John Murray wins five-way auction to secure Yuta Takahashi’s series The Chibineko Kitchen

John Murray has won a five-way auction to secure Yuta Takahashi’s series The Chibineko Kitchen.

Executive publisher Jocasta Hamilton and editorial assistant Katharine Morris struck a six-figure deal, acquiring world English rights for two books in the series from Bruno Onuki Reynell at New River Literary, on behalf of Kohei Hattori at The English Agency and Kobunsha. Rights have been sold in 15 territories so far, across Europe and Asia, and US rights were pre-empted by John Siciliano at Penguin Random House.

The first book in the series will be published in the autumn, with the second coming in spring 2025.

"Kotoko travels from Tokyo to reach the Chibineko Kitchen, a restaurant perched by the sea in Chiba Prefecture," the synopsis says. "Still reeling from the sudden death of her brother, she has heard that the food served there can bring a loved one briefly back from the dead. Hardly daring to believe it can be true, she sits down to the kagezen, the remembrance meal, and takes a bite. Then the gulls fall silent and the air grows hazy."

Hamilton and Morris commented: "It is impossible not to fall in love with The Chibineko Kitchen, which has all the ingredients for success. There is a quiet magic to the story that feels completely unique, and yet its themes of grief, family and memory are universal. We are so excited to bring this nourishing novel about the healing power of food to (bookshop) tables."

Takahashi added: "I’m very grateful for my work being given the opportunity to be read all around the world. Please do enjoy this story of cats, miracles, and the sea, taking place in a small coastal town in Japan."