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博士の愛した数式 小川 洋子 — The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yōko Ogawa

A Gentle Novel About Memory, Math, and Human Connection


Author: 小川 洋子 Yōko Ogawa
English Title: The Housekeeper and the Professor
Genre: Japanese Literary Fiction, Human Drama, Mathematical Fiction
Recommended for: Fans of quiet, emotional storytelling; language learners looking for a rewarding Japanese novel

✍️ About the Author: Yōko Ogawa

Yōko Ogawa (小川 洋子) is one of Japan’s most acclaimed contemporary authors, known for her ability to capture deep human emotions through understated, elegant prose. Her writing often explores themes of memory, trauma, intimacy, and the quiet beauty in daily life. Ogawa has won numerous literary awards in Japan, including the Akutagawa Prize and Yomiuri Prize, and her works have been translated into many languages.
The Housekeeper and the Professor is perhaps her most internationally loved novel, praised for its tenderness, originality, and quiet emotional power.

🧮 Book Summary (No Spoilers)

博士の愛した数式 (The Housekeeper and the Professor) tells the story of a brilliant mathematics professor who suffers from a brain injury that leaves him with only 80 minutes of short-term memory. Despite this condition, his passion for numbers and kindness toward others remain deeply intact.

The narrator, a single mother working as his housekeeper, gradually forms a touching bond with him, as does her young son, whom the Professor nicknames "Root" because the shape of his head reminds him of the square root symbol (√). Through their interactions, mathematics becomes not just an academic topic, but a form of communication, affection, and trust.

📝 My impression: I thought the book moved at a comfortable pace. It wasn’t rushed, but it never felt slow. There’s a gentle sadness that runs through the story, especially when we’re reminded of the Professor’s memory loss, but it’s also heartwarming and full of small joys. There’s a subtle but satisfying twist near the end that deepens the emotional impact and left me thinking about the characters long after I put the book down.

🇯🇵 Is This Book Good for Japanese Learners?

Yes—highly recommended for JLPT N2–N1 level readers.

  • 🧠 Language: While it’s literary fiction, the sentence structures are relatively clear, and Ogawa’s style is elegant but accessible.

  • 🎧 Versions: Available in paperback, Kindle and there is a film adaptation. There was an audiobook version but it seems to have been removed from Audible (I will update if this changes).

  • 📚 Content: You’ll encounter realistic conversations, emotionally rich descriptions, and some light mathematical vocabulary.

Whether you’re looking to improve your reading fluency or simply enjoy a touching story in Japanese, this book is a great choice.

Where to Get It

Paperback and Kindle editions - Amazon Japan

Film Adaptation - Amazon Japan

🌀 Final Thoughts

博士の愛した数式 is one of those rare novels that leaves a lasting emotional imprint without relying on melodrama. The characters are ordinary, their lives simple—but through the lens of mathematics and memory, Ogawa turns their relationships into something almost sacred.
If you’re looking for a quietly powerful story, one that doesn’t scream but whispers with wisdom, this book is for you. And if you’re a language learner, it’s one of the best Japanese novels to read for both heart and brain.

🔁 Related Reads

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