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Combining the whimsy and possibility of The Midnight Library with the mystery and revelatory power of The Secret , a heartwarming and inspiring novel about a man on a magical ride who is unexpectedly offered a chance at happiness. After losing multiple contracts, Shuichi must make restitution to his company. Faced with this large, unanticipated debt, the trip to Paris he and his wife have been planning for a year must be canceled. Traveling to Europe was more than a vacation; it offered the hope of reaching their teenage daughter who has stopped going to school and will not leave her room. Feeling despondent and directionless, Shuichi believes he''s the unluckiest person in Japan. Then a strange taxi mysteriously appears at his door. The driver promises to take Shuichi not to a destination he needs, but to where his next opportunity will be. With nothing to lose, he settles into the backseat and embarks on a series of magical rides that will teach him surprising life lessons, including how luck is not inherent--it''s an investment built over time and even over generations. A compassionate and uplifting fable, The Lucky Ride will make you reconsider what''s important, how to be more present in your life, and empower you to create happiness not just for yourself but for those to come. Translated from the Japanese by Takami Nieda
About the author
Yasushi Kitagawa was born in Tokyo and raised in Saijo City in Ehime Prefecture. He graduated from Tokyo Gakugei University and in 1998 founded a tutoring school in Yokohama called so-mei. He began his writing career in 2005, and his unusual worldview is admired by many people. Many of his works have been translated into Chinese, Korean, Taiwanese, and Vietnamese. The Lucky Ride is his first novel in English.
Takami Nieda translates from Japanese into English and has received numerous residencies and grants in support of her translations, including the PEN/Heim Translation Fund. Her translations of Go by Kazuki Kaneshiro and The Color of the Sky Is the Shape of the Heart by Chesil were awarded the Freeman Book Award for YA Literature. She teaches writing and translation at Seattle Central College.
Summary
Combining the whimsy and possibility of The Midnight Library with the mystery and revelatory power of The Secret, Come along for the ride of a lifetime in this heartwarming Japanese bestseller, a story about recognizing opportunities, embracing happiness, and discovering what true fulfillment looks like.
What if a single journey could change everything for you? What if it could lead you to new possibilities, help you reconnect with loved ones, or bring peace to your past?
In this charming story, the unluckiest man in Japan is given a chance to flip his fortunes when a mysterious driver appears, offering him the opportunity to seize a new path. Life’s setbacks can often feel overwhelming, but in The Lucky Ride, you’ll embark on a journey of self-growth that shows us that luck isn’t something you’re born with—it’s a result of the choices you make and the positive energy you bring into the world.
Set off on this heartwarming adventure and discover that luck isn’t a random gift—it’s something you build over time, a treasure that can be passed down through the generations. Yasushi Kitagawa’s uplifting and compassionate parable will inspire you to find joy in every moment, recognize the blessings in your life, and understand that by living each day with a good spirit, you’re crafting your own luck, one ride at a time.
Translated from the Japanese by Takami Nieda
