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FINAL BLOG

Reflections on a Year of Reading Japanese Literature

Books read:

- “Geisha: A Life” by Mineko Iwasaki

- “Kafka on the Shore” by Haruki Murakami

The first book I read was “Geisha: A Life” by Mineko Iwasaki, it was a nonfiction book that helped me learn a bit more about japan's geography. Japan is considered a safe country. It’s a secure destination for visitors. Japan is known for its beautiful landscapes and culture, as well as technology. The country’s geography has led to many creativity in architecture. The book talks about the geography in the life of a geisha. It tells us about the landscapes of Japan such as cherry blossoms and the gardens which is apart of the cultural practices of a geisha. During this reading, I learned that once you enter the life of a geisha it’s hard to get out. Mineko was able to leave the geisha profession and moved to Kyoto which is known for its rich cultural heritage. This helps learn about the geography of Japan which connects to the beauty of Japan and the geisha culture.

Based on the fact that Nakata had a childhood incident in “Kafka on the Shore '' I learned that this book connects to some historical events that happened in Japan. In the book, Nakata faces a traumatic experience during the time World War II was happening. When he was a child and on a School trip he had an incident which resulted in him going through memory loss, difficulty in reading and writing and a unique ability to talk to cats. This is an indication of the lasting effects on people and society after a war. Although this happened during the war, Haruki added some symbolism about the effects of these historical events. Other events such as Miss Saeki's past is a symbol about post war japan sense of loss and longing for the past. Miss Saeki has trouble getting over her past which helps us learn that some people yearn for a time that passed but can never be fully recovered by the experiences they faced. Japan has various historical events which I found out about while searching for  this author. The author Haruki has made some books about some events such as a tsunami, a gas attack, and an earthquake that has happened in Japan. This book I read included just one of them.

Based on the fact that Mineko went into the Geisha profession in “Geisha: A life” I learned about Japan's traditions, art, social structures and customs. The book talks about the overall elegance and discipline of Japan's culture, specifically in the life of a geisha. Although in the eyes of the people, Japan is a safe, beautiful place where you can visit, it embodies its natural landscapes and traditions. In the book “Geisha: A life” Mineko the main protagonist goes into the geisha lifestyle at a young age. She had to leave behind her family to fully commit and focus on the lifestyle and training of a geisha. She went through stern training to be a professional geisha as well as the heir of the Iwasaki okiya (geisha house) Her life resulted in responsibilities such as mastering traditional art such as music, dancing and tea ceremonies. During this lifestyle she had to develop the skills of etiquette, grace, elegance, and social skill of entertaining guests with her performances, host gatherings and interactions. Although being a geisha may be nice and have its pros, it also has cons which causes difficulty challenges in one’s personal life. Mineko went through many challenges in the process of being a geisha such as competition among other trainees, the pressure and high standards set up by her mentors, injuries and sickness faced during performing, and even the emotional feelings of missing ones family and the life they had before. 

In “Geisha: A Life,”I learned that in life, having full dedication to what you’re doing to achieve one’s goal. In the book, we see Mineko’s journey as a geisha go through many challenges but with her determination and hard work she eventually becomes a professional geisha. In addition, from “Kafka on the Shore” I learned that in life, going through self discovery may help you find your true identity and will help you come in peace with yourself. In “Kafka on the Shore,” Kafka goes through a journey to find his true identity with a connection of his past and present self. He goes on a journey to avoid the curse his dad put on him to do these certain things. He gains growth and eventually is able to move forward with his purpose and start a new beginning in a new world.

I think that there are a few things that I learned about myself from this project. My time management is very bad so each day I would barely have time to do some reading and would only do my quote in the morning. Another thing would be that reading fiction books is something that I seem to have love more than reading a nonfiction book. I got more interested in reading “Kafka on the Shore '' which was fiction than “Geisha: A Life ". This project has actually helped me like reading a bit more than I used to. I ended up getting a few new books I can read during summer.

(word count: 903 )

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“ when I wake up, it’s dark all around. I open my eyes and try to figure out where I am. Two soldiers let me through the first to a small town next to a stream right? Slowly, my memories coming back.”

——— Haruki Murakami, “Kafka on the Shore” (391)

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“ Before noon, the next day, Wednesday, Mr. Nakata was dead, he died peacefully in his sleep. His face was as calm as always, and he looked like he was just sleeping, only not breathing”

—-Haruki Murakami, “Kafka on the shore” (378)

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“My mother didn’t even hold me close when she left. she turned her face away and left home with my sister without saying a word. She disappeared like quiet smoke and now that face is gone forever”

—— Haruki Murakami, “Kafka on the Shore” (370)

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WEEK 20 BLOG

This week I read pages 318-368 of the book “Kafka on the Shore” by Harukami Murakami

The most important sentence of the week can be found on page 363 “my role is to restore was here now to the way it should be. That’s why I left Nakano when across a huge bridge and came to Shikoku and as I’m sure you’re aware you cant stay here anymore” Here’s Why. In this section we see Nakata and Miss Saeki meet each other for the first time. This is when the book starts to connect with both stories. In the book, after a long ride around Shikoku Nakata finds the Komura Librabrt and gets an automatic feeling that he needs to go in there and that it’s the place he needs to see. While Hoshino and Nakata go in they read lots of book and gets a tour around 2 by Miss Saeki. After the tour he gets this sudden feeling that he needs to talk to Miss saeki which he ends up doing. While talking Miss Saeki realizes that they both have been waiting for each other. We find out that Miss Saeki hasn’t had any friends because of her memories but it’s the same with Nakata however he has no memories of all which causes him to be friendless. Later, we find out that Miss Saeki has also opened the entrance stone years ago in order to keep a hold of her old boyfriend. But since it has now been opened by Nakata, they both realize that Miss Saeki can’t stay there no more and is fated to die. Although Miss Saeki should be sad, she isn’t. She knew it was time, she says that her whole life has just been a string of meaningless mistakes which she wrote down in files. Nakata is told to burn them as one last wish from Miss Saeki and that is it… Miss Saeki dies with her head down on her desk. Oshima walks in and see her but it seems as he knew that this was her fate.

