No matter what, I want to continue living with the awareness that I will die. Without that, I am not alive.
“No matter what, I want to continue living with the awareness that I will die. Without that, I am not alive.” Banana Yoshimoto
At that moment I had a thrilling sharp intuition. I knew it as if I held it in my hands: In the gloom of death that surrounded the two of us, we were just at the point of approaching and negotiating a gentle curve. If we bypassed it, we would split off into different directions. In that case, we would forever remain just friends.
“At that moment I had a thrilling sharp intuition. I knew it as if I held it in my hands: In the gloom of death … Read More
Here in this ocean, in the midst of all this water, with the red flags on those distant buoys flapping in the sea breeze, I find myself unable to treat our house in Tokyo as anything but a dream.
“Here in this ocean, in the midst of all this water, with the red flags on those distant buoys flapping in the sea breeze, I … Read More
For ten years I had been protected, wrapped up in something like a blanket that had been stitched together from all kinds of different things. But people never notice that warmth until after they’ve emerged. You don’t even notice that you’ve been inside until it’s too late for you ever to go back– that’s how perfect the temperature of that blanket is.
“For ten years I had been protected, wrapped up in something like a blanket that had been stitched together from all kinds of different things. … Read More
Me, when I’m utterly exhausted by it all, when my skin breaks out, on those lonely evenings when I call my friends again and again and nobody’s home, then I despise my own life – my birth, my upbringing, everything.
“Me, when I’m utterly exhausted by it all, when my skin breaks out, on those lonely evenings when I call my friends again and again … Read More
When someone tells you something big, it’s like you’re taking money from them, and there’s no way it will ever go back to being the way it was. You have to take responsibility for listening.
“When someone tells you something big, it’s like you’re taking money from them, and there’s no way it will ever go back to being the … Read More
You know, Chihiro, darling- all it takes is one little wrong step and you end up feeling frustrated your whole life, like me.
“You know, Chihiro, darling- all it takes is one little wrong step and you end up feeling frustrated your whole life, like me.” Banana … Read More
Everyone lives the way she knows best. What I mean by ‘their happiness’ is living a life untouched as much as possible by the knowledge that we are really, all of us, alone. That’s not a bad thing.
“Everyone lives the way she knows best. What I mean by ‘their happiness’ is living a life untouched as much as possible by the knowledge … Read More
Was that what it means to be an adult, to live with ugly ambiguities?
“Was that what it means to be an adult, to live with ugly ambiguities?” Banana Yoshimoto
I spent most of my time thinking, because I didn’t have enough energy to do anything else.
“I spent most of my time thinking, because I didn’t have enough energy to do anything else.” Banana Yoshimoto
In places where a loved one has died, time stops for eternity. If I stand on the very spot, one says to oneself, like a prayer, might I feel the pain he felt? They say that on a visit to an old castle or whatever, the history of the place, the presence of people who walked there many years ago, can be felt in the body. Before, when I heard things like that, I would think, what are they talking about? But i felt I understood it now.
“In places where a loved one has died, time stops for eternity. If I stand on the very spot, one says to oneself, like a … Read More
I should have told her at the time. I could have taken a deep breath, looked away, and forced myself to say it.
“I should have told her at the time. I could have taken a deep breath, looked away, and forced myself to say it.” Banana … Read More
To the extent that I had come to understand that despair does not necessarily result in annihilation, that one can go on as usual in spite of it, I had become hardened. Was this what it means to be an adult, to live with ugly ambiguities? I didn’t like it, but it made it easier to go on.
“To the extent that I had come to understand that despair does not necessarily result in annihilation, that one can go on as usual in … Read More
I had been walking in silence for so long,I had almost forgotten what my own voice sounded like.My knees were tired;my toes were beginning to ache.
“I had been walking in silence for so long,I had almost forgotten what my own voice sounded like.My knees were tired;my toes were beginning to … Read More
Nothing exists in this world but me and my bed…” (p. 141).
“Nothing exists in this world but me and my bed…” (p. 141).” Banana Yoshimoto
It didn’t matter whether he was nearby or far away. His image would drift up into your mind just when you least expected it, shocking you, making your chest pound. Making your heart ache.
“It didn’t matter whether he was nearby or far away. His image would drift up into your mind just when you least expected it, shocking … Read More
People who are going to get along really well know it almost as soon as they meet. You spend a little while talking and everyone starts to feel this conviction, you’re all equally sure that you’re at the beginning of something good. That’s how it is when you meet people you’re going to be with for a long time.
“People who are going to get along really well know it almost as soon as they meet. You spend a little while talking and everyone … Read More
Although I was raised with love, I was always lonely.
“Although I was raised with love, I was always lonely.” Banana Yoshimoto
So, have you been enjoying yourself these days, Kazami?’ I’m having lots of fun.’ It was true. That made the sense of regret even keener, that this time in my life would soon be a thing of the past. I felt as if I could understand a little of what my mother had been through, and the feelings she may have had at different times. I wasn’t a child anymore, and this made me feel awfully lonesome, and utterly alone.
“So, have you been enjoying yourself these days, Kazami?’ I’m having lots of fun.’ It was true. That made the sense of regret even keener, … Read More
Why were we so far apart, even when we were together? It was a nice loneliness, like the sensation of washing your face in cold water.
“Why were we so far apart, even when we were together? It was a nice loneliness, like the sensation of washing your face in cold … Read More