Sakura of Love. My Japanese Quest

Francesc Miralles is known worldwide primarily for his books on Japanese wisdom, «Ikigai: Japanese Secrets to a Long and Happy Life» and «Ikigai for Young Travelers through Life», co-written with Hector Garcia (Kiraim). «Sakura of Love. My Japanese Quest» from the series «Alphabet. Pulsations» is Francesc Miralles' first novel that can be classified as young adult. Enzo's friend, Amaya, dies of cancer. The young man is inconsolable and doesn't understand how to go on with his life. One day he receives a letter from the past and… sets off on a journey to Japan to fulfill Amaya's dream, leaving him a manuscript from a mysterious Blacksmith and a to-do list, which includes petting Hachiko's ear, listening to the sound of bamboo at sunset, and looking into the eyes of a snow monkey. While admiring the blooming sakura in Yoyogi Park, Enzo meets Izumi, an eccentric Japanese woman from England who came to Japan to learn more about her homeland. Meeting again a few days later on a bullet train heading to Kyoto, the young people decide to become traveling companions... The novel takes place in Japan. It is an adventure as well as an inspiring story about love and self-discovery, exploring various cultural aspects of the land of the rising sun that enchant readers and fans of Japanese culture. Within the pages of the novel, you will find a tea ceremony, Asian cuisine, the philosophy of life, the world of the «Ghibli» studio, the hikikomori phenomenon, and other traditional and modern elements of Japanese culture.