Tokyo, Japan

Tokyo is the novel’s dominant present-day setting, primarily during the mother’s winter visit and the son’s early-spring routines after she leaves. The city’s density, speed, and constant translation pressures both characters, forcing them to confront what they can and cannot communicate across cultural and emotional distance. Tokyo also houses the son’s chosen community, so the setting becomes the ground on which he defends his independence and builds a workable life that does not depend on returning home.

Shin-Ōkubo

Shin-Ōkubo is the neighborhood where the mother first wanders alone and where she repeatedly returns during her stay. Its small streets, cafes, and crowded sidewalks allow the mother to reclaim agency through walking, learning routes, and choosing where to spend time when her son resists closeness. The area also holds Ben’s bistro, which becomes a refuge that helps the mother imagine...