Herr Nakano und die Frauen

A wonderfully light book about happiness. "We don't deal in antiques, we deal in junk," says Mr. Nakano to Hitomi, who is applying for a part-time job in his store. The quirky Nakano, a man of the old school, loves not only beautiful old things but also beautiful young women. His shop, an enclave in the bustling heart of Tokyo, becomes a meeting place for charmingly eccentric individuals. Here, between a noodle stand and nude photos, the young saleswoman Hitomi and the errand boy Takeo gradually grow closer. However, Western influences and aggressive business methods do not spare Mr. Nakano's old-fashioned store. "A novel from another time. In the junk of the shop, those forms of old-fashioned elegance manifest, to which the novel also owes its charm.".