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

Sakurais the story of a family who is happy, until it isnt. 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 Osaka for New Years. The letter spurs Kaoru to go back to his childhood home, and though he is apprehensive at returning, his spirits are unexpectedly lifted when he is greeted by Sakura, the family dog.

Growing up, the Hasegawas were the perfect family. Kaorus loving parents doted on their children. Kaorus baby sister, Miki, was cute and charismatic, and his older brother, Hajimea natural leader, athlete, and charmerwas the superstar. The middle child, Kaoru was good at school, but not a star student, friendly with girls but never popular. He was content to exist in Hajimes shadow, and occasionally bask in his light. Then Hajime was involved in a tragic accident that fractured the Hasegawas, with nothing to keep them together but memories and melancholy.

Returning home, Kaoru and his family must find the strength to 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 her secret? As the Hasegawas learn to let go, it is Sakura who holds the key to help them move forward.

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

Translated from Japanese by Allison Markin Powell

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

• Publisher: HarperVia
• Publish Date: March 03, 2026
• Pages: 304
• Language: English
• TypeBook: Hardcover
• EAN/UPC: 9780063389946
• Dimensions: 8.3 X 5.5 X 0.9 inches | 1 pound