Cozy lit, a fiction subgenre from Japan and Korea, has charmed its way around the globe, and it’s easy to understand why. Pop one in your earbuds and prepare to be whisked away to a warm, snug coffee shop with rain beating against the windows, the resident cat slinking around for a cuddle, lo-fi music on the playlist, and a fragrant, homey stew that’s just arrived at your table.
Ready to be transported? Whether you prefer realistic fiction, mysteries, or fantasy, there’s something to entice and soothe everyone in the calming world of Japanese and Korean cozy lit.
What would you do if you could travel back in time? Discover the internationally bestselling novels of Toshikazu Kawaguchi’s Before the Coffee Gets Cold series, now a worldwide phenomenon and BookTok sensation. Heartwarming, wistful, mysterious, and delightfully quirky, these stories are the like a balm for the spirit and a joy to to listen to.
A quietly powerful story of hope, friendship and connection, Michiko Aoyama's beloved bestseller is a celebration of everyday encounters. Its subtle portrayal of the magic of community will lodge itself in every listener's heart as the eclectic cast of characters find healing in their lives—though they may not always find it in the ways they expect.
“What are you looking for?” So asks Tokyo’s most enigmatic librarian. For Sayuri Komachi is able to sense exactly what each visitor to her library is searching for and provide just the book recommendation to help them find it. This inspirational tale shows how, by listening to our hearts, seizing opportunity and reaching out, we too can fulfill our lifelong dreams.
Bookish high school student Rintaro Natsuki is about to close the secondhand bookstore he inherited from his beloved bookworm grandfather. Then, a talking cat appears with an unusual request. The feline asks for—or rather, demands—the teenager’s help in saving books with him. The world is full of lonely books left unread and unloved, and the cat and Rintaro must liberate them from their neglectful owners.
Tucked away in an old building at the end of a narrow alley in Kyoto, the Kokoro Clinic for the Soul can only be found by people who are struggling in their lives and genuinely need help. The mysterious clinic offers a unique treatment to those who find their way there: it prescribes cats as medication. Patients are often puzzled by this unconventional prescription, but when they “take” their cat for the recommended duration, they witness profound transformations in their lives, guided by the playful, empathetic, occasionally challenging yet endearing cats.
In Japan, cats are a symbol of good luck. As the myth goes, if you are kind to them, they’ll one day return the favor. And if you are kind to the right cat, you might just find yourself invited to a mysterious coffee shop under a glittering Kyoto moon. This particular coffee shop is like no other. It has no fixed location, no fixed hours, and it seemingly appears at random. It’s also run by talking cats.
Meet a dying postman with a cat named Cabbage and a very unusual problem: the Devil wants to make deals. Trade one thing from existence for an extra day of life? Sure, why not! What could go wrong? This Japanese bestseller follows one man through the world's weirdest week, as everyday objects vanish and he discovers what actually matters. It's funny, heartbreaking, and philosophical—as if It's a Wonderful Life had a baby with The Twilight Zone.
The Travelling Cat Chronicles is a life-affirming anthem to kindness and self-sacrifice that shows how the smallest things can provide the greatest joy. With his crooked tail—a sign of good fortune—and adventurous spirit, Nana the cat is the perfect companion for the man who took him in as a stray. And as they travel in a silver van across Japan, with its ever-changing scenery and seasons, they will learn the true meaning of courage and gratitude, of loyalty and love.
More Japanese and Korean cozy lit
