The Ex-Boyfriend’s Favorite Recipe Funeral Committee Summary, Characters and Themes

The Ex-Boyfriend’s Favorite Recipe Funeral Committee by Saki Kawashiro is a heartfelt novel that explores the complexities of love, heartbreak, and healing through the lives of its central characters. The story follows Momoko Yuuki, who is heartbroken after her boyfriend, Kyohei Takanashi, breaks up with her.

In her emotional turmoil, she finds refuge in a small café called Amayadori, run by the kind and mysterious Iori Amamiya. As Momoko processes her grief, she begins to form connections with others who, like her, are grappling with their own pasts. This intimate and moving tale centers around emotional growth, self-discovery, and the power of shared experiences.

Summary

Momoko Yuuki’s life takes a sudden turn when her boyfriend, Kyohei Takanashi, breaks up with her after four years of being together. The breakup occurs in a love hotel, leaving Momoko devastated.

She struggles to hold back tears as she lies beside him, realizing that the night she had planned for intimacy will never happen. The next morning, she wakes up in a café with no memory of how she got there.

Confused and still in shock, she meets Iori Amamiya, the café’s owner, who treats her kindly and helps her recover from her hangover.

As Momoko slowly gathers her thoughts, she receives a message from Kyohei asking her to collect her belongings, confirming that their relationship is over. The pain of the breakup weighs heavily on her, and she begins to question her past actions in the relationship, wondering if she had been too clingy or if her love was ever truly reciprocated.

In an attempt to heal, Iori suggests making a dish that was Kyohei’s favorite: Momoko’s butter chicken curry. They prepare the dish together, and it becomes an unlikely source of revenge as Iori names it “My Ex-Boyfriend’s Favorite Butter Chicken Curry” and adds it to the café’s menu.

Despite the café’s charming atmosphere, Amayadori struggles with low sales. The first event for the Funeral Committee, where people share stories about their exes and bring their favorite recipes, fails miserably with no customers attending.

However, a woman named Nagi Kojima arrives, initially confused about the event and carrying a lump of raw meat. Despite the misunderstanding, Nagi opens up about her own toxic relationship with a musician named Sho, whom she has supported financially and emotionally for years.

Nagi has lent Sho significant amounts of money, even covering his debts, and has become entangled in his chaotic life, all while remaining devoted to his music. Her friends, including Momoko, Iori, and Hozumi, are concerned about the unhealthy nature of her relationship, but Nagi feels compelled to continue helping Sho, believing she is the only one who truly understands him.

As Nagi shares her story, Momoko begins to reflect on her own situation and realizes that her past relationship with Kyohei was also unhealthy in many ways. Nagi eventually makes the difficult decision to break up with Sho after a final, disappointing encounter where he demands a hamburger steak from her, symbolizing his lack of appreciation for her sacrifices.

Momoko, encouraged by Nagi’s courage, starts to understand that self-respect and the ability to move on are crucial for emotional healing.

As time goes on, Momoko becomes more involved in the café and its activities. Though the business continues to struggle, the curry dish slowly gains popularity.

Iori remains hopeful that the café can still succeed, and with the support of Hozumi, a regular at the café, they try to bring in more customers. Hozumi, a calm and observant man, has his own struggles, having grown up with a sense of inadequacy and a need for validation, especially from his family.

His past experiences of being overlooked by his parents and his sense of inferiority are explored in moments of introspection, revealing the emotional scars that have shaped his personality.

Iori, too, has his own deeply hidden pain. He shares with Momoko and Hozumi that he has never fully revealed his past, which involves a difficult childhood, the loss of his father, and a strained relationship with a woman named Koharu.

Koharu was the mother of Shizuku, a young girl Iori has come to care for like a daughter. He confesses that his love for Koharu remained unspoken, and her death left him emotionally wrecked.

The café becomes a place where Iori, Momoko, and Hozumi confront their pasts and begin to understand the importance of healing, both individually and together.

Meanwhile, another regular customer, Makiko, shares her heartbreak with the group. She had been in a relationship with a man named Akira, a young artist who had abruptly left her.

Through their conversations, Makiko comes to terms with the fact that she had been in a one-sided relationship, always trying to keep things light and casual, only to realize that Akira had never truly committed to her. With the help of her friends, she gains the strength to confront Akira and reclaim her sense of self-worth.

