Sōseki Natsume is considered one of Japan’s most beloved and respected authors. Ranked as one of Natsume's most insightful and stirring novels, And Then tells the story of Daisuke, a young Japanese man struggling with his personal purpose and identity, as well as the changing social landscape of Meiji-era Japan. As Japan enters the 20th century, ancient customs give way to western ideals, creating a perfect storm of change in a culture that operates on the razor's edge of societal obligation and personal freedom.

Inspired by the idea of having to adjust to new social norms during Japan’s modernization, our cover cooks created an image with two contrasting ingredients: a man dressed in western clothing standing and staring reluctantly at torii, a traditional Japanese gate commonly found at Shinto shrines. The title is deliberately placed within the liminal space of the gate, making the words appear as if they are reverberating around the man’s emerging consciousness.