Helicopter ride

The helicopter ride Kazu recalls being unable to afford at the festival with Yoko and Kōichi is a symbol of the family's working class socioeconomic status and the challenges and regrets this status has instilled in Kazu's life. The one significant memory Kazu has of spending quality time with his children is marred by the fact that he was unable to give them what they wanted at the time.

Photographs

The photographs the women at Ueno Park look through as Kazu watches are a symbol of the lack of intimacy Kazu had during his life related to his family. As he watches the women reminisce, he notes, "I never carried any photos with me, but I was always surrounded by people, places, and times gone by" (17). He later mentions that the only photo that was available to display at Kōichi's funeral was the...