Symbols
This place is where one can bake cookies, or fry up some smokin fried chicken, but it also happens to be a primary symbol in this novel.
What is Kitchen?
What themes are shown when Mikage sleeps on the floor of her grandmother’s kitchen?
What is Greif/Sorrow, Loneliness/Loss?
What place does Mikage enjoy the most?
What is Kitchen?
“The place I like best in this world is the kitchen” (Yoshimoto 3).
What is Mikage?
This cute and tasty Japanese delicacy is enjoyed by people around the globe, and is most known for coming in forms like the California Roll or the Spicy Tuna Roll.
What is Sushi?
When Mikage says, “It was almost full and shed an incredible brightness” (Yoshimoto 61), she is referring to what symbol?
What themes are shown when Yuichi invites Mikage to stay with him and Eriko?
What is Family, Friendship, Trust?
What is the main city in which Kitchen takes place?
What is Tokyo?
“The telephone was glowing” (Yoshimoto 63).
What is Yuichi?
This dish represents many people’s comfort foods, or is better known as the college students desperate meal. It commonly features miso or pork broth, noodles, and a variety of toppings.
What is Ramen?
Fill in the blank with the symbol that fits: “I only knew I didn’t want a cactus, so I bought her a ______”.
What is Pineapple Plant?
What themes are shown when Mikage cooks in the kitchen?
What is Acceptance, Joy?
What is the name of Japan’s professional baseball league?
What is the NPB
“Self-defense, that makes us even” (Yoshimoto 45).
What is Eriko?
This delicious bowl contains a rice bowl, pork cutlet, eggs, and vegetables, and it is a popular dish in Japan. It also ties to Kitchen since it’s the meal Mikage shares with Yuichi at the end of the novel.
What is Katsudon?
This symbol, similar to the red dress in The Ballad of the Sad Cafe, represents Eriko’s caring and nurturing personality.
What is Eriko's Red Sweater?
What theme is shown through Eriko’s change, as well as Yuichi and Mikage’s mocking in the hotel?
What is Gender/Sexuality?
Where does Mikage rush to help Yuichi late at night?
What is A Hotel?
“Of course you know him better than I do. But in my own way, I love him” (Yoshimoto 72).
What is Okuno?
This triangle shaped rice ball wrapped in seaweed, sometimes containing a meat of vegetable filling, is a popular snack in Japan
What is Onigiri?
Towards the start of the novel, Mikage has a dream. What happened in that dream? (Get a close enough idea).
Mikage is scrubbing the sink of the kitchen and notices that she misses the yellow-green color of the floor, a color she used to hate.
What themes are shown through Mikage’s desire for Yuichi?
What is Love, Acceptance, Joy, Relationships, Trust?
What was Mikage’s apartment number on her change of address card?
What is No. 1002?
“She’s insane. I think she’s gone a little crazy with jealousy” (Yoshimoto 74).
What is Nori?
This popular Japanese street food item consists of fried dough balls and diced octopus, and it's often topped with green onion and tempura scraps.
What is Takoyaki?