left unsaid?

The Bittersweet Aftertaste

What sets Kawaguchi’s work apart is the exquisite tension between the fantasy of time travel and the harsh reality of its limitations. Yes, you can journey to the past—but you can’t change the present. It’s a cruel rule, but one that forces characters (and readers) to confront the true nature of their regrets and desires.

This constraint elevates “Before We Say Goodbye” from mere wish-fulfillment to a poignant exploration of closure, acceptance, and the power of words spoken in the present moment. The inability to alter outcomes doesn’t diminish the catharsis of these encounters; if anything, it amplifies their emotional impact.

A Smooth Blend of Old and New

Fans of the series will find comfort in familiar elements:

• The enigmatic Kazu, our stoic guide through the rules of time travel
• The ghost in the white dress, silently reading in her corner
• The precise ritual of pouring coffee that initiates each journey

Yet Kawaguchi introduces fresh flavors too. The inclusion of historical events like the 2011 earthquake adds depth and context to the personal stories. We also get tantalizing glimpses into the lives of the cafe’s staff, hinting at mysteries yet to be fully explored.

A Note on Translation

Geoffrey Trousselot’s translation deserves praise for maintaining the gentle, meditative tone of Kawaguchi’s prose. The dialogue feels natural, and cultural nuances are smoothly conveyed without excessive explanation.

Brewing Technique: Kawaguchi’s Storytelling Style

Kawaguchi’s writing is like a carefully crafted pour-over coffee—methodical, precise, and deceptively simple. His prose is unadorned, allowing the emotional weight of each situation to shine through. Short sentences and repetition create a hypnotic rhythm, lulling the reader into the dreamy atmosphere of the cafe.

The author excels at capturing small, telling details: the crunching of snow underfoot, the play of light on a coffee cup, the subtle changes in a character’s expression. These moments ground the fantastical premise in a tangible reality.

Room for Improvement?

If there’s a criticism to be made, it’s that the formula can feel a bit predictable by this fourth book. The stories follow a similar arc, and some readers might crave more variation or deeper exploration of the cafe’s mysteries. However, like a favorite brew, there’s comfort in the familiar – and Kawaguchi still manages to find new emotional notes within his established framework.

Pairing Suggestions: Books for Similar Tastes

If you enjoy the blend of magical realism and human drama in “Before We Say Goodbye,” consider these literary pairings:

• “The Midnight Library” by Matt Haig
• “The Time Traveler’s Wife” by Audrey Niffenegger
• “If Cats Disappeared from the World” by Genki Kawamura
• “The Phone Booth at the Edge of the World” by Laura Imai Messina

The Full Menu: The “Before the Coffee Gets Cold” Series

For those new to Kawaguchi’s work, here’s the full lineup of cafe visits:

1. “Before the Coffee Gets Cold” (2015) – The original that introduced us to the cafe’s time-traveling chair.
2. “Tales from the Cafe” (2017) – A second serving of bittersweet reunions and revelations.
3. “Before Your Memory Fades” (2019) – Exploring themes of remembrance and letting go.
4. “Before We Say Goodbye” (2021) – Our current cup, focusing on final farewells and unspoken words.
5. “Before We Forget Kindness” (2023) – The upcoming fifth installment, not yet translated into English.

Each book stands alone, but reading in order allows you to fully appreciate the subtle evolution of the cafe and its patrons.

Final Sips: Who Should Visit This Cafe?

“Before We Say Goodbye” is best savored by:

• Fans of gentle, character-driven magical realism
• Those who appreciate stories that balance melancholy with hope
• Readers looking for a meditative, introspective experience
• Anyone who’s ever wished for just one more conversation with someone they’ve lost

The Lingering Aroma

As I close the covers of “Before We Say Goodbye,” I’m left with a warmth that lingers long after the last page. Kawaguchi’s stories are deceptively simple, yet they resonate on a deeply emotional level. They remind us of the weight our words carry, the importance of expressing our feelings while we have the chance, and the bittersweet beauty of accepting what cannot be changed.

In a world that often feels chaotic and unpredictable, there’s solace to be found in these tales of connection and closure. Kawaguchi gently suggests that while we can’t rewrite the past, we can always choose how we move forward. Sometimes, that’s as simple—and as profound—as savoring a cup of coffee with someone we love, before it gets cold.

A Personal Postscript

You know, as I sit here typing this review, my own cup of coffee growing colder by the minute, I can’t help but think of the conversations I wish I could have. The grandparents I never got to meet as an adult, the childhood friend who moved away before I could say a proper goodbye. Kawaguchi’s books have a way of stirring up those bittersweet what-ifs, don’t they?

But here’s the thing—they also remind me to cherish the people in my life right now. To pick up the phone and call that friend I’ve been meaning to catch up with. To tell my parents I love them, even if it feels a little awkward. Because we never know when our own metaphorical coffee might get cold.

So, dear reader, I challenge you: after you finish “Before We Say Goodbye” (because trust me, you’ll want to), put the book down and reach out to someone important to you. Share a cup of coffee, virtual or otherwise. And most importantly, say the things that need saying – before the moment passes.

After all, isn’t that the true magic Kawaguchi’s been brewing all along?