Summary
Chapter 1: Housebound
The journey into Mori’s Shizuko’s Daughter opens with Shizuko, the focal mother figure, lost in a reverie of her quaint childhood village. Her dreams are abruptly interrupted by the shrill insistence of a telephone. On the line is her daughter, Yuki, who informs her that her piano teacher has been delayed, meaning Yuki’s return home will also be later than expected. Shizuko reassures Yuki, brushing away any potential complications. Yuki, despite sensing a disconcerting undertone in her mother’s voice, resolves to wait patiently for Miss Uozumi rather than skip her lesson.
Meanwhile, Shizuko embarks on the solemn preparation for her own departure from life. She settles down and pens two letters. In one, she seeks her husband’s forgiveness, shouldering the blame for the sorrow that has led her to this decisive moment. To Yuki, she writes tenderly, urging her daughter to always remember her love. She adds, “When you grow up to be a strong woman, you will know that this was for the best.”
With a resolute heart, she moves to the kitchen, sealing the door behind her, and places the letters on the table. After igniting the gas stove, she lowers herself to the floor. Thoughts drift to something she had written to her husband: “I am almost happy at this last hour.” She had wished him happiness too, but now reconsidering, she reaches up, retrieves the note meant for him, and shreds it into tiny fragments.
Chapter 2: The Wake
As Yuki and her Aunt Aya sort through Shizuko’s clothing and jewelry, Aya remarks, “Nobody would think you were only twelve,” alluding to Yuki’s stoic demeanor in the wake of her mother’s passing. Yuki is weary of such observations. Her mind replays the scene of returning from her lesson the previous day, discovering her mother lifeless in the kitchen. She wonders if her mother had been breathing when she first found her. When she had called her father, he discouraged summoning an ambulance, fearing neighborhood disturbance.
Descending to the living room, Yuki encounters her aunt, who suggests her dress is unsuitably bright. Aya guides her upstairs to find a more somber outfit. The only suitable dress is an aged choir uniform, as Yuki’s mother had lovingly crafted her wardrobe with vibrant patterns. Alone, Yuki begins to don the old choir dress, but the sound of mournful wailing below prompts her to abandon the dress. She retreats into her closet, surrounded by the vivid hues of her mother’s creations, and closes the door around her.
Chapter 3: Tiptoes
A year on, Yuki finds herself in a hotel dressing room, where her father’s intended bride, Hanae, is readying herself for marriage. Hanae, in an attempt to bridge the gap, suggests there should be no ill feelings between them. She acknowledges, “You’ll probably hear people say all kinds of bad things about me because I was married to your father so soon after your mother’s tragic death.” She advises Yuki to disregard any speculation of an affair with her father.
Overwhelmed, Yuki claims the overwhelming scent of cosmetics is making her nauseous and bolts from the room. She seeks solace in her Aunt Aya, begging for the story of her grandmother arranging her mother’s marriage, which her mother had defied by moving to Kobe and meeting Yuki’s father.
During the wedding ceremony, as a delicate sake bowl makes its rounds, Yuki deliberately lets it fall, its shattering echoing the earlier breakage of a rice bowl at her mother’s funeral—a symbolic act to prevent her mother’s spirit from lingering. Yuki hopes this broken sake bowl will ensure her...
(This entire section contains 1636 words.)
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father does not forget her mother.
Chapter 4: Irises
Having resided with her Aunt Aya until her father’s nuptials, Yuki faces yet another upheaval. She moves in with her father and his new wife, who emotionally distance themselves from her. In their kitchen, Yuki notices all but one of her mother’s ceramic creations have vanished. Memories flood back of her mother taking her to bustling street fairs to witness potters at work. The shift into her father’s house stirs recollections of a warmer transition—packing with her mother for a move closer to the mountains, filled with shared joy, in stark contrast to the chill she now feels.
Her gaze turns to the garden, recalling how her mother transplanted beloved flora from their former yard to their current home. While her stepmother has altered much, the garden remains untouched, a sanctuary of memories.
Chapter 5: Pink Trumpets
Yuki’s prowess as a track star shines at her school, though it goes unnoticed by her father and stepmother, who never attend her events. The absence is a silent ache, as the pitying glances of others remind her of what is missing.
As anticipation swells in the stadium, Yuki observes Sachiko Murai, a hurdler renowned for shattering records. Eager to meet this young prodigy, Yuki feels a rush of excitement when Sachiko effortlessly claims victory in her race. Fate brings them together after Yuki's own event, and they eagerly plan a later rendezvous.
