She is flat like a picture. But her colours are even more vivid more than usual, she looks exactly how a painting of Ms Ice Sandwich would look.

Observing Ms Ice Sandwich

Set in a small Japanese town, the novella follows a quiet boy navigating first love, friendship, and grief, all through his growing fascination with a mysterious woman who works at the sandwich counter. He is drawn to her in a way that he doesn’t understand and uses his own creativity to capture his fascination. Our un-named boy comes from an unconventional Japanese family, where he lives with his mother and his paternal grand-mother, only his friend Tutti understands this dynamic due to living alone with her father, and the two build a relationship on these unique circumstances. 

Reading Between the Lines: A Neurodivergent Lens

Without fail, it’s nine-hundred-fifty [steps] exactly to Ms Ice Sandwich

One of the unique characteristics for this novella is the fact that the protagonist demonstrates several traits that are indicative of neurodivergence, and though Kawakami does not directly address this, it is very hard to ignore. Yet this is not a bad addition. It adds a depth not often seen in Japanese fiction, giving his character unexpected layers, which was a nice addition, considering the short length of the book.

Love and Grief

Those Grandma’s and this Grandma. The Grandmas I have in my head and the Grandma lying here with her eyes closed, quietly sleeping. Which is the real Grandma?

It is the scenes with his Grandma that carried the heaviest weight for me. As someone who has lost her grandparents, but was also particular close to my paternal grandmother, this sub-plot was heartbreaking and yet relatable. The love he has for his Grandma, and clearly the love she has for him, is palpable whilst also being manipulated by the decline of Grandma’s health. Kawakami captured this relationship beautifully and provided emotional depth the resonates with the reader a long time after they’ve finished the book.

Style & Structure: Simplicity with Subtle Depth

Kawakami created an amazing balance between simplicity and emotional depth. Though a novella, the narrative is complete and would not benefit for floral prose. The simplicity of the text adds to the character traits of our protagonist, and creates an innocence to the story as it explores sensitive developmental questions.

Coloured rain pours down on it, and before you realise it, the surface has completely changed. I picked up my brush, which I’ve soaked in this rain, take slight breath, and swallow.

Small, Strange, and Softly Stunning

I cannot recommend this novella enough, especially if you like quirky little character studies. This is perfect for the reader who adores soft and warm Japanese translated fiction, and perfect for getting you out of a slump. Ms Ice Sandwich is quiet, brief, but unforgettable — just like a passing glance at Ms Ice Sandwich herself.

Title: Ms Ice Sandwich
Author: Mieko Kawakami
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Publisher: Pushkin Press
Edition Publication Date: 2020

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