Three Kilometers to the Moon by Shin Iyohara - Book Review

A man heading to scout out a place to die gets into a taxi.
The taxi driver begins to talk about the moon.

A collection of short stories.
They all start with a somewhat dark atmosphere, but end on a good note, leaving me feeling glad that I read them.

A woman approaching forty with no boyfriend falls for a weather geek she met through a friend, but...
The woman's sense of hope, however slight, is poignant.
Pretending to be interested in something you're not is such a relatable experience.

An elementary school student living with grandparents while parents are separated and deciding on a school.
Through conversations with an old man digging for ammonites, the child learns things and begins to see their own current situation.
It is painful for a mature child to understand their surroundings too well. Perhaps it is the adults who have no relation to them who offer the best words.

A younger brother discovers that his older brother is giving money to a drifter uncle.
At first glance, he seems like a troublesome relative, but a story is revealed that shows there is more to him than that. The ending resonates like music.

A mysterious customer might be an alien. A father and daughter run a diner; the mother has passed away, and the daughter has developed insomnia.
Interweaving scientific topics, the way the feelings for the deceased mother and wife are expressed, and how the distance between the mysterious customer and them closes, felt natural and skillful.
Comparing moving to a land where you have no connections to being an alien is also a nice touch.

A housewife who prepares for her mother-in-law's birthday but goes mountain climbing instead.
Worn down by her family, she hesitates, but what is the decision she finally makes?
It is frightening how families can casually render the person who takes care of them invisible.
It is also good to be surprised by this kind of decision.
I want her to stick to it, regardless of the opposition.
However, being strict with the daughter while coddling the son and giving him an allowance despite him being unemployed—what is that about, leading the daughter to feel she is being rejected?
I thought, the daughter is finding her own place through her own efforts, so you should acknowledge her.
He is a male author, but I am surprised at how well he depicts this kind of psychology.