Poppy Kuroki is the author of the new novel Passage to Tokyo. Her other books include Gate to Kagoshima. She lives in the UK.
Q: What inspired you to write Passage to Tokyo, and how did you create your character Yui?
A: After writing Gate to Kagoshima, I wanted to continue writing about Japanese history. I was attracted to the idea of making book 2 about a natural disaster rather than a war, and the 1920s was such a richly cultural time that was fascinating to research.
I was surprised how many people don’t know much about the 1923 earthquake, and real accounts of it make for an incredible, and tragic, story.
Yui, in some ways, is everything I wish I was more of: unafraid, ready to stand up for people, and sassy along with it. She is cool and passionate, which is why Chiyo loves her so much.
Q: How did you research the novel, and what did you learn that especially surprised you?
A: I visited the museum in Tokyo that commemorates the earthquake. It’s well worth visiting, as it has artists’ depictions of the events (they can be very upsetting, so it’s best not to visit with children). They even have the remains of bits of wall, bicycles, etc., that were damaged by the fires.
I also did research on homosexuality and the attitudes towards it back then. Since Japan has never been a Christian country, there is no historical oppression of homosexuals (that I’m aware of) and I wanted to make sure I got it right for the book.
The theme of Passage to Tokyo is being with the one you love even if society frowns upon it, such as Chiyo’s parents, and I wanted to continue the theme.
Q: Can you say more about the relationship between this novel and your novel Gate to Kagoshima?
A: It’s not a direct sequel, in fact the character starts off in 1995 (10 years before Gate to Kagoshima) but for those who have read book 1, there are some easter eggs.
Q: What do you hope readers take away from the story?
A: As with Gate to Kagoshima, I hope people learn this important part of Japanese history, the bad and the ugly as well as the good. It would also be nice if readers could take away the reminder of the importance of family, both natural and found, and being with the person you love even through adversity.
Q: What are you working on now?
A: Book 3! It’s set in the 16th century this time, which was very different from the 19th and 20th century. It’s a lot of fun to write, with new characters in the present and maybe some easter eggs too…
Q: Anything else we should know?
A: Book 2 is out in January 2026 and Book 3 around January 2027. I also have a book released under the pseudonym Molly Reid called The Library of Second Chances, a cosy fantasy about a magic library in a small town in Derbyshire.
--Interview with Deborah Kalb
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