Light

Throughout the novel, repeated references to light are a symbol of truth, beauty, and peace. Indeed, much of Fuyuko's narration is peppered with lyric descriptions of the light, be it natural or synthetic. Even when Fuyuko is feeling depressed, she still remains keenly aware of the light, and its ethereal and magic qualities. The light is thus antithetical to Fuyuko's depressive feelings, and symbolically represents the facets of herself that exist buried within or beyond the context of her depression.

Fuyuko's Reflection

References to and descriptions of Fuyuko's reflection throughout the novel are symbolic of entrapment. When Fuyuko catches her reflection in a window while in Shinjuru, she sees herself as the embodiment of misery. Later, when she is about to go out with Mitsutsuka, she stands in front of the mirror, repeatedly running her hands down the length of her body. She feels incapable of...