September 2024
The Lantern of Lost Memories by Sanaka Hiiragi
Translated by Jesse Kirkwood
I picked up this book because I was drawn to the soft colours of the cover. This is usually how all books are chosen by me. If the cover is pretty you can bet I'll have a look and see if the inside is as wonderful as the outside. A pretty cover doesn't always guarantee that I'll like the contents, however, when I read the synopsis of this one I knew a good story awaited me and I took it home with me.
It is about a man named Hirasaka who runs a photography studio. But this is no ordinary studio; the people who visit it have passed away. To help ease the transition they are invited to take one last look at their most cherished moments through a selection of photos, one for each year of their life. Some photos, however, have faded and worn. These are the memories most often revisited. To restore these images each visitor is allowed to go back to that day and photograph it anew.
This book reminded me of why I like Japanese story telling so much. Human connection and overcoming adversity, tragedy and hardships are often at the center of it. There's heart and perserverence in the characters. As is the case with the three visitors Hirasaka receives. By going back to capture these faded, treasured moments they pay a special kind of respect to that bit of good in their lives.
"Once you get here, it doesn't matter how wealthy or important you were in life. All you're left with are your memories."
While I was moved by the overall message of the book and the beautiful way in which it ended, I have to say, my favourite parts of the book were when Hirasaka develops the film of the newly taken photos. The photography element is what enticed me to read this book in the first place and the descriptions of the developing process brought me back to my old school days when I stood in a darkroom for the first time ever; almost in a sensory way. The absolute pitch blackness which only heightened the smelll of the chemicals and the way the photos would just appear out of nowhere in that red light. Digital is more convenient, but nothing will ever beat the magic of film.
I suppose for the moment that is one of my most treasured memories and I have this book to thank for its resurfacing in my mind.
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