Chapter 6: Sundays
Sundays become a cherished ritual for Sachiko and Yuki, until the warmth of summer begins to fade. It is then that Sachiko shares a bittersweet revelation: she will no longer be competing in cross-country. Though Yuki yearns to preserve their friendship, she senses that Sachiko's mother might disapprove of their bond.
Chapter 7: Yellow Mittens and Early Violets
Marking the third anniversary of her mother's passing, Yuki is granted the chance to visit her grandparents. However, a shadow of unease follows her there. Her grandfather's sudden collapse jolts Yuki, prompting her to finally express her emotions to her grandmother.
Chapter 8: Grievances
Amidst the chaos of tidying the house, Hanae, Yuki’s stepmother, can't help but see Yuki as a source of mess. She resolves to discard Yuki's old clothing, but just as she descends the stairs, Yuki arrives home. An altercation ensues, resulting in Yuki tumbling down the steps, injuring her ankle. A heated exchange follows, with Hanae accusing Yuki of malice. As Yuki retreats to her room, Hanae defiantly discards the clothes for the garbagemen and, in a final act of destruction, shatters Yuki's mother's cherished ceramic tea set.
Chapter 9: Homemaking
In her homemaking class, Yuki finds herself at odds with her teacher. When the teacher requires a volunteer to venture into the woods and collect vibrant items for table decorations, Yuki steps forward, only to meet resistance. Ultimately, her classmates rally for her, recognizing Yuki's artistic flair as unmatched.
Chapter 10: The Golden Carp
Yuki’s aunt, Aya, is set to marry Mr. Kimura, a figure from Yuki’s mother's past who had once harbored affections for her. Yuki recalls their first meeting when her mother might have considered leaving Yuki’s father for him, but chose to stay, valuing her bond with Yuki above all. After her mother’s death, it was Yuki who inadvertently introduced Aya and Mr. Kimura, a union Aya gratefully attributes to her niece.
Chapter 11: Winter Sky
The wedding ceremony of Aya and Mr. Kimura unfolds under a winter sky. Over dinner, Yuki boldly announces her decision to attend an arts-focused college, rejecting the idea of a prestigious national university. "That isn't for me," she asserts, emphasizing her desire to be distinct, to define her own path. The college's distance from her father and stepmother adds to its appeal.
Conflicted by a whirlwind of emotions, Yuki steps outside, where Mr. Kimura joins her. Their conversation meanders through the complexities of relationships. Having experienced both divorce and widowhood, Mr. Kimura muses on love's uncertainties, suggesting that its worth is heightened by the challenges they face.
Chapter 12: Gladioli
Under the cloak of night, Yuki stealthily ascends to the attic, driven by a quest to select a meaningful keepsake for her journey to college. Yet, surrounded by boxes harboring memories, she realizes that no object holds more significance than the memories themselves. With this understanding, she leaves Kobe behind, unburdened by material ties.
Chapter 13: Silent Spring
Returning home one evening, Yuki's father, Hideki, discovers the attic's contents now amassed on the porch. Hanae insists they be burned. Dutifully, Hideki transports the boxes to the backyard, sifting through them piece by piece to ignite the flames. Amongst the relics of the past, he stumbles upon his late wife's sketchbook, which he decides to keep, a fragment of her creativity preserved.
Chapter 14: After the Rain
In the sanctuary of Yuki’s grandmother’s home, Masa reflects on Yuki’s recent visits from college breaks. She has extended an invitation for Yuki to live with her. While tending her garden, Masa is struck by tragedy as Takeo, Yuki’s grandfather, succumbs to what appears to be a heart attack, leaving a void in their lives.
Chapter 15: The Effects of Light
Isamu, a photographer and new friend from Yuki’s school, lingers in her thoughts as she deliberates on the prospect of a deeper connection. Upon arriving home from work, Yuki finds a note from Isamu and a parcel—the long-lost sketchbook of her mother, sent by her father. As she leafs through its pages, Yuki discerns a message urging her to transcend her sorrows. In that moment, she decides to reach out to Isamu, embracing the possibility of an emotional bond.
Chapter 16: Epilogue
Nearly a year later, Masa finds solace at home, watching over her grandson, Tadashi. The boy amuses himself by decapitating flowers and capturing tiny tree frogs in a jar. Exhausted by life's relentless cycle of loss, Masa releases the trapped creatures while the child naps. Upon waking, Tadashi resumes play on the old wooden slide crafted by Masa's husband, a relic of a time when her children were young, and life was burgeoning with hope.
