Themes
The relationship between Mikage and her grandmother, Yuichi and Eriko.
What is family?
The symbol that most represents the feeling of warmth, comfort, and home both metaphorically and literally
What is the sofa?
A place that she likes best no matter where it is, no matter what kind it is in this world.
What does kitchen mean to Mikage Sakurai?
A traditional Japanese food that is most important to the novel. It can contain fried pork or chicken.
What is katsudon?
Always feel lonely and obsessed with the kitchen.
What are the character traits of Mikage?
Both Mikage and Yuichi have a similar experience, leading them to deepen their relationship to another level.
What is death/grief?
This symbol represents beauty and growth
What are flowers?
Where did Mikage go for a work trip?
Izu Peninsula.
This is a spikey tropical fruit.
What is pineapple?
This character works at the flower shop and is kind to Mikage.
What are the character traits for Yuichi?
Mikage finds out this ‘difference’ about Eriko.
What is transexuality?
This symbol also represents comfort, as well as nourishment
What is cooking/food?
Where did Eriko die? or Where did Eriko work?
The gay bar.
Mikage drinks ___ with the landlord.
What is tea?
Mikage was instantly in awe with ___. She described this character as beautiful and this character is very kind.
What are the character traits of Eriko?
Mikage is often in the kitchen, or near the window that beholds the infinite cosmos of “unbounded…”
What is Loneliness?
The symbol that represents protection, as well as guidance
What is the lighthouse?
Where did Yuichi take Mikage to have tea together?
The barley tea shop above the beauty parlor.
A Japanese porridge that is served with egg in the novel.
What is soupy rice?
This character used to date Yuichi and has a strong dislike for Mikage
What are the character traits of Okuno?
Symbols throughout the novel representing light and darkness could also mean….
What is joy/suffering?
This symbol represents the traits of many of the characters in the story, by showing how they are kind in their core, even if it is hard to get there
What is the pineapple?
Where did Yuichi go to escape reality and isolate himself from all the stuff, and finally Mikage took a taxi to send him food?
The inn in Isehara.
A type of Japanese fried seafood that is served on rice.
What is tempura?
This is a smaller character that had relations to one Mikage, yet their connection wasn't as deep compared to Yuichi.
What are the character traits of Sotaro?