Available in English at last, the international bestsellerfrom one of Japan’s most acclaimed authors, a touching tale of a broken familycontending with the pain of the past to live in the present, helped by theunforgettable dog who becomes their lifeline.

Sakura is the story of a family who is happy, until itisnt. Skipping back and forth in time, it begins when the narrator, Kaoru,receives a letter from his estranged father announcing he will be home in Osakafor New Years. The letter spurs Kaoru to go back to his childhood home, andthough he is apprehensive at returning, his spirits are unexpectedly liftedwhen he is greeted by Sakura, the family dog.

Growing up, the Hasegawas were the perfect family. Kaorusloving parents doted on their children. Kaorus baby sister, Miki, was cute andcharismatic, and his older brother, Hajimea natural leader, athlete, andcharmerwas the superstar. The middle child, Kaoru was good at school, but nota star student, friendly with girls but never popular. He was content to existin Hajimes shadow, and occasionally bask in his light. Then Hajime wasinvolved in a tragic accident that fractured the Hasegawas, with nothing tokeep them together but memories and melancholy.

Returning home, Kaoru and his family must find the strengthto reckon with the past and pick up the pieces of their shattered lives.Luckily, there is Sakura, who somehow has managed to stay happy. Whats hersecret? As the Hasegawas learn to let go, it is Sakura who holds the key tohelp them move forward.

A major bestseller in Japan now available in English, Sakurais a tender, bittersweet, funny, and beautifully told tale about the magic andmysteries of familial love, from one of Japan’s most acclaimed writers.

Translated from Japanese by Allison Markin Powell

About the Author

Kanako Nishiis a Japanese writer and artist.She is the author of the novelsSakura,which was a majorbestseller in Japan;Tsutenkaku(Osaka Tower), whichwon the Sakunosuke Oda Prize;Fukuwarai(Lucky Laugh),which received the first Hayao Kawai Prize; andSaraba!, which wonthe prestigious Naoki prize in 2015. She was namedVogue JapansWoman of the Year in 2015 and amongGrantas Best of Young JapaneseNovelists 2016. Several of her books have been adapted for film. Born in Tehranin 1977, Nishi grew up in Cairo and Osaka and lives in Tokyo.