May Inui 10/29/25

In "The Flying Tobita Sisters", I liked the concept that people began growing wings because the world had become too crowded with technology and the internet. The story also has a nice touch of humor, especially in moments like when “the teacher naturally saw us and made us fly into the hallway and think about what we'd done.” It made me think about the idea that we often long for what we can’t have. For generations, humans dreamed of flying, yet in this story, the protagonist and the Toibita sisters, who were born with wings, develop a longing to walk. Their unusual desire fascinates everyone around them, highlighting the irony of human nature and our tendency to desire the unattainable. Not a huge fan of “I chase the Monkey..” it was hard to follow and confusing. I really liked "Mogera Wogura", it was both dark and entertaining. The idea of a creature that collects people who try to commit suicide was intriguing and unsettling, yet portrayed in a unique way. I enjoy stories that look at humanity from a third-person perspective, and Kawakami does this beautifully. She manages to write about a heavy topic with a tone that feels both humorous and bittersweet. "A Peddler of Tears" was an interesting story. Throughout the reading, I kept trying to figure out whether the tears held a deeper meaning or represented something greater, but I couldn’t quite grasp it. One quote that stood out to me was, “Tears of pain were of the highest quality.” I interpreted this as suggesting that pain might be the most powerful and genuine of human emotions. Kawakami’s “My Baby” provided an interesting exploration of maternal feelings. I interpreted the Mie not as a physical force but as a symbol of change. When it was written that the Mie had come for the narrator’s baby, my first thought was that this represented the baby growing up and no longer being a baby anymore, a heartbreaking transition for the mother. "Paprika Jiro" was a bit hard for me to understand, but I believe it touches on the idea of constantly resisting against a force in order to secure one’s place in society. I also like how Motoya writes, her style feels unique and very entertaining to read.