Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

Today I will be explaining the book “Before the Coffee Gets Cold” by Toshikazu Kawaguchi.

It’s a very famous book originally written in Japanese and translated into English. The book is part of a series with two or three parts, though I haven’t read the later parts yet.

This book contains four stories:

1. The Lovers
2. Husband and Wife
3. Sisters
4. Mother and Child

All the stories revolve around the theme of time traveling, which is a fascinating concept. Some people want to travel to the past, while others want to visit the future. Let’s dive into these stories and see why this book has garnered so much attention.

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Story 1: The Lovers

The story begins with Fumiko and Goro. They meet in a café because Goro has something important to tell Fumiko. Fumiko suspects Goro is going to break up with her, and she’s right—Goro tells her he got a job offer in America and is planning to move there.

Although Fumiko wants to stop him, she can’t bring herself to ask him to stay. She doesn’t want to appear weak and wishes to seem brave, even though deep down, she wants him to stay at any cost. Goro leaves for America, and a week later, Fumiko regrets not stopping him.

Fumiko then learns that the café offers time travel, so she goes there to travel back to the day Goro left. However, the café has some strict rules for time traveling:

1. The time you can spend in the past is very short.
2. You can only meet someone who has previously visited the café.
3. You must drink the coffee before it gets cold, or you won’t be able to return to the present.
4. There is only one chair in the café that allows time travel, and it is occupied by a ghost.

The ghost only leaves the chair once a day to use the restroom. Fumiko waits for that moment, sits in the chair, and travels to the past. She meets Goro again but remembers one important rule—the present cannot be changed, no matter what you do in the past.

Still, Fumiko talks to Goro, and he tells her they’ll meet again in three years. As the coffee starts getting cold, she drinks it and returns to the present. That’s how the first story ends.

Story 2: Husband and Wife

The second story is about Kotake and her husband, Fusagi, who suffers from memory loss due to Alzheimer’s. Fusagi visits the café daily, carrying an envelope meant for his wife. However, he no longer remembers that Kotake is his wife, even though she works at the café.

Fusagi cannot travel to the past himself, so Kotake is asked to go back ten years to meet him before he developed symptoms. Kotake agrees, and during their conversation, Fusagi realizes she is from the future. He gives her the envelope, telling her to drink the coffee before it gets cold.

When Kotake returns to the present and reads the letter, Fusagi expresses his wish for them to stay together, even if he forgets who she is. This story highlights the enduring nature of love, even in the face of memory loss.

Story 3: Sisters

The third story revolves around Hirai, the café waitress, and her younger sister, Kumi. Hirai had run away from home, and Kumi often visited the café to persuade her to return. One day, Kumi dies in an accident after leaving the café, which devastates Hirai.

Filled with guilt, Hirai decides to time travel to apologize to Kumi and promise to visit their family. Although she knows the present cannot be changed, Hirai meets Kumi and apologizes. Kumi forgives her and tells Hirai to live her life without guilt. After the time travel, Hirai finally decides to visit her family’s home as promised.

Story 4: Mother and Child

The final story is about Kei, the café owner, who is pregnant but has a heart condition. Her doctors tell her she can either live or give birth to the child, but not both. Despite this, Kei wants to have the baby. She asks to time travel to the future to meet her unborn daughter.

Even though Kei knows the future cannot be changed, she wants to see her child. Kazu, another café worker, allows her to time travel. Kei meets her daughter, who is five years old, and spends a few precious moments with her.

After returning to the present, Kei gives birth to her daughter but sadly passes away during childbirth.

Conclusion

Before the Coffee Gets Cold is a collection of heartwarming and emotional stories about time travel and second chances. However, the key theme is that no matter what you do in the past, the present cannot be changed. What matters are the memories you create in the past, which can bring comfort in the present.

If you get the chance, I highly recommend reading this book. It’s truly a touching and emotional read. If you enjoyed this summary, please follow our other stories.