Book Review: The healing hippo of hinode park by Michiko Aoyama

There is an orange hippo in Hinode Park. Its name is Kabahiko. It’s a stationary kind of ride, one without a spring or anything. Something sturdy enough to climb on and sit on its back. And that’s about it. Except Kabahiko has a legend. If you touch the hippo on its body where you need healing, you will get better.

This Japanese novel is like other Japanese translations I’ve read — it doesn’t follow the story of a single protagonist. The format is short stories set in a particular place. There are three prominent places in this book — Hinode Park, Advance Hill Condominiums, and Sunrise Cleaners.

Advance Hill Condominiums is a newly built apartment block, and the main protagonists of each mini-story are residents of this building. Throughout, you will meet:

• Kanato, who wants healing for his head. He used to get good grades, but now he is struggling to pass tests.
• Sawa, who wants healing for her mouth. She used to be a top saleswoman, but now she fumbles to say what’s really on her mind.
• Chiharu, who wants healing for her ears. She was starting to build her career, but now she is becoming pessimistic. There are things she doesn’t want to hear.
• Yuya, who wants healing for his leg. He doesn’t want to run the race…