So Far from the Bamboo Grove pits good against evil, war against peace, strength against weakness, and creation against destruction. Unintentionally perhaps, Watkins uses the symbolism of the bamboo to emphasize the contrast. Before Yoko and her family are forced to flee their home, they live peacefully and comfortably in a bamboo grove, so it seems relevant to relate the role that bamboo plays in Japanese symbolism, an evergreen plant that symbolizes constancy. It is also a hearty plant and it lives an exceedingly long time, so it symbolizes longevity. Because the bamboo has strong roots and it always grows upright, it appears to show strength of character. It perseveres, even during hard times: the roots of the bamboo thrive, even in ice and snow, and they sprout multiple stems, which further indicate its strength and vitality.

Long ago, the Japanese took note of the bamboo's...