Nagare Kamogawa and his daughter, Koishi, own a restaurant and detective agency in Kyoto. The restaurant is difficult to find and the detective agency specialises. The father and daughter rely on regular customers for the restaurant and a small advertisement in the Japanese Gourmet Monthly for agency clients.
There is no need to advertise the Kamogawa Diner as the food is superb. The Kamogawa Detective Agency’s claim to fame is the promise that Nagare will track down the recipe and the ingredients of a favourite dish a client has had in the past and has been unable to find elsewhere.
It’s an expensive exercise as clients come from all over Japan and, while Koishi looks after the restaurant, Nagare investigates far and wide.
Six of the many investigations undertaken by the agency are included in the book. The recipes are found; the ingredients obtained from the original source; the food is prepared, cooked and placed in front of the client. The smell and taste unlock forgotten memories that are not always pleasant. We are there to hear why.
The Kamogawa Food Detectives is gentle, absorbing, polished and thoughtfully translated.
Reviewed by Clive Hodges
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Hisashi Kashiwai was born in 1952 and was raised in Kyoto. He graduated from Osaka Dental University. After graduating, he returned to Kyoto and worked as a dentist. He has written extensively about his native city and has collaborated on TV programmes and magazines.
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