Michiko Aoyama’s novel What You Are Looking For Is in the Library is a work of contemporary Japanese fiction and Aoyama’s debut adult novel. She previously wrote for a Japanese newspaper based in Sydney, Australia, and published a children’s series in Japanese following the life of a young girl named Mimi. What You Are Looking For Is in the Library is organized into five chapters, each of which presents the first-person narrative of a primary character. Over the course of the novel, narrative, formal, and thematic connections emerge between the chapters and the characters’ seemingly disparate storylines. Tomoka Fujiki, Ryo Urase, Natsumi Sakitani, Hiroya Suda, and Masao Gonno all live in Tokyo, Japan in the same municipal ward, and they all feel isolated and alone. Once the characters find their way to the Hatori Community House, they make connections with the librarian, Sayuri Komachi. Komachi gives them book recommendations and handmade gifts that help them rethink their circumstances. The characters’ experiences inspire the novel’s thematic explorations of the Search for Meaning and Direction, the Importance of Community and Connection, and the Transformative Power of Literature.

This guide refers to the 2020 Hanover Square Press hardback edition of the novel translated by Alison Watts.

Content Warning: The novel references mental health topics including depression and anxiety.

Plot Summary

The novel opens with 21-year-old Tomoka Fujiki’s story. Tomoka lives alone in Tokyo, Japan. Since finishing college, she has been working in the women’s clothing department at a general merchandise store called Eden. Taking the job has let her stay in the city, but the work gives her no pleasure. After an altercation with a customer one day, Tomoka tells her coworker, Kiriyama, about her vocational frustrations. Kiriyama opens up to Tomoka about his own career path and suggests that she visit the Hatori Community House if she’s interested in cultivating new skills and changing her life.

Tomoka starts taking a computer course at the community center. One day after class, she wanders into the center’s adjacent library and confers with the librarian, Sayuri Komachi, about computer-related book recommendations. Komachi gives Tomoka some helpful titles, including the surprising children’s book, Guri and Gura. Komachi also gifts Tomoka a hand-felted frying pan. Tomoka reconnects with the Guri and Gura children’s story. Reading the book gives her the idea to try cooking for herself and cleaning her apartment. Meanwhile, she starts to change her attitude at work and continues spending time with Kiriyama. She tells herself that her life can be different if she makes small changes over time.

The narrative shifts to Ryo Urase’s story. At 35, Ryo feels discouraged with his life. He is working as an accountant for a furniture manufacturer and is often misused by his boss and coworkers. He wishes that he could quit the job and open his own antique store, but he doesn’t have the money or the time to do so. Meanwhile, his girlfriend, Hina, gets to stay at home and cultivate her online jewelry business. One day, the couple goes to the community center for a lecture on minerals, and Ryo finds himself wandering into the library. Komachi gives him some book recommendations on opening a storefront and a surprising book on worms. Ryo spends the following weeks reading, making new connections, and formulating business plans. He decides to keep his office job and start his antique business at the same time.

The narrative shifts to Natsumi Sakitani’s story. Forty-year-old Natsumi is the loving mother struggling to care for her two-year-old. After giving birth, Natsumi lost her editor job at the magazine Mila and has felt unsatisfied ever since. She doesn’t like her new information resources job and feels unsupported by her husband when she’s home. When she meets Komachi at the library and starts reading the Door to the Moon book she recommended, Natsumi wonders if she can change her life by changing her job. Her friends help her get a position at Maple Publications, and she feels happier.

The narrative shifts to Hiroya Suda’s story. At 30, Hiroya feels discouraged, alone, and lost. He’s living at home with his mom in Tokyo but doesn’t have a job or a community. He has always wanted to be an artist and went to school for illustration, but he can’t find a job in his field. Then one day, he wanders into the Hatori Community House library and starts chatting with Komachi about old manga series. She gives him several book recommendations that change how he’s been thinking about his life. Attending his high school reunion, reconnecting with his former classmate, and taking a part-time position at the community center give him a renewed sense of purpose.

The narrative shifts to Masao Gonno’s story. When Masao turns 65, he retires from his job at a cookie company where he’s worked for 42 years. At first, Masao feels relieved that he won’t have to report to the office every day, but his retirement soon proves immobilizing. He doesn’t have any friends and feels invisible and unwanted. One day, his wife encourages him to attend a Go class at the community center, and Masao ends up visiting the library. His conversation with Komachi makes him reflect on his life. Over time, he connects with former friends and rekindles his relationship with his daughter. He even starts to read and write poetry. He starts to feel happier and realizes that he needs to take advantage of each individual day.