Chapter 4, 'The Hanaza' Summary

Isako comes to the theater the next morning with Jiro's sleeping quilts. She tells him that he is selfish, and that leaving to join the theater will make his father sick. She does not give Jiro a chance to explain his reasons for leaving them.

Kinshi introduces Jiro to the other boy apprentices. There is an ugly and quiet boy called Wada, a handsome but fat boy called Minoru, and a boy called Teiji who stutters when he talks. All the boys clearly love Kinshi, and Jiro can see why.

Jiro presents himself to Yoshida and explains that he is a new apprentice. Yoshida tells him to go get ready for the performance. Jiro is worried because he does not know the play, but Kinshi says the left-hand operators will give him a nod when it is time to...