Eriko

Kristin Mueller Contemp. Jap. Lit. and Film 2/20/13 Erikos enterance In the book Kitchen by Banana Yoshimoto, there is a scene in which Mikage first meets Eriko. The scene, on page 11, is a small insight into the work of Banana Yoshimoto. Just then, with the scratch of a profound in the door, an incredibly beautiful woman came running in, all out of breath How do you do, she express in a s exculpatedly husky voice, still panting, with a smile. Im Yuichis mother. My name is Eriko. This was his mother? Dumbfounded, I couldnt bugger false my eyes off her.Hair that rustled like silk to her shoulders the deep sparkle of her long, narrow eyes well-formed lips, a lever with a high, straight bridge the whole of her gave off a marvelous lighting that seemed to vibrate with emotional state force. She didnt look human. Here we see a small example of magical realism. This is the writing demeanor where most of the writing is about a very realistic, but there is a small set off of the s upernatural that takes part. In Kitchen, the supernatural part of the world that Mikage lives in is the light. There are many references to light that radiates off of people or objects.Before Mikage is even close with Eriko she can still see the light that radiates off of Eriko. This light represents the miraculous forces that are in life. Though Mikage, and later Yuichi, cant see them due to the loss of their love ones, the light shows them the things that are important. Another aspect of this scene is Erikos extraordinary beauty. Unlike Mikage or Erikos wife, Eriko is not plain. She is shoddy and showy even to the point of appearing inhuman. Her beauty is what captivates people, including Mikage. Sadly her beauty also leads to her death.This inhuman expression brings everybody closer to her, whether intentional or not. Although it helps when it comes to including Mikage into her family, it also isolates Eriko from the outside world. These things were all what drew Mikage to Erik o as well as the family she formed with her, Eriko and Yuichi. This first meeting with Eriko was the moment when Mikage could no longer protest living with them and met the next light she would live her life for. Because of Eriko, Mikage was able to live continue her life and move forward after her grandmothers death.