Loukko by 
Finnish writer Mia Kankimäki quits her job and embarks on an adventure to Japan in search of her soulmate—who happens to have lived more than a thousand years ago. Traveling to Kyoto, Mia sets out to research Sei Shōnagon, a brilliant writer and lady-in-waiting at the Heian-era court and the author of The Pillow Book. With no Japanese language skills and no formal training as a scholar, Mia navigates culture shock, academic uncertainty, and solo travel, producing a deeply personal and enchanting portrait of Japan, literature, and self-discovery.
Mesmerized by temples, cherry blossoms, kabuki theatre, Zen meditation, and tearooms, Mia finds an unexpected kindred spirit in Sei Shōnagon. Through reading The Pillow Book, she encounters a voice that feels strikingly modern—a woman who loves lists, observations, and naming the small things that make life elegant, irritating, or thrilling. The result is a warm, witty, and insightful exploration of time, distance, and the enduring connections between women writers across centuries.
“What a fantastic book. I don’t think I’ve ever read anything like it, and the effect was life-transforming.”
– Kulttuuri kukoistaa (“Culture Blooms”) -blog“While this book is a fantastic account of cross-cultural experiences, the author is also shrewd in pointing out that Sei Shonagon was a pioneer of blogging and poets, essay writers, movie directors and musicians across Europe and America have taken inspiration from The Pillow Book ever since the rise of feminism. The book includes abundant quotes from Sei Shonagon’s work, compelling readers to feel a lot closer to the remarkable woman.”
–Nikkan Gendai, 11.12.2021, Japan
Rights sold:
FINLAND: Otava (orig.)
CZECH REPUBLIC: Albatros Media / Motto
ESTONIA: Varrak
GERMANY: BTB
ITALY: Piemme
JAPAN: Soshisha
LATVIA: Zvaigzne
NETHERLANDS: Orlando
WORLD SPANISH: Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial Mexico
Reading material:
English sample & synopsis, German & Italian PDFs
