Fusako

               For a very long time, in Asia, women were not viewed as important because they lack the physical strength that mean have. People usually say that men were more desirable because they can handle heavy labor jobs which provide food and shelter for the family, while women are to stay home to cook, clean, bear children and take care of the family. As a result of that, women are view as incapable and vulnerable who are dominated by males. In The Sailor who Fell from Grace with the Sea we are introduced Fusako a widow who is the owner of Rex, Ltd. “one of the oldest and best-known luxuray shops in Yokohoma’s swank Motomachi district” (24). Unlike Yoriko Kasuga, the “gullable beauty” (33) or the “chinese whore” (19) who need a male presence, Fusako is an intelligent, decisive and strong business woman who has no need for a male presence. For five years after her husband passed away Fusako managed “business by herself” (24), she is able to place bids on shipments before other buyers; “her policy is to emphisize quality labels while offering a wide price range in every item”. She is also has precise decisions for example when Yoriko Kasuga asks her to pick out gifts “for about twenty men” (26); Fusako realized that the gifts were supposed to be bought in the summer so instead of picking sweaters which would be in store near fall she picked out “Caldin ties and some polo shirts and a few Jiff pens” (33-34). Not only did Fusako manage the business on her own after her, husband died, she also had to raise her 13 years-old son Noboru, who was 8 years-old at the time. In conclusion, I find that because Fusako was not like the stereotypical hopeless female who is born to serve in male dominate society she is a representation of modern women who are independent.

It is "obscene for human beings to live only for themselves"

While surfing through blogs; I came across Rohit's blog ( http://missedink.blogspot.com/ ), in which he blogged about Mishima's dedication to the life of a samurai.  What I found interesting about it was the youtube link, of Mishima’s last speech, that he posted along with the blog.

               In the speech, he talks about “dying for a ‘great cause’” (Mishima 1:32) and how it is now something of the past. He states that because of the “democratic political system” (Mishima 1:37) there is no need for a “great cause” (Mishima 1:35). This “great cause” (Mishima 1:25) that he speaks of comes from the “need to die for something” (Mishima 1:20) when they get “bored of living for themselves” (Mishima 1:13). I found this interesting because it relates to a discussion that was brought up in class about why Noboru disliked Ryuji. One of the points that were brought up was that, Noboru was unhappy of the fact that Ryuji was going to give up the life of a sailor so that he could live with Fusako.  As Mishima’s values are expressed, I would assume that Noboru feels that Ryuji is doing this out of his own selfishness; since he is neglecting his job that is very dependant on, a sailor plays a very important role in Japan (Japan is by the ocean meaning a lot supplies can be deported and imported using ships). Therefore, as Noboru does not intend to let Ryuji dishonor the “great cause” he kills Ryuji so that he would die an honorable death.

               I’m not sure if that made sense but basically I wanted to say that since Mishima believes in death for a “great cause”, as the author of sailor his values are put in the storyline and since the ending is ambiguous; I think that Noboru kills Ryuji before he can “live for himself” so that he can die for a “great cause”