Tokyo

Tokyo is the overarching backdrop for the entirety of the novel. All five of the main characters and first person narrators reside in this city in Japan. Although they all live in Tokyo, their experiences of the city contrast one with another. For example, Tomoka grew up in the country, but always wanted to relocate to Tokyo. She therefore accepted the job at Eden so as to avoid moving "back to the country" (12). Although she is glad she accomplished this goal, her life in Tokyo is not as romantic as she expected. Her experience of the city is particularly inflected by her job at Eden, her cramped apartment, and her lack of connections.

For characters like Ryo, Natsumi, or Hiroya, however, Tokyo is more familiar. They have grown up in the area, and feel connected to the city. For a character like Masao, his experience of Tokyo shifts...