As the story unfolds, the café becomes a symbol of emotional expression and healing, where people can share their painful stories and find comfort in each other’s experiences. The Funeral Committee, despite its rocky start, begins to attract more customers, each with their own unique heartbreaks and stories of growth.

Momoko, through her interactions with others, begins to realize that healing is not about erasing the past, but about accepting it and learning from it. She slowly starts to let go of her feelings for Kyohei, coming to understand that moving on is a necessary part of life.

In the end, The Ex-Boyfriend’s Favorite Recipe Funeral Committee is a story of personal growth, emotional healing, and the importance of community in overcoming life’s challenges. Through the café and its quirky yet supportive staff, the characters find a way to move past their pain, making it a touching reminder that closure often comes from within and that letting go is the first step toward finding peace.

Characters

Momoko Yuuki

Momoko Yuuki is the emotional anchor of The Ex-Boyfriend’s Favorite Recipe Funeral Committee, whose journey revolves around healing from the breakup with her long-term boyfriend, Kyohei. Initially devastated by the abrupt end of her relationship, she experiences profound confusion, emotional exhaustion, and self-doubt.

As the story progresses, her grief is compounded by moments of introspection, where she questions her past behavior in the relationship, wondering if she had been too dependent or idealistic in her pursuit of perfection as Kyohei’s girlfriend. However, it is through her interactions with Iori and Hozumi, as well as her involvement with the café, that she begins to find solace.

The act of sharing her pain with others who understand her suffering allows her to move toward healing. Her growth is marked by the realization that moving on isn’t about forgetting but about accepting and learning from the past.

Her development is subtly linked to the café’s transformation into a space for empathy, emotional expression, and personal growth, where she finds strength in others and a new sense of direction in her life.

Iori Amamiya

Iori Amamiya is a complex character with a painful past that shapes his actions and interactions throughout the narrative. As the owner of the café Amayadori, he is initially presented as a charming and supportive figure, offering comfort to Momoko in the wake of her breakup.

However, beneath his kind exterior lies a deep emotional struggle. Iori’s tragic history, involving the loss of his biological father and the emotional distance from his grandmother, has left him emotionally scarred and prone to hiding his true feelings behind a facade of detachment.

His unrequited love for Koharu, Shizuku’s mother, further complicates his emotional world. Despite their close bond, Iori never confessed his love, and the unresolved feelings linger with him after her death.

His experiences with loss, unspoken affection, and emotional repression reveal his internal battle between moving on and holding onto the past. As the story unfolds, Iori slowly opens up to his friends, revealing the layers of grief and loneliness that shape his behavior.

His emotional complexity is heightened by his role as a father figure to Shizuku, which adds to his internal conflict, as he struggles with the love he never fully expressed for Koharu while trying to maintain his façade for others.

Hozumi

Hozumi is a deeply introspective character whose life is marked by a sense of inadequacy and a constant quest for approval. From his high school days, where he struggled with the mockery of his classmates, to his pursuit of academic excellence to win his father’s approval, Hozumi’s journey is a poignant exploration of emotional neglect and the pressures of familial expectations.

Despite his success in gaining acceptance from his father after being accepted into the prestigious University of Tokyo, Hozumi remains emotionally unfulfilled. His yearning for validation is symbolized by his nostalgic longing for the star-shaped pizza his mother used to make for his brother’s achievements, a gesture he never received.

Hozumi’s life is defined by the tension between meeting others’ expectations and feeling like he can never be good enough. His story reveals the emptiness that often accompanies the pursuit of external validation and societal approval, leading to his eventual dissatisfaction with his corporate job and strained relationship with his family.

Through his interactions with Momoko and Iori, Hozumi begins to understand that true fulfillment comes not from the recognition of others but from personal acceptance and emotional healing.

Nagi Kojima

Nagi Kojima enters the narrative as a new character struggling with a toxic relationship that mirrors Momoko’s own heartbreak. A dedicated and patient girlfriend to Sho, a musician, Nagi has spent years supporting him financially and emotionally, despite his emotional distance and multiple affairs.

Her story reflects the self-destructive patterns that often arise from one-sided relationships, where one person’s needs are constantly neglected in favor of the other’s demands. Nagi’s deep admiration for Sho and her belief in the power of his music cloud her judgment, leading her to invest more in the relationship than she ever receives in return.

