1. Define Nemawashi using one citation from the textbook.
"Nemawashi was originally a gardening term meaning 'to dig around the root of a tree a year or two before transplanting it; however, it is widely used in Japan today, especially in business circles, to mean 'groundwork laid unobtrusively in advance" (p. 159). Based on this citation it used to be a term for gardening but became more of an idiom by business men to mean setting up connections with others.
2. Nemawashi and Sudan ishiki have deep connections. Use one citation from the book and explain it.
"... there is a tendency to compromise with others by laying groundwork, referred to as Nemawashi, before reaching a final agreement" (p. 159). I would take this as Nemawashi meaning to lay groundwork connects to Sudan ishiki because these businessmen or people spend a lot of time laying groundwork with others as a part of the group consciousness, to get everyone to think the same, to not be the different one in the group.
3. What is Sempai and Kohai? Define them using 2 citations from the book.
"Seniors are called Sempai in Japanese, a term that has a long history..." (p 187). "Kohai is the opposite of Sempai: Ko means 'later' or 'afterwards' and hai signifies 'fellows' or 'mates'" (p 188). So it seems that Sempai and Kohai are terms for school, work, sports and means that the Senpai is the person who's been there longer and is therefor a mentor of sorts. While, Kohai, means junior and should treat their senior with a certain amount of respect and in turn they can become Sempai to a different set of students or people.
4. Considering Sempai and Kohai, what are the relationships between Umi and Syun?
Well, Syun is Umi's senior meaning that he's the Sempai and she's the Kohai. I can't really say I saw too much of a difference between their reactions with that in mind. I guess there a few times when she would be more respectful to him and offer to help with the paper and stuff. As they grew closer I think that relationship sort of changed from a formal Sempai to Kohai to just a friendship, or more.
5. Do you think the clubhouse embodied wabi sabi? why or why not?
Oh, very much so. Wabi Sabi is the Japense view of beauty in imperfection. Something that old and that filled with history is a beautiful thing to most of the students even though the place was dirty and run down and breaking in many places. There were quite a few times in the midst of the process of the students defending their building where they made the statement of how the place was filled with history and it couldn't be torn down because of that.
6. What was the significance of the scene where Umi, Shiro, and Syun, wait for the head of the company in regards to otogibanashi? What was the significance of the way Umi acted in relation to the Others?
Well otogibanashi relates to the folklore of the Japanese culture as well as beauty in visual and emotional. The book mentions one story of a woodcutter who finds this house with this beautiful woman inside who asks him to watch the house in her absence, but to not look in any of the rooms. The woodcutter disobeys, finds some eggs in one of the rooms, drops and breaks them, and the woman returns. The woman turns into a warbler and weeps for her children. So I think the significance is the patient waiting of the students even with the possibility of not getting to see him, there's still some sort of emotional beauty in their actions. The way Umi acted was one of Sempai and Kohai I think, since she was Kohai to the two others she sat respectfully while they made their arguments.
7. Why did Miyazaki make Umi and Syun think they were brother and sister later to find out they wren't actually related. Which value does this represent?
I actually thought at first he didn't do it on purpose, that he actually thought Syun was Umi's father's son, and therefore her sister. It kinda makes sense both ways, but if I assume that he did it intentionally, then I think that that was because of Nemawashi and the idea of laying groundwork. That if the two were just friends for longer they could appreciate and lay groundwork for a relationship that they could have later.
8. How did the clubhouse serve as namawashi?
It was the groundwork of all their efforts since their ancestors, the clubs and activities, etc.
10. Do you think she will develop into a good example of Ryosikenbo?
I do, she has very wise women around her who are glad to help her out. Not to mention all the work that she did while her mother was away taking care of the house and the family definitely sets her up to be able to handle things later on in life.
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