Japan and the West

What do you think is Ogai Mori’s perspective of Japan and its relationship with the West at this time, and what aspects of the story have given you these ideas?

The book takes place in Japan during the Meiji period in which there was a change of how the country was governed which allowed for more influence to come from the West. This can be seen in the book by “the parasols” (Pg 91), the “European book of children’s stories” (Pg 141), and that ” the doctor told me that Western suits made by Japanese tailors won’t do in Europe.” (Pg149). These explicit references on the Western culture at that time in Japan show how these elements mentioned paint the relationship between the two as uneven. By the line “the doctor told me that Western suits made by Japanese tailors won’t do in Europe” shows how Japanese items aren’t valued that highly in Europe but Western items are in Japan as parasols are (Both Otama and Otsune have the same parasols that Suezo bought). The West is  modern and Japan is traditional which naturally clashed when the two were combined in the Meiji period. Ogai saw and with his exposure to the West (as having studied in Germany), his goal was to combine the two in harmony through his literary works. Although the references to the West are explicit, they are combined with the story as though they were always there, as though they were integrated. This can be seen when “Suezo noticed a pair of Western shoes in the doorway” (Pg 27) as the Western shoes are stated to show their existence in the context of being in Japan but not being given an opinion on them. Simply pointing them out shows how Ogai Mori was trying to integrate them into the culture.