More on this book
Community
Kindle Notes & Highlights
give strangers a hearing, though of course, if we were imposed on by a bore, or by someone with disagreeable views, they would be quick to squeeze him out.
Holding court
Kuroda, that most gifted of my pupils,
for he believed in such things then
before the Migi-Hidari and all those other buildings had been demolished.
‘He’s not young any more.’
Implies ono is also not young
scaring
whenever Setsuko said: ‘What is it, Ichiro, I can’t hear,’ he would glare angrily, then cast a quick glance towards me to see if I had heard.
‘I think Father just wanted to see it himself,’
That is to say, before the Saitos’ detective does. After all, we do not wish any unnecessary misunderstandings to arise.’
‘You seem to have preserved your health well.
‘A cruel thing,’ Matsuda said, sighing. ‘And with the war all but over. I heard it was something of a freak raid.’
I realize there are now those who would condemn the likes of you and me for the very things we were once proud to have achieved. And I suppose this is why you’re worried, Ono. You think perhaps I will praise you for things perhaps best forgotten.’
‘Ono, you look deathly pale.
Hmm maybe he was particularly looking for kuroda's address
it is not that I am hesitating.
Shintaro has not shown his face at Mrs Kawakami’s since that small episode last winter – lacking the courage, no doubt, to face me.
I felt something akin to relief, as though things were returning to a more familiar footing.
Familiar - people asking for favors
‘Shintaro,’ I said, ‘why don’t you simply face up to the past?
Projection
at this moment, I am a man in the midst of my career. It is all very well to reflect and ponder when one is in retirement.
to shirk his responsibilities.
‘Father tends to meddle too much. I think he’s going to ruin that bush too.’
That’s what comes of Father having so much time on his hands. He ends up meddling where it’s not required.’
We ain't talkin bout the azaleas
Kenji was another matter,
Kuroda, it seemed, had not fared at all badly since his release at the end of the war.
and like many of these modern affairs, had no entryway as such, the tatami starting a little way inside the front door with only a shallow step up.
was thrown out of my previous lodgings, and Mr Kuroda came to my rescue.
but are you yourself aware of the full details? Do you know what he suffered?’
I finished lacing my shoes and started for the door.
No reaction to the story
‘We all know now who the real traitors were. And many of them are still walking free.’
at what was in those days the Imperial Inn.
perhaps it was that he reminded me of young Enchi whom I had encountered in Kuroda’s apartment.
Mitsuo’s attitude was not in fact any different from that of the rest of his family – it was simply that he was not as skilled in disguising it.
That is…a jump
but in more formal settings, I have often known her to have difficulty finding an appropriate tone, thus giving the impression she is a timid young woman.
:( girl same
that people feel the need to express their views openly and strongly – now that’s a healthy thing,
‘Here’s an unusual case,’ Dr Saito said, laughing. ‘It seems on this question at least, it’s the father who’s far more liberal than the son.
but there seemed to me a curious lack of disharmony about the Saito’s supposed difference of views.
They actually mostly agree and want to make sure Ono is on the same page
As the evening progressed, her confidence seemed to wane further and further,
At this point, Taro Saito changed the subject again
when I interrupted by turning to young Mitsuo Saito and saying:
Double facepalm
I accept that much of what I did was ultimately harmful to our nation, that mine was part of an influence that resulted in untold suffering for our own people.
Noriko, I realized, had been staring at me in astonishment. Perhaps as a result of this, she was taken off guard by Taro, and her customary flippancy came to her lips for the first time that evening.
Shift in tone after Ono's speech: his stance wasn't what she dreaded
it was obvious Taro Saito and Noriko had taken to one another.
nor do I claim I would so easily have made the sort of declaration I did concerning the past had circumstances not impressed upon me the prudence of doing so.
Fair enough. Sometimes u gotta swallow you're pride and take one for the team
I must say I find it hard to understand how any man who values his self-respect would wish for long to avoid responsibility for his past deeds; it may not always be an easy thing, but there is certainly a satisfaction and dignity to be gained in coming to terms with the mistakes one has made in the course of one’s life.
"I give myself very good advice but i very seldom follow it."
People like Shintaro, if they don’t want to do something, they pretend they’re helplessly lost about it and they’re forgiven everything.’
A time honored technique
Shintaro told me once he lost two working weeks on account of the war. That’s what the war cost Shintaro.
making the room look more dusty and older than it does once darkness has set in and
‘You know, Obasan, you really must think seriously about accepting this offer and moving elsewhere now. It’s a great opportunity.’
Encouraging others to move forward
Like many things now, it is perhaps as well that that little world has passed away and will not be returning.
she spent it staying at Noriko and Taro’s new home in the Izumimachi district,
Good for Noriko
we had agreed to meet Noriko and Ichiro beside the statue of the Emperor Taisho,
