"Spring Riding in a Carriage"
How do you describe the relationship between the protagonist and his wife?

"Mr Carp"
Why did Mamoru say "Bow wow!" at the end? What did he mean by that?

"Dreaming of Kimchee"
How do you describe the protagonist's character?

"Pluto"
What's the difference between North No.2 and human beings, other than the fact he is a robot?

"The Elephant Vanishes"
How do you interpret this story? What do the elephant and its vanishment represent? In your comment, use the term "pragmatic."

Write freely about "Barefoot Gen." Besides about the story, think about the difference between novels and comics as well.

Please choose one and enter your name and the title of the story.

Sub-boards: December 4 (1), December 4 (2), December 4 (3), December 4 (4), December 4 (5), December 4 (6), December 4 (7), December 11 (1), December 11 (2), December 11 (3), December 11 (4), December 11 (5), December 11 (6), December 11 (7)

"The Izu Dancer"
What do you think the main theme of the story is?

"Onnagata"
How do you interpret "An onnagata is the child born of the illicit union between dream and reality" (p.298)? Why is it "illicit"?

Write about "Kappa" this week; select one of the customs or practices in Kappaland and write what aspects of the modern world you think the author is trying to criticize (or mock).

"Lemon"
What do the lemon and its color represent in this story?

"Merry Christmas"
How do you interpret the last sentences "Tokyo is still the same. It hasn't changed a bit" (p.231)? What do you think Kasai feels about Tokyo?

"Passage to Fudaraku"
1. What is the theme of this story?
2. Where does Konko's fear of death come from?

"The Expert"
1. What did Chi Ch'ang learn from Kan Ying? How do you interpret "Real archery dispenses with both bow and arrow" (p.237)?

Compare these two relationships: the relationship between Kosono and Yuki in “Portrait of An Old Geisha” and the one between Okada and Aguri in “Aguri."

"Botchan"
1. What do you think the main theme of this story is?
2. Among Botchan, Redshirt and the Hanger, who do you feel the most sympathy with? Why?
3. There are sentences that describe Botchan’s observations about life and society. Pick one (or more) you like and explain why.

Enter your name under the story you pick. “(2)” means that two people can work as a pair together (each essay must be separately written and submitted by each person, but you will have a presentation together). It’s first come, first served.

Sub-boards: "Separate Ways" by Higuchi Ichiyo (2), "The Peony Garden" by Nagai Kafu (2), "Blowfish" by Satomi Ton, "Carp" by Ibuse Masuji (2), "The Accordion and the Fish Town" by Hayashi Fumiko, "The Flower-Eating Crone" by Enchi Fumiko, "Blind Chinese Soldiers" by Hirabayashi Taiko, "The Rifle" by Kojima Nobuo, "Unzen" by Endo Shusaku (2), "The Bet" by Abe Kobo (2), "Three Policemen" by Yoshiyuki Junnosuke, "Toddler-hunting" by Kono Taeko, "The Duel" by Kaiko Takeshi, "A Very Strange, Enchanted Boy" by Tsushima Yuko, "Desert Dolphin" by Shimada Masahiko

“The Bears of Nametoko”
1. Compare the relationships between “Kojuro and the bears” and “Kojuro and the shopkeeper in town”.
2. What do you think “the ceremony” at the end represents?
3. Who do you think “I”, the narrator is?

“In the Forest, Under Cherries in Full Bloom”
1. How do you interpret “he found himself thinking that the sky would fall” (p.201)?
2. Explain this excerpt; “Even now, no one knows that secret of the cherry forest in full bloom. Perhaps it was loneliness” (p.205).

Suggested questions:
“The Bonfire”
1. How do you interpret “The old fireside was joyful indeed. … How pleasantly this fire burns” (p.34)?
2. Compare the boys' attitude with the old man’s one toward fire.

“Night Fires”
How does K-san’s “strange” episode in the snow mountain fit into this story? If this episode had not been inserted, how would the impression the story makes been different?

Suggested questions:
"Sansho the Steward"
1. This story is well-known as a story for children. What do you think children would learn from this story?
2. If this was written in your culture, do you think the storyline would be changed, especially regarding what Anju does in order to let him escape?

"The Third Night"
What does this child symbolize? How do you interpret "the brat was shining like a mirror; like a mirror that revealed my past, my present and my future, no smallest fact unblazoned" (p.29)?

I will post announcements here, instead of e-mailing you. Please check this board regularly.