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The Narrator’s Mother
Emperor Meiji is the emperor of Japan until his death near the end of the novel. His death symbolizes the end of the Meiji era, a transformative period in Japan’s history. Characterized by large-scale industrialization and modernization, the Meiji era saw Japan emerge on the global stage as a powerful modern nation. The emperor’s death comes as a shock to those of his generation, including Sensei and the narrator’s father.
Emperor Meiji Quotes in Kokoro
The Kokoro quotes below are all either spoken by Emperor Meiji or refer to Emperor Meiji . For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
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Part 2: My Parents and I Quotes
Thus, in a desperate desire to act, I boarded the Tokyo-bound train. The noise of the engine filled my ears as I sat down in a third-class carriage. At last, I was able to read Sensei’s letter from beginning to end.
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Part 3: Sensei and his Testament Quotes
I turned to my wife, who had reminded me of its existence, and said: “I will commit junshi if you like; but in my case, it will be through loyalty to the spirit of the Meiji Era.” My remark was meant as a joke, but I did feel that the antiquated word had come to hold a new meaning for me.
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Then, at the height of summer, Emperor Meiji passed away. I felt as though the spirit of the Meiji era had begun with the Emperor and ended with him. I was overcome with the feeling that I and the others, who had been brought up in that era, were now left behind to live as anachronisms.
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Emperor Meiji Character Timeline in Kokoro
The timeline below shows where the character Emperor Meiji appears in Kokoro. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Part 2: My Parents and I
...does not write back, and the narrator’s father, fixated on the declining health of the emperor, begins to grow quiet and anxious. His mother claims it’s just depression, but the narrator...
(full context)
Part 3: Sensei and his Testament
...his generation as “anachronisms.” His wife jokingly suggests he commit junshi—the act of following one’s emperor to the grave—and Sensei jokes back he will, but in the name of the era,...
(full context)
