Who Said It?
This character said, “The place I like best in this world is the kitchen.”
Who is Mikage?
This theme is represented through the relationship between Yuichi and Mikage.
What is love?
This symbol provides an escape for Mikage and is her favorite place.
What is the kitchen?
This death is brought up in the first two pages of the book and starts the cycle of mourning.
What is Mikage's grandmother's death?
This is where Mikage first moves into after her grandmother’s death.
What is Yuichi's apartment?
This character said, “‘I’m Yuichi’s mother.’”
Who is Eriko?
This theme is mainly represented by Eriko, for example, through this quote: “‘And that's not all. Guess what else—she's a man’” (13).
What is gender?
This symbol represents comfort. “First thing, as I looked toward the kitchen, my gaze landed with a thud on the enormous ___ in the living room” (8)
What is the sofa?
This quote explains this traumatic event: “A crazy man became obsessed with her and killed her” (44).
What is Eriko’s death?
This is where Mikage has a dream of Yuichi and her singing a song about lighthouses.
What is Mikage's apartment?
This character said, “‘You seem to think I live on impulse.’”
Who is Yuichi?
This theme is constantly recurring as Mikage continues to deal with the loss of loved ones.
What is mourning/grief?
This symbol is represented in this quote: “Of course it wasn't over having to wash all those ______; I was crying for having been left behind in the night, paralyzed with loneliness” (67).
What are dishes?
This quote convinces Mikage to do this: “‘So why not move in with us?’ he said, as though it were the most natural thing in the world” (11).
What is moving into Yuichi's apartment?
This is where Yuichi meets Mikage's grandmother for the first time.
What is the flower shop?
This character said, “‘Because as long as you’re around, Yuichi is stuck.’”
Who is Okuno?
This theme appears in the following quote: “When my parents died I was still a child. When my grandfather died, I had a boyfriend. When my grandmother died I was left _____. But never had I felt so ____ as I did now.” (48).
What is loneliness?
“I trembled, holding the _____ tight against my chest. The sharp leaves stuck my cheeks. In this world, tonight, only the ______ and I understand each other that thought came straight from my heart” (81)
What is the pineapple/pineapple plant?
This quote occurs during this key event: “I took out my gloves and put them on. I climbed the hill in the moonlight, the katsudon in my backpack” (95).
What is Mikage bringing Yuichi katsudon?
This quote occured at this location: “One of the older staff members, who was sharing a room with her, burst out laughing and said to me, 'Poor Mikage, you didn't eat a thing at dinner, did you?'" (87).
What is the Izu Peninsula?
This character said, “‘I can’t believe in the gods.’”
Who is Chika?
This theme is represented is here: “No matter how dreamlike a love I have found myself in, no matter how delightfully drunk I have been, in my heart I was always aware that my_____ consisted of only one other person” (20-21)
What is family?
This symbol is included in this quote: “Inching one's way along a steep cliff in the dark: on reaching the highway, one breathes a sigh of relief. Just when one can't take any more, one sees the _____. Beauty that seems to infuse itself into the heart: I know about that” (60).
What is the moon?
This event happens after the other cooks have gone to sleep during the trip to the Izu Peninsula and includes a symbol of guidance.
What is the walk on the beach?
"’Yuichi, when I think about it, isn't this the first time we've ever been to a ____ together? It's very strange’" (75) and “In the uncertain ebb and flow of time and emotions, much of one's life history is etched in the senses. And things of no particular importance, or irreplaceable things, can suddenly resurface in a _____ one winter night” (75) all refer to what place?
What is the Café/Coffee Shop?