Chapters 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 Summary

When viewing the photograph, Naomi is struck by the way both she and her mother do not look directly at the camera. Naomi remembers observing her mother adopting this same behavior in public because it was considered too forward to look at anyone directly. Naomi also remembers her Grandmother Kato's large beautiful home and the time she spent there with her family. Naomi is too little yet, but her mother, father and brother all play musical instruments and sing and the house is filled with lovely sounds. Naomi returns the picture to Obasan with a melancholy feeling that she can resurrect only fragments of her past.

With her memory primed, Naomi begins to recall more childhood events, especially the times when her mother would tell her stories. Overall, Naomi recalls a pleasant, comfortable childhood raised by just, loving parents and, later...