“Getting That Setting” AUtumn, Winter, Spring, Summer By: Abigail Schubauer Jordan Kelly Sayeh Feizi Period 4

The beginning of Spring is associated with: -light “...I’ve felt much lighter. It’s as if the darkness of winter has lifted.” (Tsukiyama, 117) -flowers and beauty in all places “There, between two large rocks, grew a neat cluster of blooming flowers, startlingly beautiful, a splash of blue-purple rising out of green patch of leaves, somehow thriving among the muted, gray stones.” (Tsukiyama, 127) Spring om/2008/04/balloon-flower.jpg

Spring incites memories of home and loved ones among the people of Tarumi and Yamaguchi. Stephen is homesick for his family. “... it might be wise if I returned to Hong Kong as soon as possible.” (Tsukiyama, 157) Sachi and Matsu tell stories about their past and losses. “‘ I would not want you to listen to my story on an empty stomach.’” (Tsukiyama, 130) Spring Hong Kong /04/traffic-in-wanchai-district-of- hong.html

One of Summer’s main themes is passion. -Keiko and Stephen’s relationship grows vastly in this time period.“There was something intimate between us now. I could feel it pull me closer…” (Tsukiyama, 170) -Celebrations and vacationing occurs among many groups of people. “It was time to entertain the spirits, to dance and rejoice at their return.” (Tsukiyama, 181) Summer ch.com/teacher/bien/home/obon- festival/ content/uploads/2011/10/obon1.jpg

Another of summer’s major themes is homecoming and returning to family. Fumiko and Matsu reunite to commemorate their sister. “I could see there was a warmth between them. It was the same way I felt with my brother or sisters…” (Tsukiyama, 179) Stephen’s father visits the home-sick Stephen in Tarumi. “My father has come and gone again.” (Tsukiyama, 168) Summer content/uploads/2011/10/obon1.jpg

Hong Kong resembles the area where Stephen got ill and he quotes that “Hong Kong was stifling in August. Some afternoons I could barely breathe” (Tsukiyama, page 4). Tarumi was important to the character because it brought back memories from his childhood and symbolized the days where he was healthy. Stephen states “...I felt consumed by the quiet, so different from the summers I had spent here surrounded by my family and the nose of playful children” (Tsukiyama, page 9) Autumn

Yamaguchi reveals information about the characters because its a village for Lepers and Stephen described it as “the village in Yamaguchi stood in a clearing on the gradual slope of the mountain, hidden away by tall pine trees” (Yamaguchi, page 24). Stephen admires Matsu’s garden which connects with the mood of the story because of the calmness that it brings to the viewer. Stephen describes it as “the black pines twist and turn to form graceful shapes, while the moss is a carpet of green that invites you to sit by the pond” (Yamaguchi, page 31)

Winter Some common themes associate with winter are: -The cold “The cold morning air stung my lips and fingers.” (Tsukiyama, 73) -The holidays, which is when Stephen feels homesick and starts missing his family and Hong Kong “I had just been in bed with thoughts of what I would be missing back home in Hong Kong. Every year when we were young, my mother insisted on having a live Christmas tree with ornaments in our house.” (Tsukiyama, 94) Japan in the winter. s.org/wp- content/uploads/2012 /12/InterNations- Blog-Japan-in- Winter-1.jpg Christmas Tree content/uploads/2013/09/Free-Wallpaper- Christmas-Tree.jpg

Winter The winter also represents a period of darkness as many of the characters endure hardships throughout the season. -Matsu experiences a major tragedy when his best friend, Kenzo, takes his own life. “‘Kenzo will be buried tomorrow morning,’ Matsu said quietly, as we sat across from one another in the kitchen eating our morning meal of rice and pickled vegetables.” (Tsukiyama, 102) -Meanwhile Stephen is prohibited from seeing Kieko because of her fathers wishes. “At least I knew why Kieko was always anxious to get away from me. Her father’s dislike of me for whatever reasons was obvious.” (Tsukiyama, 110) Dark winter night. wallpaper/dark-winter-night-picture/dark- winter-night-image,1366x768,54916.jpg

Works Cited ● Tsukiyama, Gail. The Samurai's Garden. New York: St. Martin's, Print. ● Hong Kong 1900s. Digital image. Imgur. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Oct ● Kobe, Japan 1900s. Digital image. Meijishowa. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Oct ● Hong Kong, China 1900s. Digital image. Bu.edu. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Oct ● Mountain in Japan. Digital image. Japan Web Magazines. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Oct magazine.com/images/mountain/index/07.jpg ● Garden. Digital image. Wp- Content. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Oct content/uploads/2012/05/gar.jpg ● Japan in Winter. Digital image. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Oct Blog-Japan-in-Winter-1.jpg ● Christmas Tree. Digital image. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Oct Wallpaper-Christmas-Tree.jpg ● Dark Winter Night. Digital image. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Oct picture/dark-winter-night-image,1366x768,54916.jpg