Izu Dancer

It was a strangely bittersweet story about awkward teenage infatuation and affection, the dark confusion of growing up, and the inevitable parting of two people who weren't meant to be (at least at the time). I felt that it was like a story of a summer fling, except set in the mountains in the fall, with an age gap and no actual relationship. (...) Anyway, I thought the theme was somewhat like a commentary on social relations and the need for one another, since much of what stood out to me was how the dance troupe and the narrator mutually needed each other (in terms of business, companionship, even blossoming desire), and how a stranger "naturally" relied on him while he relied on yet another at the end of the story. He was drawn to the warmest performer in a family troupe, and seeking her out led to him being surrounded by the family as well, and he began to match his pace to the group he didn't want to leave. When Kaoru asked "Why do you walk so fast?" I thought of how socially awkward he is, and also the pace of New Yorkers. People who always walk fast are also alone most of the time, unless they have a companion with a matching pace; in this case, the narrator had Kaoru running after him, which I think was all the more a reason for his fondness and subsequently overwhelming sadness when in the end, they could hardly speak to one another, and he finally had to leave. When he loses that connection, he finds himself helpless and in need of another's kindness, just as the old lady who suddenly found herself alone with her grandchildren did. However, I think that rather than his beginning depression, being able to feel his loneliness and rely on others was still a big step forward.

Discussion Question: What do you think is the nature of the relationship that budded between the dancer and our traveler?