Suicide

Suicide is a theme of the novel. Nao’s father attempts suicide twice and was going for a third attempt. He believes he has failed his family and that they would be better off without him. He says that the Japanese commit suicide for honor or out of shame. Nao decides to commit suicide because her of her father. She does not see any reason to live. She knows that if she and her father were in the towers when they were attacked on 9/11 they would have been with the people jumping out of the windows.

Haruki #1, Nao’s great uncle, was a kamikaze pilot. He was trained to take his own life in an attempt to hurt the enemy. Haruki #1 does not believe in the war, but he sees this as a way to provide for his family and if he does have to die...