Miracles of the Namiya General Store

Miracles of the Namiya General Store (ナミヤ雑貨店の奇蹟, Namiya Zakkaten no Kiseki) is a 2012 Japanese novel written by Keigo Higashino and published by Kadokawa Shoten.[1][2]

Miracles of the Namiya General Store
First edition (Japanese)
AuthorKeigo Higashino
CountryJapan
LanguageJapanese
Published2012
PublisherKadokawa Shoten
Awards7th Chūōkōron Prize
ISBN978-4-04-110136-0

Plot

In 1980, the Namiya General Store becomes popular with citizens after its owner, Yūji Namiya, accepts peoples' advice letters to seek advice for anything troubling them, similar to an agony aunt. When the store is closed, people would drop their letters through a hole in the roll-up door, collected in a mailbox, and would receive a handwritten reply from Namiya in a milk box hung outside. In 2012, three delinquents, Atsuya, Shota & Kohei, take shelter in the abandoned Namiya General Store after committing some wrongdoings. Staying until the morning, the boys' pillaging is mysteriously interrupted by an advice letter being posted, although nobody is outside. The letter is addressed to the General Store and traditionally was written by someone to consult about worries. Upon reading, the boys realise it was written in 1980, 32 years ago. When Kohei decides to reply, the mysteries and secrets of the old General Store comes to light, as their letters transcend time and space to touch a variety of characters, revealing the pasts of Namiya, and follows the many miracles that intertwine the lives of the seemingly unrelated cast.

Characters

Atsuya

The leader of the delinquent trio, Atsuya is an orphan who left home. He has a somewhat condescending, cold response to the letters of advice. In the movie, he becomes a nurse after the incident.

Kohei

Atsuya's childhood friend and fellow orphan, he is sensitive and plays the mediator between Atsuya and Shota. Out of boredom, he triggers the story's chain of events by wholeheartedly replying to the advice letters. In the movie, he becomes a chef after the incident.

Shota

Atsuya's childhood friend and fellow orphan, he is headstrong and sometimes gets into arguments with Atsuya. In the movie, he becomes an aerospace technician after the incident.

Yūji Namiya

The benevolent owner and sole manager of Namiya General Store, who take it upon himself to respond to every troubled letters of advice that comes his way. As he struggles with pancreatic cancer, he dedicates the remainder of his life to reply the letters, in hopes that he can change the course of someone's life for the better.

Reception

The novel won the 7th Chūōkōron Prize.[2] It has had sales of more than 1.6 million copies in China.[1]

Film adaptations

Japanese film

A Japanese adaptation directed by Ryūichi Hiroki was released on 23 September 2017.[1]

Cast

Chinese film
Main article: Namiya

A Chinese adaptation produced by Emperor Motion Pictures and Wanda Media was released on 29 December 2017. It stars Jackie Chan as the titular shop owner.[3]

References
  1. Patrick Frater (October 28, 2015). "Wanda, Emperor Set For Chinese Adaptation of 'Namiya General Store'". variety.com. Retrieved October 29, 2015.
  2. "中央公論文芸賞受賞作品一覧". chuko.co.jp (in Japanese). Chuokoron-Shinsha. Retrieved October 29, 2015.
  3. "Jackie Chan is in "The Miracles of the Namiya General Store"". November 8, 2017.


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