“No, nothing in this world is as oppressive and debilitating as blood ties. Any other relationship – be it friend, lover, wife; be it obligatory or constraining or difficult – is something one has consciously entered into at some point. Only one's ties with parents and siblings are formed at birth and are unbreakable.” FamilyParentsSiblingsFilialFilial PietyBlood Ties Book:Three Japanese Short Stories Source: Three Japanese Short Stories
“Oh, but once one has returned to the land of one's birth – there is no place more constricting – one's surroundings no longer permit such freedom, and one can no longer simply transcend the demands of social position.” HometownLiving AbroadForeigner Book:Three Japanese Short Stories Source: Three Japanese Short Stories
“Arejar os livros me permite rever velhos amigos que estavam empilhados em prateleiras altas, lembrar a emoção que tive ao lê-los, com entusiasmo, em algum momento do passado, e refletir sobre como as modas passam, e como os gostos mudam.” LeituraLivros Book:Histórias da outra margem Source: Histórias da outra margem
“For her I would gladly ferry across the Sumida on the coldest winter day to buy her those sakura-mochi sweets from old Edo that she loved so much. But medicine? That is another matter. Not even on the warmest day would I want to go buy her medicine.” MedicineSicknessMochi Book:Three Japanese Short Stories Source: Three Japanese Short Stories