Ichiyo's Separate Ways

Higuchi Ichiyo and she was the first major Japanese woman writer in the sixth century. She was born in poverty-stricken environment and she was barely educated. Ichiyo’s first major accomplishments was Child’s Play (970-971). Ichiyo was a very accomplished writer during her time. In her short story, “Separate Ways”, she talks about a poverty-stricken environment in which these two characters live. The poverty-stricken environment that Ichiyo uses in her short story is the red light district in Tokyo. Ichiyo uses her own experiences of growing in poverty to help develop this story. The first character that the reader is introduced to is Kichizo and he works in an umbrella shop and he oils umbrella’s. He has developed a friendship which almost

The word poverty is described as “the state or condition of having little to no money, goods, or means of support” (“Poverty”). This is true for both characters because both of them can’t support themselves and are not making enough for them to get out of their situation. An article about global issues states, “almost half the world—over 3 billion people live on less than 2.50 a day” (Shah). That amount of people who are making that amount of money a day is considered to be in poverty because there is no way that someone can support themselves or their families on that. Kichizo wants Okyo to make him a nice kimono and Okyo says, “If only I could sew you a nice kimono, it would be a happy day. I’d gladly do it. But look at me. I don’t have enough money to dress myself. These aren’t gifts I’m making” (973). The kimono could represent the fabric that keeps Kichizo and Okyo together because as long as they have this promise they will stay in each other’s life. Ichiyo really shows the audience that it is really hard to get out of poverty because as much as someone wants to make it, it is never enough to get out of it. The other thing that is tells us that she is living in poverty is that she does not have enough money to clothe herself. Okyo hopes one day that she will eventually to make Kichizo that nice kimono, but she does not see that anytime soon. There are more people that live in

Family is an important aspect of living through rough times because it will make the hard times easier. In this short story, Kichizo and Okyo decide to be each other’s supporter and be there for one another. Kichizo does not know his family and it makes him sad, but Okyo tries to lift his spirits. Okyo says to Kichizo, “I don’t know what kind of people your parents were, but it makes no different to me” (975). Okyo does not care that he does not know his parents because that does not affect how he lives his life and he is doing better than his parents. They are each other’s family because they look out for one another and want the best. She wants him to know that she is there for him no matter what. Each wants the best for one another. Kichizo considers Okyo to be his sister and wishes she was. Kichizo says, “Boy I’d sure be glad if someone like you would come and tell me she was my sister. I’d hug her so tight” (974). Kichizo wants to have a someone who cares about him and he wants so desperately to Okyo to say that they are related. The promise that they make to one another is that if either of their luck changes that they will not forget one another. Okyo believes that both of them can get a better life for themselves because good luck can come to both of them. In a way Okyo takes Kichizo under her wing and watches out for him and Kichizo is the same way. The narrator says, “she tells