However, as she opens up to Momoko, Iori, and Hozumi, Nagi begins to realize the futility of her efforts. Her breaking point comes when Sho’s callous request for a hamburger steak becomes the symbol of her emotional exhaustion and the realization that she has been compromising her own needs for too long.

In the end, with the support of her friends, Nagi makes the empowering decision to break up with Sho, understanding that her worth isn’t tied to someone who does not value her. Her journey is one of self-realization and empowerment, as she learns to prioritize her own well-being over the toxic attachment to Sho.

Makiko

Makiko’s story serves as a reflection of the emotional complexities and heartbreaks that can arise from unreciprocated love. Having been in a relationship with Akira, a young artist, Makiko initially believed in the carefree and casual nature of their bond.

However, her world shatters when Akira abruptly ends their relationship, leaving her with only memories and an overwhelming sense of betrayal. Makiko’s emotional breakdown is a striking depiction of the shock and confusion that often accompany the end of a relationship when one person is left blind to the other’s true feelings.

Her excessive drinking and attempts to cope with the pain highlight her emotional fragility. With the help of her friends, particularly Iori and Hozumi, Makiko is able to gain clarity and confront the painful truth of her situation.

She learns that pretending everything was fine had only delayed her healing process, and it is only through embracing the reality of her heartbreak that she can begin to reclaim her sense of self-worth. Makiko’s emotional journey mirrors the overall theme of personal growth, as she finds the strength to confront the painful truth and move forward with the support of her friends.

Shizuku

Shizuku, though a more minor character in the narrative, plays a pivotal role in revealing the emotional depths of Iori. As the adopted daughter of Iori, Shizuku symbolizes both the familial ties and the emotional complexities that Iori struggles with throughout the story.

Her presence brings to light Iori’s desire for connection and his deep-seated loneliness. Despite his role as a father figure, Iori is unable to fully express his emotions, not only due to his past traumas but also because of his unspoken love for Shizuku’s mother, Koharu.

Shizuku’s occasional interactions with the café staff, especially Iori, serve to highlight Iori’s emotional struggles and his internal battle between maintaining emotional distance and seeking a meaningful connection. Through Shizuku’s presence in the café, Iori’s own vulnerabilities and emotional wounds are gradually exposed, making her an essential part of his character development and the exploration of his complicated feelings toward love, loss, and family.

Themes

Heartbreak and Emotional Healing

In The Ex-Boyfriend’s Favorite Recipe Funeral Committee, heartbreak is not just a personal crisis but a catalyst for emotional growth and understanding. The story presents heartbreak through the experiences of several characters, primarily Momoko, who navigates the painful aftermath of her breakup with Kyohei.

For Momoko, the emotional devastation after being abandoned by Kyohei sends her spiraling into confusion, self-doubt, and isolation. At the same time, this pain becomes the starting point of her journey toward healing.

In the café, she finds solace not only through the food she prepares but also through the connection with others who share their own heartache. As she begins to embrace the concept of the “Funeral Committee” — a space where people can commemorate their exes — Momoko starts to understand that healing is not linear.

It involves recognizing the layers of loss and regret, and that moving on doesn’t mean erasing the past but learning from it. Along with her friends, she finds a community where shared pain leads to emotional growth.

The healing process is also represented by the curry recipe, which transforms from a symbol of betrayal into an offering of personal empowerment. For Momoko, and eventually the café’s patrons, it’s about finding meaning in heartbreak and using it as a stepping stone toward self-discovery and emotional resilience.

Toxic Relationships and Self-Worth

A recurring theme throughout the book is the exploration of toxic relationships and the personal journeys of the characters toward reclaiming their self-worth. Nagi’s relationship with Sho exemplifies this dynamic.

Over the years, Nagi has sacrificed much for Sho — financially, emotionally, and mentally. Despite the mounting evidence of Sho’s toxic behavior, Nagi clings to the idea of being the patient, understanding partner.

Her journey mirrors a deep struggle for self-respect, as she constantly tries to prove her worth through her devotion to him. Nagi’s story reveals how toxic relationships often involve one-sided efforts where emotional investments are not reciprocated, leading to a loss of self-esteem and personal identity.

As she reflects on her situation, Nagi’s breakthrough comes when she realizes that her patience and sacrifices are not acts of love but manifestations of her low self-worth. It’s only when she decides to break free from Sho’s manipulation that she begins to rebuild her identity.

