Captivity
This novel is full of instances of captivity; Shirakawa Kaede has lived most of her life in captivity to the Noguchi. While in captivity, she has to sleep with the maids and perform tasks for the Noguchi leaders, needing to always be on guard to protect herself from the power of the men (occasionally including intentions of rape). Takeo is also abducted by the Tribe near the end of the novel, an action taken to prevent him from killing Iida Sadamu, the leader of the Tohan (a militaristic and brutal clan).
Revenge
Revenge is another major theme of this novel. Takeo's family and the entire village are slaughtered by the Tohan, led by Iida Samadu. Takeo desperately wants revenge on this evil man for his deeds; he is denied this final revenge by his own hands, but Iida dies at the hands of Kaede, Takeo's love interest. She also desires revenge against those who have taken advantage of her - when men try to rape her, they usually end up dead. When the traitors of the Tribe enact their treachery, resulting in the death of Shigeru, Takeo vows revenge for the life of his friend and mentor.
Bonds of Loyalty
In contrast to the negative themes, the bonds of loyalty between characters in this novel are quite strong. Takeo loves his family, and when he finds them killed, his grief is nearly insurmountable. He quickly forms a strong connection with Shigeru, who rescues him, and they save each other's lives on multiple occasions. When Takeo meets Kaede, they immediately form a deep connection, and his loyalty to her is seen throughout the second half of the play, culminating in their love scene in the final pages. He promises to come back for her, and he intends to keep that promise.
