Themes
This follows Mikage and Yuichi throughout the book, especially Eriko’s death once they both become orphans.
Grief
This place symbolizes safety, and Mikage enjoys spending time here.
Kitchen
Eriko works at ___, a symbol of acceptance and identity.
The club
Eriko dies towards the end of the novel from _________, leaving Mikage and Yuchi.
being attacked at her nightclub
Similar to Mikage’s job as a culinary assistant, this famous chef helps teach cooking skills with his variety of TV shows and cooking academy.
Gordan Ramsey
Eriko and Chika’s exploration of _____ pushes against the social norms of the 1980s.
Gender
When Mikage wears the ____________, she remembers how Eriko appreciated and viewed her as family.
Red Sweater
During the summer, Mikage makes ____ to further develop her relationship with Yuichi and Eriko.
Food
Mikage eventually ends up working at a_______ to perfect her cooking skills while also finding her independence
culinary school
Mikage travels to Izu to see Yuichi, Katsudon in hand to convey the importance of their relationship. Similar to how a founding father travels late at night to persuade a hesitant founding father of an important matter in this musicals act 1 finale.
Hamilton
This action shows Mikage’s love for Eriko and Yuichi, but also her ambition and passion and later becomes her job.
Cooking
Mikage describes this while she explains when Eriko died. ______ symbolizes sadness and grief.
Darkness
After Yuichi falls asleep on the sofa, Mikage’s soddened mood is only bolstered by having to ____.
Clean
Yuchi works at this place that helps him feel stability and peace
Flower shop
Mikage was raised by her grandma, similarly to a dedicated employee in this quirky 2012 animated Disney show.
Gravity Falls
This is felt by everyone in the story constantly, it changes forms and brings out a variety of emotions, invoking the quote “What is grief if not ____ persevering”
Love
Yuichi eats these often, and they symbolize loneliness and the emotional change after the loss of his mother.
Instant Meal
A constant motif of emotional disconnect in Kitchen, Mikage picks up the ____ in the middle of the night, promptly leaving to talk to Yuichi in person.
Telephone
Okuno has this feeling toward Mikage because of the attention that Yuchi gives Mikage.
Jealousy/Hatred
Yuichi and Mikage overcome distant in their relationship through efforts to heal after loss by showing up for each other. Similar to how these estranged brothers reunite by showing up to save a brother from a pair of untalented siblings in this 2023 Dreamworks animation.
Trolls 3
This is shared by Yuichi and Mikage from the beginning, but grows as their relationship develops, despite Yuichi feeling like he’s broken it after not informing Mikage of Eriko’s death.
Trust
__________is also a symbol in The Ballad of the Sad Cafe, symbolizing her acceptance of the hardships of her life.
Snow
Following Eriko’s death, Yuichi unconsciously denies the reality by failing to tell Mikage, leaving ______ between them.
Silence
After Eriko dies, Chika tries to help Mikage while she is grieving by taking her to ______.
The nightclub
A decaying pineapple plant represents Yuichi’s mother’s inevitable death from cancer, similar to how a bed-ridden painter’s morale is dependent on fall coming in this short story.
The Last Leaf