May Inui 10/1/25

I was a little confused by Twelve Twitter Stories. I had some trouble figuring out what the author was trying to convey through those mini paragraphs, but I appreciated the abnormal, irregular tone that carried through the whole reading. I Want to Kick You in the Back portrays the experience of feeling lonely and isolated and not fitting in with the larger group. Although the protagonist and Ninagawa are both left over when the class forms groups, they represent different types of loneliness. The protagonist does not identify with Ninagawa, instead viewing him as strange and even unsettling- “It looked like he was dead.” The line, “I hate being a leftover, but I hate being a part of a group even more,” reflects the protagonist’s inner conflict between loneliness and conformity. I felt that Ninagawa’s old Japanese-style house also symbolizes his position as an outsider, not only within the school but also within society at large. The story also touches on the theme of obsession in Japanese culture, particularly with idol figures (such as models), and the fetishization of Japanese culture and people by Westerners. People Who Talk to Stuffed Animals Are Nice portrays a protagonist who feels left out of love, unsure of what love even is. Having never experienced romance, he feels pressured to date simply for the sake of dating. During his adolescent years, he was confused about where the line lies between friendship and romance. His lack of traditionally masculine traits also added to this confusion. The story touches upon the expectations placed on Japanese youth regarding romantic relationships, as well as the broader Japanese cultural tendency to suppress emotions. The stuffed animal club thus becomes a space where students can express themselves more freely in contrast to a society where things such as therapy is often considered taboo and many people hide their struggles to avoid burdening others. Hunchback touches upon the deep, intricate thoughts of someone living with a physical disability. I found the protagonist’s expression of wanting to get an abortion especially intriguing. She explains that this desire comes from wanting to experience a sense of normalcy- something that many women might view as an inconvenience becomes, for her, a way to feel closer to what “normal” women go through. I enjoyed The Hole’s slow pace and the way it focused on seemingly mundane events. The beginning highlights the toxicity of Japanese work culture- being overworked despite low wages. At the same time, the story also shows that quitting such a job comes with its own struggles, as the protagonist experiences monotonous, repetitive days as a housewife without much sense of purpose, though she she didn’t find much purpose in her job either. I interpreted the hole she falls into as a symbol of her state in life: trapped.