Uncle Isamu
Despite all of the tragic events that the family endures, Uncle isn't sad--in fact, he remains oddly optimistic and refreshingly upbeat. The humor is not lost upon the readers when it is revealed that his name means, “to cheer up” or “make happy” in his native Japanese. This is precisely what he does for his family with a tireless consistency. Uncle Isamu by virtue of his behavior becomes symbolic of the optimistic outlook needed to counterbalance all the bitterness that the family must endure in order to survive their ordeals.
Stone Bread
The so-called stone bread that Uncle Isamu painstakingly prepares, despite being barely edible, is a product of a creative and/or desperate mind: a mind desperate to survive at any cost. Because of this it can be said that stone bread is symbolic of that will to survive, making the most out of whatever food items can be scavenged turning it into a food stuff that, although not the most palatable dish, would provide some nutrition and stave off hunger--two critical factors for anyone whose objective was to stay alive as long as possible.
Music
Music becomes not just symbolic of joy in the Nakane family as music is only played once a major challenge is surpassed. Over time music become the measure of the Nakane family’s normalcy, that is to say that it is becomes an actual indicator that all is well in their family--a sure sign of celebration and that life will go on.
Obasan Ayako Nakane
The grand dame of the Nakane family is, similar to Uncle Isamu, not just a family member but also a symbol. Whereas Uncle Isamu symbolizes optimism as a necessary tool for coping with tragedy as part of the family toolkit for survival, Obasan Ayako Nakane symbolized stoicism and emotional endurance. She served as a role model for her family, showing them by her example how it was bear losses with a quiet dignity and a resolve to keep pushing on no matter what comes. She is also symbolic of their connection to their native land of Japan and, at least when she was alive, a living reminder of who they were before they became migrants.
Boats
The boats that Uncle Isamu so dearly loved are a symbol of his identity as a boatwright and a fisherman in Japan, as it was both a tool of his trade as well as a means of moving about. Because boats are also tied up with movement and travel it is also symbolic of freedom. When the boat that Uncle Isamu makes is confiscated, it is almost as if to say that his freedom, as a human being and as a Japanese migrant living in Canada, is being curtailed as well.