Similarly, Makiko’s experience with Akira highlights the importance of self-awareness and the realization that staying in a toxic relationship does not reflect true love but a willingness to sacrifice personal happiness for validation. The narrative underscores the importance of self-care, personal boundaries, and the courage to walk away from relationships that diminish one’s self-esteem.

Through Nagi and Makiko’s experiences, the story shows that reclaiming one’s sense of self-worth is crucial for emotional healing and personal growth.

Emotional Suppression and Unexpressed Love

The Ex-Boyfriend’s Favorite Recipe Funeral Committee also deeply explores the theme of emotional suppression, particularly through the character of Iori. Iori’s struggle with expressing his emotions, especially in relation to his unrequited love for Koharu, illustrates the damaging effects of keeping one’s feelings hidden.

Raised in an environment where emotional expression was stifled, Iori learned to suppress his true emotions, even in situations where they could have brought him closer to those he cared about. His love for Koharu remained unspoken, and his failure to confront his feelings, both for her and for the memory of his family, created an emotional distance that left him isolated.

His decision to never fully engage with his emotions in a healthy way makes him a symbol of the consequences of emotional detachment. The story highlights the internal conflict Iori faces between holding onto the past and the difficulty of moving on.

His attachment to Koharu, despite her passing, further complicates his emotional journey, showing how unresolved love and unexpressed feelings can weigh heavily on a person’s ability to move forward. Iori’s emotional suppression is not just a personal flaw; it is a coping mechanism developed through years of emotional neglect and loneliness.

His eventual willingness to confront these emotions with the help of his friends signifies his desire for emotional release and acceptance, showing that healing often begins when one is ready to face the emotions they have long ignored.

Self-Discovery and Personal Growth

At the heart of The Ex-Boyfriend’s Favorite Recipe Funeral Committee lies a theme of self-discovery and personal growth. The café, Amayadori, serves as a space where characters can process their emotions, share their pain, and ultimately find new paths forward.

Momoko’s emotional evolution is the most significant example of this theme. Initially overwhelmed by her breakup and unsure of how to move on, Momoko finds that healing does not mean forgetting her past relationship but understanding its impact on her and learning from it.

Her journey of personal growth is intertwined with her interactions with others, such as Iori and Hozumi, who each have their own emotional struggles. These relationships become mirrors for Momoko, helping her realize that her pain is part of a larger human experience.

Through the shared vulnerability in the café, Momoko begins to understand herself better, accepting that moving forward requires a combination of emotional healing and personal reflection. Similarly, Nagi’s emotional growth shows how recognizing the toxicity in her relationship allows her to reclaim her independence.

By choosing to prioritize her well-being over her devotion to Sho, she experiences a deep transformation. The overall theme of personal growth suggests that emotional healing is not just about overcoming loss but also about discovering one’s strength, resilience, and capacity for self-love.

Each character’s journey of self-discovery serves as a reminder that through hardship, one can find clarity and purpose, and that growth often emerges from the most painful of experiences.

The Impact of Relationships on Identity

The theme of how relationships shape personal identity is explored through the varied experiences of the characters, especially in how they view themselves after emotional loss. For Momoko, the end of her relationship with Kyohei forces her to question her own role in the relationship and her identity outside of it.

Initially, she defines herself through the lens of her past relationship, believing that her worth was dependent on being the perfect girlfriend. The breakup shatters this identity, leaving her struggling to find a sense of self without Kyohei.

Over time, however, Momoko comes to realize that her true identity is not tied to her past relationship, but to her capacity for growth, healing, and self-empowerment. This process of redefining oneself is mirrored in the experiences of other characters, like Nagi and Makiko, who also confront how their identities have been shaped by toxic relationships.

Nagi’s identity, for instance, has been defined by her role as a supportive partner to Sho, even at the cost of her own happiness. When she begins to let go of this role, she starts to rediscover herself, separate from her relationship.

Similarly, Iori’s emotional struggles are partly shaped by his past relationships, particularly his unspoken love for Koharu. His attachment to the past and his failure to express his feelings contributed to a sense of emotional fragmentation.

The theme of identity in the book demonstrates that relationships have a profound impact on how individuals perceive themselves, and that the process of self-rediscovery often involves letting go of these external definitions and embracing a more authentic, self-aware version of oneself.