Book
The healing hippo of Hinode Park : a novel / Michiko Aoyama ; translated from the Japanese by Takami Nieda.
"Nestling at the bottom of a five-storey apartment block is the children's playground, Hinode Park. If you look to the side, standing on stubby legs, is a hippo. Its upturned eyes give it a teary look, yet for decades, its quiet power has sustained the hearts of one community. Meet the neighbours who will reach out to kabahiko: Kanato presses his head to the hippo's cheek, hoping to recover the stellar marks he once scored; Sawa, a lonely new mother, strokes its mouth, hopes to connect as she once did when she was an award-winning retail assistant; Chiharu, a wedding-planner, hopes to be able to listen for the happiness of others; Yuya avoids sports day with a fake injury, only to find he really is in pain. Despite Kazuhiko's fading eyes from too much editorial work, he will learn to see life's everyday wonders."--Publisher.
Record details
- ISBN: 9781335016331 (hardcover)
- Physical Description: 243 pages : illustrations ; 19 cm
- Publisher: Toronto, ON : Hanover Square Press, 2025.
Content descriptions
| General Note: | "First English-language edition published in Great Britain in 2025 by Doubleday, an imprint of Transworld Publishers."--Title page verso. Translated from the Japanese. |
| Language Note: | In English, translated from the Japanese. |
Search for related items by subject
| Subject: | Healing > Fiction. Hippopotamus > Fiction. Hope > Fiction. Interpersonal relations > Fiction. Playgrounds > Fiction. Statues > Fiction. |
| Genre: | Domestic fiction. Magic realist fiction. Novels. |
Available copies
- 0 of 1 copy available at Tsuga Consortium.
Holds
- 0 current holds with 1 total copy.
Show Only Available Copies
| Location | Call Number / Copy Notes | Barcode | Shelving Location | Status | Due Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stroud Branch | FIC Aoyam | 31681010435196 | FICTION | Checked out | 12/11/2025 |
- Baker & Taylor
In a small community, an eclectic group of residents?â?ranging from a failing student to a lonely mother?â?seek comfort, connection, and unexpected healing at a playgroundâs legendary hippo ride said to cure ailments through its mysterious, magical touch. - Harlequin
The enchanting new novel by the multimillion-copy bestselling author of What You Are Looking For Is in the Library, about five strangers who each seek comfort from a healing hippo ride.
Nestled at the bottom of a five-story apartment block in the community of Advance Hill is the children's playground in Hinode Park. If you look to the side, standing on stubby legs, is a hippo. Its upturned eyes give it a teary look, yet for decades, its quiet power has sustained the hearts of one community. According to urban legend, if you touch the exact part of the hippo where you have an ailment or wound, you will see swift signs of recovery.Â
Meet the apartment residents who each find their way to Kabahiko:- Kanato, who hopes in vain to recover the stellar marks he once scored;
- Sawa, a new mother with no friends, wishes to be able to communicate as she once did when she was an award-winning retail assistant;
- Chiharu, off work as a wedding-planner, longs to listen better for the happiness of others;
- Yuya avoids sports day with a fake injury, only to find he really is in pain;
- Kazuhiko, despite his fading eyes, seeks to see life's everyday wonder.
A quietly powerful story of hope, friendship and connection, Michiko Aoyama's beloved bestseller is a celebration of everyday encounters. Its subtle portrayal of the magic of community will lodge itself in every reader's heart as the eclectic cast of characters find healing in their livesâthough they may not always find it in the ways they expect.
