An Artist of the Floating World
Introduction + Context
Plot Summary
Detailed Summary & Analysis
October 1948 April 1949 November 1949 June 1950
Themes
All Themes Memory, Self-Perception, and Self-Deception The Relevance of the Artist Family Reputation, Family Secrets, and Familial Loss Intergenerational Conflict City, Nation, History
Quotes
Characters
All Characters Masuji Ono Noriko Setsuko Suichi Ichiro Dr. Saito Jiro Miyake Kuroda Shintaro Mrs. Kawakami Akira Sugimura Chishu Matsuda Seiji Moriyama, Mori-san Yasunari Nakahara, the Tortoise Miss Sugimora President of Kimura Company
Symbols
All Symbols The Smell of Burning Lanterns Gardens
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An Artist of the Floating World

by

Kazuo Ishiguro

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Introduction Intro
Plot Summary Plot
Summary & Analysis
  • October 1948
  • April 1949
  • November 1949
  • June 1950
Themes
  • All Themes
  • Memory, Self-Perception, and Self-Deception Theme Icon
    Memory, Self-Perception, and Self-Deception
  • The Relevance of the Artist Theme Icon
    The Relevance of the Artist
  • Family Reputation, Family Secrets, and Familial Loss Theme Icon
    Family Reputation, Family Secrets, and Familial Loss
  • Intergenerational Conflict Theme Icon
    Intergenerational Conflict
  • City, Nation, History Theme Icon
    City, Nation, History
Quotes
Characters
  • All Characters
  • Masuji Ono
  • Noriko
  • Setsuko
  • Suichi
  • Ichiro
  • Dr. Saito
  • Jiro Miyake
  • Kuroda
  • Shintaro
  • Mrs. Kawakami
  • Akira Sugimura
  • Chishu Matsuda
  • Seiji Moriyama, Mori-san
  • Yasunari Nakahara, the Tortoise
  • Miss Sugimora
  • President of Kimura Company
Symbols
  • All Symbols
  • The Smell of Burning Symbol Icon
    The Smell of Burning
  • Lanterns Symbol Icon
    Lanterns
  • Gardens Symbol Icon
    Gardens
Theme Wheel Theme Viz
Download this Chart (PDF)
Download the Teacher Edition
Download this Chart (PDF)

An Artist of the Floating World Study Guide

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MLA

Levine, Yael. "An Artist of the Floating World." LitCharts. LitCharts LLC, 30 Jul 2018. Web. 10 Jul 2025.


Chicago

Levine, Yael. "An Artist of the Floating World." LitCharts LLC, July 30, 2018. Retrieved July 10, 2025. https://www.litcharts.com/lit/an-artist-of-the-floating-world.

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