Tsubaki Stationery Store

By: Ito Ogawa, Cat Anderson - translator

Brought to you by Penguin.

You always told me that writing is life itself.

After many years abroad, Hatoko reluctantly returns to Kamakura to take over the stationery store left to her by her late grandmother. As the custodian of the store, she also inherits the profession of public scribe, a role Hatoko trained for as a child under the guidance of her strict grandmother.

As the locals seek out Hatoko's help, she takes on all manner of requests: writing letters of greeting, condolence, farewell, love, and more on behalf of those who come to her. A local community forms around Hatoko and the store, and, when the secrets of her late grandmother begin to unravel, Hatoko learns that the role of the scribe requires much more than putting ink to paper.

Set to the rhythm of the four seasons and the Japanese rituals and festivities that come with them, Tsubaki Stationery Store is a charming story about the importance of community and the reconciliatory power of the written word.

© Ito Ogawa 2026 (P) Penguin Audio 2026

Critic reviews

You can smell the scent of the ink emanating from the page. Perhaps after reading, your hands will pause in their typing and you'll find yourself taking out that fountain pen that has been sleeping at the back of a drawer. And for stationery lovers and lovers of Kamakura, the book is an irresistible treasure trove of knowledge that will have you sighing with delight. (Kaori Nakahara)

A sparkling tale, composed against the backdrop of Kamakura and woven together by characters who are charming, characters to love. (Michiko Watanabe)