Kitchen Lesson Plan

The word "orphan" is repeated throughout the novella. What is the significance of this word in the context of the story? How might the word's significance differ between Japan and American cultures?

The word "orphan" helps the reader to understand the profound sense of loss that both Mikage and Yuichi have gone through. They did not simply lose a mother or grandmother: they lost their last connection to their families. In the United States, not having anything to tie oneself down could potentially be seen as liberating, albeit sad. With nothing to stand in one's way, one can completely reinvent oneself. However, in Japan, the word "orphan" seems to have more distressing...