How Kyoto Breaks Your Heart

This collection explores a young woman's transformative journey in Kyoto, detailing her vibrant experiences as a tour guide and the complexities of friendship.

In How Kyoto Breaks Your Heart, Florentyna Leow shares her journey as a young woman navigating life in Kyoto. Feeling uncertain about her future, she seizes an unexpected opportunity to work and live with an old acquaintance in a quaint house nestled in the hills. As she embarks on her new role as a tour guide, she immerses herself in the vibrant culture of Kyoto, leading tourists through its renowned landmarks while simultaneously crafting her own intimate map of the city. This includes hidden gems like a smoky jazz kissa, a beloved cat with a penchant for katsuobushi, and the warm companionship of Yamaguchi-san, an elderly lady who bestows upon Florentyna a cherished Japanese name.

As Florentyna settles into her new life, her bond with her housemate deepens, turning their shared kitchen into a sanctuary overlooking a lush community garden. Here, the duo experiences the highs and lows of their friendship, which mirrors the changing seasons and the lifecycle of the persimmon tree in their backyard. The intensity of their connection is palpable, yet as time passes, tensions arise, and the once-vibrant relationship begins to fray. Florentyna's narrative captures the bittersweet essence of friendship and the inevitable changes that life brings.

How Kyoto Breaks Your Heart is a poignant exploration of love, loss, and the transformative power of place. Through her essays, Leow invites readers to reflect on the complexities of human connection and the beauty of a city that forever alters her heart and spirit.