I thank Mommy-Bear who introduced me to this book she loves the Japanese writer. I started by reading the back cover, and I immediately knew I was going to love it, because it talks about writing, calligraphy, epistolary letters and papers. These are themes that appeal to me and are part of my daily life (see my article “Taking the time to put words down”). This novel is very sweet and full of nuggets of happiness. I devoured it in half a day, letting myself be easily lulled by the words, witnessing Hatoko’s journey : she came back to Kamakura in her hometown after the death of the Elder (her grandmother)…