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お探し物は図書室まで 
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Week 18
| Week 18 |
Sep 27 2025 |
| pages |
280 - 304 |
| kindle locations |
2877 - 3119 |
| End % |
96 % |
| End phrase |
お昼ごはん食べようよ」 |
| Previous week |
Week 17 |
| Next week |
Week 19 |
Discussion Rules
- Please use spoiler tags for major events in the current chapter(s) and any content in future chapters.
- When asking for help, please mention the chapter and page number. Also mention what version of the book you are reading.
- Don’t be afraid of asking questions, even if they seem embarrassing at first. All of us are here to learn.
- To you lurkers out there: Join the conversation, it’s fun!
Proper Nouns in Chapter 5
| Name |
Reading |
Notes |
chapter |
week |
| 浩安く |
もりなが のぞみ |
librarian’s assistant |
1 |
2 |
| 小町 さゆり |
こまち さゆり |
the librarian |
1 |
2 |
| 権野 正雄 |
ごんの まさお |
this chapter´s narrator |
5 |
16 |
| 千恵 |
ちえ |
Masao’s daughter |
5 |
16 |
| 権野 依子 |
ごんの よりこ |
Masao’s wife |
1 |
2 |
| 矢北 |
やきた |
go instructor, Yoriko’s student |
5 |
16 |
| げんげと蛙 |
げんげとかえる |
Masao’s recommended book |
5 |
17 |
| 草野 心平 |
くさの しんぺい |
author of this book |
5 |
17 |
|
さわ・たかし |
editor of this book |
5 |
17 |
| 海老川 |
えびがわ |
janitor, former antiques shop owner |
2 |
5 |
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4 Likes
Thankfully this section was an easier and faster read.
Masao's story continued
Ah… poor Masao, a little lost, feeling like a nuisance to his wife (the fact there is a special word for the fallout from a salaryman retiring - 熟年離婚 - reflects how big a lifestyle change it is for everyone.)
If I understood the description of Ryo correctly, it seems like he changed jobs?? It sounded to me like he’s now working with Nasuda-san the real estate 道楽息子. Ryo somehow connected with Ebigawa and through the real estate company Ryo works for, got him the job managing the mansion property where Masao lives?
Two other things kind of stood out to me, although not necessarily central to the plot (possibly just hallucinations):
(1) Again, the story alludes to some dangerous incident that occurred in the past with the Hatori Elementary school children. Not sure what that means, but it does make me, as a reader, feel a little uneasy about who the Community House attracts … and how it impacted the school? In a few places, the annex is described as part of but definitely separate from the school…(I’m probably imagining this emphasis)
(2) In the scene with Masao and Ebigawa in the manager/janitor office, looking outside and being separated by a window, Masao makes a connection to the words of Kusano Shinpei’s poem 窓 about waves coming in and going out. I liked this as an allusion to the antique spoon and seaglass in Ryo and Hina’s story - where people are connected in the past or present, and the seaglass being brought over and transformed by sea waves, connecting people through time.
Speaking of which, the 窓 (outside looking in) phenomenon also seems to be highlighted in the chain fence separating visitors of the Community House with the elementary school children. You can see them, but better not try to connect with them…?! And to continue this idea, Komachi-san is always described as being behind a partition, kind of separating her from the library in way…library visitors have to peer around to make a connection with her…
Only one week left!
6 Likes
