Summary

Before the Coffee Gets Cold is a captivating novel by Japanese author Toshikazu Kawaguchi that has taken the literary world by storm. Originally published in 2015, this international bestseller has sold over one million copies and has been translated into multiple languages. The story, which began as a play in 2010, revolves around a unique café in Tokyo that offers its patrons the extraordinary opportunity to travel through time.

At its core, the novel explores the profound question: “What would you change if you could go back in time?” Kawaguchi weaves together the tales of four customers who visit the café, each hoping to alter their past or glimpse their future. However, time travel comes with strict rules, the most crucial being that the journey can only last as long as it takes for the coffee to get cold.

The book's popularity has led to several adaptations, with the most notable being the 2018 Japanese film “Cafe Funiculi Funicula,” starring Kasumi Arimura. Plans for a television series adaptation were announced in October 2021, further cementing the novel's place in popular culture. Kawaguchi has also penned multiple sequels, expanding the universe of this enchanting tale.

Plot

In a small Tokyo café called Funiculi Funicula, customers have the extraordinary opportunity to travel through time. However, this unique experience comes with strict rules. Visitors can only use one specific seat, must remain seated during their journey, and most crucially, must return before their coffee turns cold—typically within an hour.

The novel follows four customers who seek to utilize this time-traveling service. Fumiko, a businesswoman, attempts to mend her relationship with her boyfriend who left for a job in the United States. Kohtake, a nurse, searches for a letter written by her husband, who now suffers from Alzheimer's disease.

The third customer, Hirai, a bar owner, tries to reconnect with her estranged sister. Finally, Kei, one of the café's co-owners, wishes to travel to the future to speak with her unborn daughter. Throughout these journeys, the café's staff, particularly the barista Kazu, play a supporting role in the unfolding stories.

Despite the allure of changing the past, the café's time travel comes with a significant caveat: no matter what occurs during these trips, the present remains unaltered. The characters must grapple with this limitation as they navigate their emotional quests, learning that while the past is immutable, the future remains open to possibility.

Themes

• The power of time travel and its limitations

• Regret and the desire to change the past

• The importance of human connections and relationships

• Acceptance of life's unchangeable circumstances

• The value of the present moment

• Love and its various forms (romantic, familial, platonic)

• The impact of choices and their consequences

Setting

Set in contemporary Tokyo, Before the Coffee Gets Cold unfolds primarily within the confines of a small, century-old café nestled in a narrow back alley. This intimate setting serves as the focal point for the novel's exploration of time travel and human relationships.

While the story is firmly rooted in modern-day Japan, the café itself seems to exist in a timeless bubble. Its vintage ambiance and long-standing traditions create a stark contrast with the bustling metropolis that surrounds it, offering visitors a unique respite from the fast-paced urban environment.

The café's most intriguing feature—a single chair that enables time travel—transforms this otherwise ordinary establishment into a nexus of past, present, and future. This blend of the mundane and the extraordinary within a confined space amplifies the emotional intensity of the characters' journeys, both literal and metaphorical.

Characters

• Kazu: The main barista at Funiculi Funicula café. Kazu is a stoic and knowledgeable figure who guides customers through the rules and intricacies of time travel. She has a deep understanding of the café's magical properties and often provides wisdom to those seeking to change their past. Despite her seemingly cold exterior, Kazu cares deeply for the café's patrons and their emotional journeys.

• Fumiko: A businesswoman who visits the café to try and repair her relationship with her boyfriend. Fumiko is determined to change the outcome of their last meeting before he left for the United States. Her story explores themes of regret, communication, and the complexities of long-distance relationships.

• Kohtake: A nurse whose husband is suffering from early-onset Alzheimer's disease. She visits the café hoping to find a letter her husband wrote before his condition worsened. Kohtake's journey touches on themes of love, memory, and the value of shared experiences.

• Hirai: A bar owner who seeks to reconnect with her estranged sister. Hirai's story delves into family dynamics, forgiveness, and the importance of expressing feelings before it's too late. Her time travel experience forces her to confront long-held resentments and misunderstandings.

• Kei: One of the café co-owners who attempts to travel to the future to meet her unborn daughter. Kei's unique request pushes the boundaries of the café's time travel rules and explores themes of motherhood, legacy, and the unknown future.

• The Ghost: A spectral figure that usually occupies the time-traveling seat. The ghost's occasional bathroom breaks provide the opportunity for customers to use the seat. Its presence adds an element of supernatural mystery to the café's atmosphere.

• Nagare: The owner of Funiculi Funicula café. Nagare maintains the establishment and its time-traveling traditions. He plays a supportive role in the background, ensuring the café continues to serve its unique purpose.

Quick facts

• The story originally began as a play in 2010 before being adapted into a novel in 2015.

• It was translated into English by Geoffrey Trousselot and published in Britain by Picador in September 2019.

• The novel has sold over one million copies worldwide.

• A sequel titled Before the Coffee Gets Cold: Tales from the Cafe was released in Japan in 2017.

• As of 2023, there are four sequels to the original novel in the series.

• The book has been compared to the American comedy series Pushing Daisies by some reviewers.

• In 2021, it was announced that the novel would be adapted into a television series by SK Global and The Jackal Group.

About the Author

Toshikazu Kawaguchi, born in Osaka, Japan in 1971, is a celebrated author and playwright. His literary career began in the world of theater, where he honed his skills as a producer, director, and writer for the theatrical group Sonic Snail. This experience laid the foundation for his future success in both stage and prose writing.

Kawaguchi's theatrical works include notable plays such as COUPLE, Sunset Song, and Family Time. However, it was his play that would later become the novel Before the Coffee Gets Cold that catapulted him to international recognition. This work, originally staged by 1110 Productions, earned Kawaguchi the prestigious grand prize at the 10th Suginami Drama Festival.

The transition from stage to page proved seamless for Kawaguchi. Before the Coffee Gets Cold, his debut novel, is an adaptation of his award-winning play. The book's unique premise and emotional depth resonated with readers worldwide, establishing Kawaguchi as a formidable presence in contemporary Japanese literature.

Kawaguchi maintains a relatively low profile. His work continues to explore themes of human connection, time, and the power of seemingly small moments—elements that have become hallmarks of his storytelling style. As his readership expands globally, Kawaguchi's influence on modern literature continues to grow, bridging cultural divides through the universal language of storytelling.