While reading this section, I got shocked. I never expected this outcome. I knew that sooner or later the stories will connect but the outcome of Miss Saeki dying was something shocking to me. I have so many questions, why did she have to die? how did Oshima know? And how will Kafka react? All these questions are in my head and I know that I will get answers to them later. This book is really good., it brings a lot of suspense the mor who you read it. I can’t wait to finish the book and read more about the connection and what happens next in the plot.

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“ my role is to restore was here now to the way it should be. That’s why I love Nakano when across a huge bridge and came to Shikoku and as I’m sure you’re aware you cant stay here anymore”

——— Haruki Murakami, “Kafka on the Shore” (363)

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“ but as he turned the pages, Hoshino couldn’t get Miss Saeki out of his mind. there was something really unusual about that beautiful woman, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on it”

——- Haruki Murakami, “Kafka on the Shore” (353)

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“ My second day on the mountain passes by leisurely seamlessly the only thing that distinguishes one day from the next is the weather if the weather was the same, I couldn’t tell one day from another yesterday today tomorrow—“

——- Haruki Murakami, “Kafka on the Shore” (339)

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“ That’s it… the place Nakatas been searching for”

—— Haruki Murakami, “Kafka on the Shore” (338)

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“ the forest hasn’t changed a bit. The same smell grass is bird cause babbling water in the broke the rush of wind through the trees. The same shadows of rustling leaves”

———- Haruki Murakami, “Kafka on the Shore” (323)

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WEEK 19 BLOG

This week I read pages 277-317 of the book “Kafka on the Shore” by Harukami Murakami

The most important sentence of the week can be found on page 279 “When Nakata woke up at five a.m he saw the big stone right next to his pillow.” Here’s why. Throughout the section we see Nakata on a journey to Shikoku with this guy named Hoshino. He realizes that he no longer has the power to talk to cats but can make things drop from the sky like leeches or fish. In the journey, Nakata gets drawn by destiny to find this entrance stone. He has no idea why he has to but I still set on accomplishing this mission. They have no lead or clues as to where it is but Hoshino meets a guy named colonial sanders who shows him where it is. The entrance stone is a round white stone. Once nakata wakes up to it next to his bed he has no idea what to do. Later on he realizes the stone got bigger and soon once Hoshino flips the stone over everything starts to rumble in the room but nothing happens.

While reading this book, I’m a little confused about this whole entrance stone and the importance of it. It seems to have powers or something since. I’m still wondering when Nakata and Kafka will run into each other and if this has anything to do with the stone. This book is really interesting and I get more eager each time I read.  I want to learn more about the meaning behind the stone and the connection Nakata has with it. The more I read the more answers I will get. Will there be any other shocking events? Will Nakata soon run into Kafka? A lot of questions in my head that has me wondering the whole plot of the story.

(word count: 315)

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“ the police got back in touch with me phoned my place last night. Sounds like they’re getting serious about tracking you down.”

—— Haruki Murakami, “Kafka on the Shore” (306)

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“Nakata’s face did look awfully pale. His eyes were sunken his fingers trembling just a few hours. It was all it took. It seems for him to have age terribly.”

——- Haruki Murakami, “Kafka on the Shore” (297)

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“Nothings keeping me here, I’m hundred percent free.”

—- Haruki Murakami, “Kafka on the Shore” (291)

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“When Nakata woke up at five a.m he saw the big stone right next to his pillow.”

—— Haruki Murakami, “Kafka on the Shore” (279)

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WEEK 18 BLOG

This week I read pages 257-276 of the book “Kafka on the Shore” by Harukami Murakami

The most important sentence of the week can be found on page 271 “which explains why you asked me yesterday, whether I have any children.” Here’s why. In the book we see miss saeki and Kafka get close. One night miss saeki was sleep walking? we aren’t sure if she was but she unconsciously slept with Kafka. After that night it seemed like she didn’t remember a thing. Kafka went on to drop her coffee at her office the next day. She starts up a conversation with him asking if he is enjoying the area he is in. She gives a little background thought of when she was young and how back then she was dying to leave the town cause she found it boring. She wanted to go and explore somewhere else and find more interesting people. She explains how she never expected to see herself back in Shikoku after she left when she was twenty but she came back. Kafka then later opens up to her talking about how his father died recently and how he believes that she is his mother. He explains how his father put a curse on him for him to kill him and to make “miss saeki” his. But overall We finally find out that the reason miss saeki came back to Shikoku was for her to wait for her death quietly.

While reading this book, I get astonished each time I read a new section. This books contains a lot of sexual and mature words that I didn’t think it would have. Honestly, reading this book has gotten me more attracted to the plot. Each time I read, I discover a lot more about each character and their past history. This makes me want to read more and unlock all the answers.

(word count: 316)

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“ which explains why you asked me yesterday, whether I have any children.”

—— Haruki Murakami, “Kafka on the Shore” ( 271)