Chapter 1 The answer is in the milk box
Chapter 2 Harmonica in the middle of the night
Chapter 3: From Civic to Morning
Chapter 4 Silence is the Beatles
Chapter 5 Prayers from Heaven
Translator's Note

A novel that serves as a reply to those of us who want to visit the mailbox at every important turning point in life, even though it is ordinary, but hold something dear to our hearts.
"The Miracles of the Namiya General Store" is still a "masterpiece that will remain for a long time" to me.
Translated by Yang Yun-ok

■ The most amazing million-seller, "The Miracles of the Namiya General Store"

The audiobook 『The Miracles of the Namiya General Store』, which was released in a pre-serial format in November 2022, rose to the top of the audiobook bestseller list as soon as it was released (「Willa Audiobook, 'The Miracles of the Namiya General Store' Tops the List Upon Opening" (《Beta News》 2022.12.)), showing that the work's popularity, which is close to a syndrome, continues to this day, 10 years after the first edition was published.


"A 'not light' resonance for the 5-po generation - The Miracle of the Namiya General Store 'Top 10 Comprehensive Bestseller' for 3rd consecutive year" (《Culture Daily》 2015.08.) "5-year-old Japanese novel maintains its top 10 ranking" (《JoongAng Ilbo》 2017.08.) "This year's best-selling novelist is Japan's Keigo Higashino, and the book is 'The Namiya General Store... '" (《Culture Daily》 2019.12.) "You can tell just by looking at the cover... “The Secret to Bestsellers is ‘Drawings’” (Dong-A Ilbo, March 2022), “What Popular Loaned Books Have Been with the ‘Corona Blues’?” (Hankyoreh, May 2022), “What Are the Essential Conditions for Bestsellers These Days” (Chosun Ilbo, September 2022), etc. Along with the endless media coverage, it has also received the generous love of millions of readers, but “no one knows when this abundant run will stop” (Maeil Business Newspaper, June 2022).


The film of the same name (directed by Yuichi Hiroki) was released in February 2018, and it was presented on a domestic theater stage in August. The film was also re-released in 2020, so cultural interest surrounding this work remains high.
Furthermore, young people who were impressed by this book installed counseling mailboxes on the streets using the "Namiya General Store," the main setting in the novel and where mysterious counseling letters are exchanged, as a motif, created an anonymous application communication space, and middle and high school students set up Namiya counseling centers in their classrooms. 『The Miracles of the Namiya General Store』 has long since become a social phenomenon beyond a novel.


■ The generation-spanning bestseller, "The Miracles of the Namiya General Store"

The novel "The Miracles of the Namiya General Store," which parents and children read together and that resonates with teenagers and middle-aged people alike, ranked first in the most-read books in libraries nationwide in 2016 and again in 2021, five years later, ranked third, establishing itself as a steady seller loved by all.
Above all, it showed a pattern of readers from various generations reading equally, regardless of gender and age.
For example, according to the National Library of Korea's "2017 National Library Loan Status by Generation," this book ranked 4th among teenagers, 1st among those in their 20s, 3rd among those in their 30s, 2nd among those in their 40s, and 6th among those in their 50s. In particular, it ranked highly among both men and women in their teens to 40s, showing a strong reading passion.
This enthusiasm led to the popularity of author Keigo Higashino, and his works all appeared in the general book rankings at once. It can be said that “The Miracles of the Namiya General Store” is the book that opened “the golden age of Keigo Higashino” (Kyunghyang Shinmun, February 2018) in the bookstores.

▶ A story that resonates with everyone and evokes nostalgia for the times.

Is it right to leave a terminally ill lover's side, only to fulfill his wish? Years of striving for his dream have yielded no results, and with his parents aging, is it time to give up? The concerns that arrive at "Namiya General Store" are all difficult to answer.
The trio, who had suddenly become 'Namiya General Store' and were grumbling in their responses, were soon drawn into the sad story, and the readers who read the letters with them were able to have the experience of seriously thinking about the answer together.

