How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #10
Once I came across two ideographs for the word "love". The first contained the root words "heart" and "hand" and "action"—love as hands and heart in action together. The other ideograph, for "passionate love", was formed of "heart", "to tell", and "a long thread". The dance ceremony of the dead was a slow courtly telling, the heart declaring a long thread knotted to Obasan's twine, knotted to Aunt Emily's package. (35.2)
Japanese lesson time. There are two words in Japanese that can translate into love: ai and koi. Ai is the first love that Naomi is talking about, and koi is the second. Ai could be translated as "real love." We are not talking about summer hookups: this is love that's in it for the long haul and through thick and thin. Koi, on the other hand is "passionate love." It's closer to the Western idea of love, with all the holding hands and kissing and Valentine's Day chocolates. Why do you think that Obasan is dancing koi love in Naomi's dream? Which of the two Japanese words for love do you think describes Obasan's everyday attitude towards Naomi?