Characters
This is the young university student who tells the story and has to write a big paper to graduate.
Who is the narrator (or the student)
The student has to finish this long school paper by the end of April or he can't graduate in June.
What is a thesis? (or his thesis / big essay)
In paragraph 3, the student suddenly remembers what Sensei's wife said before — this jump back in time is called this.
What is a flashback?
Sensei says he has grown old and this word that means worn out.
What is decrepit?
The student's biggest fear was not finishing this on time.
What is his thesis? (or graduating)
This older friend is called "teacher" in Japanese and helps the student a little with books.
Who is Sensei?
The student didn't visit Sensei at all during this time because he was too busy working.
What is from after their talk until the end of April? (or while the flowers bloomed)
The student circles hard words like this one that means old and worn out (decrepit).
What are unfamiliar words? (or circle unfamiliar words — from instructions)
Sensei used to feel this way if people thought he didn't know something, but now he doesn't care.
What is ashamed (or disgraced / embarrassed)?
The student worked like crazy and had red eyes because he felt so much of this.
What is stress (or panic / pressure)?
Sensei's wife once told the student that Sensei used to love reading but doesn't anymore.
Who is Sensei's wife?
First these bloomed, then the wind changed, then these started to flower — but the student only thought about his paper.
What are plum trees and cherry trees?
The author uses blooming flowers to show this quietly passing by.
What is time? (or passage of time)
Sensei calmly says no matter how many books he reads, he won't become a much better this.
What is man? (or person)
This big idea shows young people rush and worry while older people accept things calmly.
What is youth vs. old age? (or young vs. old)
These are the people the student asked for advice, like the one who used a fast cart to make the deadline.
Who are friends who graduated the year before?
The student panicked and decided to just copy stuff from books instead of using his own ideas.
What is compile relevant material from various books and add a conclusion?
The story is set in this country around 1914.
What is Japan?
Sensei says he used to think it was this bad thing to look ignorant in front of others, but now he doesn't feel bad about knowing less.
What is a disgrace? (or shameful / embarrassing)
The author never says exactly what the thesis topic is, which makes us focus more on this between the characters.
What is the relationship? (or feelings / time passing)
The student talks to this wise older man about books and growing old.
Who is Sensei?
He worked with bloodshot eyes and felt like this was hanging over him like a curse.
What is his thesis? (or the deadline / pressure)
This writing trick uses nature—like blooming plum and cherry trees—to quietly show that spring is here and time is slipping away while the student ignores everything else.
What is symbolism? (or nature symbolism / using symbols)
Sensei changed from loving books a lot to losing interest because he feels this way about getting older.
What is accepting (or calm / peaceful about it)?
One main theme is how time moves fast, shown by these beautiful signs of spring while the student ignores everything.
What are blooming plum and cherry trees? (or nature / seasons)