In fact, the reason why these letters came to Namiya General Store was because, about 40 years ago, the owner of the store, grandfather Namiya Yuji, accepted pranks from children who asked him to give advice on their "Nayami?" (worries), and this place became known as the "Worries Counseling Center."
The novel, which captures a panorama of decades in one night, captures the nostalgia of a bygone era and the pain of the present, resonating with people of all ages as it captures the nostalgia of a bygone era and the pain of the present age. It depicts the bustling old neighborhoods of the 1970s, when general stores were still open, the youth who were crazy about the Beatles, and then the shopping districts that were transformed into splendid places during an unprecedented boom, the collapse of the bubble economy, and even the despair of the young generation due to the unemployment crisis of 2012.

▶ Warm advice that comes to mind when you feel lost on life's journey

Among the comments left by readers who have read the novel, there is one phrase that often stands out: “I wish I had a grandfather like Namiya.”
Grandpa Namiya, the central figure of the overnight miracle that occurred at this general store, responds to his son's comment, "It seems like this person has already made up their mind and sent the letter," by saying, "I don't care what advice you give me," after seeing a letter he received one day.
“There’s something I’ve realized over the years of reading counseling articles.
In most cases, the counselor already knows the answer.
“I just want to confirm through consultation that the answer is correct.” (Page 167)

Grandpa Namiya realized that in the end, the answers to the troubles he experiences are not found by others but are determined by him, and that simply having someone to listen to his troubles can be of great help.
Just as the answers written after much deliberation changed the lives of the counselors, those phrases have also brought comfort and courage to the lives of millions of readers over the past decade, and those words are still spreading far and wide, leading to experiences like, “When I was having a hard time, I happened to see a phrase from ‘The Miracles of the Namiya General Store’ on social media, and I was able to hold this novel in my hands once again, which I had read a long time ago.”

■ Published in Japan on March 28, 2012 · Published in Korea on December 19, 2012!
The 10-year record of "The Miracles of the Namiya General Store"

▶ The audiobook "The Miracles of the Namiya General Store" became a #1 bestseller upon its release in 2022.
▶ Ranked #1 in National Library of Korea's Loaned Literature category for the past 10 years (2021)
The 3rd most-viewed book in libraries nationwide
▶ 100th printing of the first edition published in 2020
▶ 2nd place in the 2010s bestseller list in 2019
2nd most-viewed book in libraries nationwide
The book that ranked 2nd most frequently on Yes24's bestseller list over the past 20 years
Aladdin Bookstore ranks 3rd in cumulative sales over 20 years
▶ 2018 Cumulative domestic sales of 1 million copies and global sales of 12 million copies
Aladdin Bookstore Readers' Poll: Best Japanese Novel Since the 1950s
The second most-viewed book in university libraries nationwide
The play "The Miracles of the Namiya General Store" ranked #1 as the most anticipated premiere, according to audiences.
▶ 2017: The best-selling novel in Korea over the past 10 years
Kyobo Bookstore's bestseller rankings have been in the top 10 for five consecutive years, a first in its history.
2nd most-viewed book in libraries nationwide
Interpark Books' Top 3 Most-Buy Books by Female Readers Over the Past 5 Years
The Miracles of the Namiya General Store officially invited to the 22nd Busan International Film Festival and topped the Japanese box office.
▶ #1 most-viewed book in libraries nationwide in 2016
▶ Ranked #1 in Seoul National University Central Library Loan Books in 2016 and 2017
▶ The most beloved foreign novels of 2015, 2016, and 2017
▶ 2013 Ministry of National Defense Jinjung Library Selection · Aladdin Bookstore · Yes24 Book of the Year
▶ Winner of the 7th Japan Chuo Koron Literary Award in 2012

■ Comments from domestic readers on "The Miracles of the Namiya General Store"

Such beautiful miracles that I want to recommend them to my loved ones.

Rereading a book is a very unusual thing for me.

It's been a long time since I read a book with my heart, not my head.

It's truly a life book.

A novel that made me reexamine my preconceptions about Japanese novels.

I usually borrow books from the library, but I wanted to buy this one and read it.

This is a book that I want to keep in mind for now and then take out of the bookshelf and read again when I think of it.

I became a fan of Keigo Higashino with just one work, wondering how the story and characters could be so tightly woven together.

I wish there really was someone like the old man at the Namiya General Store.

It gives me an opportunity to look back on my life!

Why did I only read this book now?

After reading it all, my heart feels tingly and I feel strange. You absolutely must read this book.

By the time you read the last page, you'll be exclaiming "Ah."

I felt a warmth welling up deep in my heart.

It was such a good book that I bought it again to give as a gift.