Literary · Contemporary fiction
Kitchen
Bestseller: about 20 million copies (estimate)After her grandmother dies, a young Tokyo woman is taken in by a friend and his unconventional mother, and finds quiet solace in kitchens while learning to live with loss.
Facts last checked 2026-10-17
- First published
- 1975
- Pace
- Slow
- Length
- Short
- Pages
- 153
- Format
- Standalone
Read this if you like short, gentle Japanese fiction about grief and small comforts.
Skip this if you want a plot-driven story with lots of incident.
The feel
Content warnings
Also reported by Hardcover readers:
Quick answers about Kitchen
- What is Kitchen about?
- After her grandmother dies, a young Tokyo woman is taken in by a friend and his unconventional mother, and finds quiet solace in kitchens while learning to live with loss.
- Who should read Kitchen?
- Read it if you like short, gentle Japanese fiction about grief and small comforts. Skip it if you want a plot-driven story with lots of incident.
- How long and how fast is Kitchen?
- It is a slow-paced, short read of about 153 pages, first published in 1975.
- Does Kitchen have content warnings?
- Content we flag: Grief, Death.
- Can I borrow Kitchen for free?
- Often, yes. Check Libby (OverDrive) to see whether your library lends Kitchen; the borrow button above searches it for you.
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Where to get it
| Store | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Borrow free | ||
| Libby / OverDrive | Free with a library card | Borrow free with Libby from Libby / OverDrive |
| Print, new | ||
| Bookshop.org | Check price | Buy new from Bookshop.org |
| Amazon | Check price | Buy new from Amazon |
| Ebook | ||
| Kobo | Check price | Buy ebook from Kobo |
| Google Play Books | Check price | Buy ebook from Google Play Books |
| Audiobook | ||
| Libro.fm | Check price | Buy audiobook from Libro.fm |
| Audible | Check price | Buy audiobook from Audible |
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