The Samurai's Garden

Stephen’s book is his storytelling method. Why does Tsukiyama choose this means of expression for her narrator (vs. simply having him “speak” his thoughts, his feelings, and the novel’s events)? Please consider Stephen’s personality, the journal style’s effect on the reader, and the importance of the act of creation as put forth in the novel.

Flowers are a central symbol in The Samurai’s Garden. Please choose three instances of flowers as symbol from the novel and explain how they help us to understand Stephen’s journey.

The theme of past and present gives The Samurai’s Garden much of its emotional weight. Why does Tsukiyama give Stephen a fairly simple, innocent past in comparison with the pasts of Matsu, Sachi, and Kenzo? Please use examples from each character’s past in your explanation.

Many readers reading this novel for the first time believe, when Stephen meets Keiko, that it will become a love story. Why does Tsukiyama first set up, then flout this expectation? What kind of story does it seem is more important to the author to explore, and why?

Matsu is the “samurai” in The Samurai’s Garden. Please do some research into the Japanese tradition of the samurai and find parallels in the novel’s exploration of Matsu as a character. How is Matsu a “samurai”? Why does it matter, considering one or more of the novel’s themes?

This novel is structured by seasons, from Autumn to Autumn during Stephen’s stay in Tarumi. Breaking Stephen’s stay into these seasons (Autumn, Winter, Spring, Summer, Autumn), how do you see the events of each season reflecting that season as archetype (e.g., Winter as death)?

The novel’s suicides of the past – Tomoko’s successful and Sachi’s attempted – are never far from Matsu’s, Sachi’s, and Kenzo’s minds. When Kenzo hangs himself in the present, what is his reason? Is he sending a message? Extinguishing shame with honor? Getting revenge? All, some, or none of the above? Please use Kenzo’s own words and the words of others about him to support your answer.

To what degree do Stephen’s nationality, his economic status, and his Westernization affect his ability to understand traditional Japanese Tarumi and assimilate with its villagers? What about Stephen is particularly “Chinese”? What about him is “Western”? What about him is more universal? Please use examples from the novel.