The imagery of Hagino's hair
The writer enhances the imagery of Hagino's hair through the use of a simile. Specifically, the comprehension of her hair as messy, unkempt, and untidy is enhanced through its detailed comparison to a rat's nest using a simile: "And what had Hagino done to her hair? It looks like a rat's nest." The use of the simile thus facilitates a much deeper conception of the appearance of Hagino's hair.
Life in Harbin
Life in Harbin is brought out as being great, prodigious, and phenomenal through the use of a simile. As the narrator entertains the idea of saving up enough to leave her miserable life where their husbands work them like slaves, she brings out the wonderful nature of life in Harbin through the comparison of life there to that of a prince: "Or Harbin, Manchuria, where our husbands had told us a Japanese could live like a prince." In this way, the image of a good life is enhanced in the reader.
The appearance of the umbilical cord
The imagery of the umbilical cord wrapped around Misuzu's neck is enhanced in this work through the use of a simile. The narrator compares its appearance wrapped around the child's neck to a rosary: "We gave birth to Misuzu, who came out with her umbilical cord wrapped around her neck like a rosary."
The imagery of the children sleeping
The narrator brings out the children's appearance sleeping with them on their hay covered wooden boards using a simile. In particular, the huddled up nature of the children in the sleeping space is enhanced through their comparison to puppies: "They [the children] slept with us, at night, like puppies…" The use of the simile thus facilitates imagery.
The played for hours like calves
Even though the children are never given toys to play with, they indulge themselves for hours on end in the fields and their enthusiasm as well as Even though the narrator notes that they did not give toys to their children to play with, they play in the fields for hours on end. The children's ability to play for long is brought out through the use of a simile. The narrator notes: "… they played for hours like calves in the fields." The use of the simile enhances imagery while also alluding to the children's enthusiasm.
