Shinji’s Mother Character Analysis in The Sound of Waves

Shinji’s mother is a widowed woman raising her two young sons as best as she can. A seasoned pearl-diver, she is athletic, brave, and deeply devoted to her family’s well-being. She has a very complicated inner life; though she is a devout woman who mourns her husband’s passing by visiting his grave each month and paying respects at a prayer altar in her home, there is a part of her that longs for more children, adventure, and another chance at love. As a diving woman, she is one of the wisest and most experienced women on the island—yet because she is poor, she finds herself excluded from exerting any influence in her community. When her son Shinji becomes the subject of terrible rumors, Shinji’s mother does everything she can to clear her son’s name—yet she finds herself humiliated when she is unable to even obtain an audience with the wealthy Terukichi Miyata, the father of the girl Shinji is rumored to have deflowered. Shinji’s mother enjoys work and finds herself bored and lonely during the winter and spring months when there is no pearl diving to be done. She draws strength from being around other women who share the same struggles as her, who have the same connection to nature that she does, and who are focused, for the most part, on helping one another rather than tearing each other down with petty gossip. A thoughtful, giving, fiercely defensive individual, Shinji’s mother wants her sons to live happy lives free of worry, strife, or pain.

Shinji’s Mother Quotes in The Sound of Waves

The The Sound of Waves quotes below are all either spoken by Shinji’s Mother or refer to Shinji’s Mother. 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:

The mother took a very tolerant view of young people’s amorous affairs. And even during the diving season, when everyone stood about the drying-fire gossiping, she held her tongue. But when it came to its being her own son's affair that was the subject of malicious gossip, then there was a motherly duty that she would have to perform.

Related Characters: Shinji’s Mother, Shinji Kubo, Hiroshi Kubo

Related Symbols: Pearl Diving

Page Number and Citation: 103

Explanation and Analysis:

In this passage, Shinji’s mother has just heard word from her youngest son, Hiroshi, about the unseemly gossip that is spreading throughout town concerning Shinji’s relationship with Hatsue. As Shinji’s mother considers what to do in this passage, she is torn between her desire to do the proper thing and “h[o]ld her tongue” so as not to draw any more attention to the situation and her need to fight for her child’s reputation. Shinji’s mother knows her eldest son to be respectful, thoughtful, humble, and true—and she believes it is her “motherly duty” to publicly defend the honest and decorous Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae v

It might be better to say that Terukichi was the personification of all Uta-jima’s toil and determination and ambition and strength. […] The uncanny accuracy of his weather predictions, his matchless experience in the matters of fishing and navigation, and the great pride he took in knowing all the history and traditions of the island were often offset by his uncompromising stubbornness, his ludicrous pretensions, and his pugnacity…

Related Characters: Terukichi Miyata, Shinji’s Mother

Page Number and Citation: 106

Explanation and Analysis:

In this passage, Yukio Mishima introduces the imposing Terukichi Miyata, a self-made man whose freighting company, which he built from the ground up in his youth, has made him one of the wealthiest men on the island. Mishima is careful to draw attention to the conflicting values and ideals that live within Miyata as a result of his many life experiences. Terukichi grew up with nothing, and he had to learn, this passage implies, the lessons of nature in order to become successful. Terukichi has made a name for himself as a great predictor of weather and a successful fisherman Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et

Shinji’s mother hesitated a moment as she was about to enter the house. Just the fact that she had come calling at the Miyata house, where she was not on intimate terms, would be enough to set the villagers’ tongues to wagging.

Related Characters: Shinji’s Mother, Terukichi Miyata

Page Number and Citation: 126

Explanation and Analysis:

In this passage, Shinji’s mother is fed up with the gossip spreading about her son—and she decides it’s time to take matters into her own hands by visiting the home of Terukichi Miyata and setting the record straight so that Shinji and Hatsue can see each other again. Even as she merely approaches the Miyata household, however, Shinji’s mother is worried about inciting another cycle of gossip and rumor. Shinji’s mother knows how gossip works on this small, isolated island—and she knows that the next firestorm could be worse than the first. This passage is significant because it shows that Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Und

Double suicide then? Even on this island there had been lovers who took that solution. But the boy’s good sense repudiated the thought, and he told himself that those others had been selfish persons who thought only of themselves. Never once had he thought about such a thing as dying; and, above all, there was his family to support.

Related Characters: Shinji Kubo, Hatsue Miyata, Shinji’s Mother

Page Number and Citation: 126

Explanation and Analysis:

As Shinji prepares for a secret—and very risky—rendezvous with Hatsue, he goes down to the beach, as he did before their first meeting at the watchtower, to draw strength and calm from the sea. He considers what will happen when they meet up, and whether Hatsue will suggest they elope or even consider taking their own lives. As Shinji considers what he’d do if confronted with such a request, he realizes that as much as he loves Hatsue, he does not want to do anything that would take him away from his family and thus jeopardize their well-being. This passage Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti sol

Hatsue got to her feet in silence and went around the rock to receive her prize. And the prize she returned with was the brown, middle-aged handbag, which she pressed into the hands of Shinji’s mother.

The mother's cheeks flushed red with delight.

“But...why?...”

“Because I’ve always wanted to apologize ever since my father spoke so rudely to Auntie that day.” […]

The mother's simple, straightforward heart had immediately understood the modesty and respect behind the girl’s gesture. Hatsue smiled, and Shinji's mother told herself how wise her son had been in his choice of a bride.

Related Characters: Shinji’s Mother (speaker), Hatsue Miyata (speaker), Shinji Kubo

Related Symbols: Pearl Diving

Page Number and Citation: 146

Explanation and Analysis:

In this passage, Hatsue, who has just won a diving contest and won a beautiful, expensive handbag in the process, gives her winnings selflessly to Shinji’s mother. This passage is significant because it illustrates the connection between Hatsue and Shinji’s mother. Both women, as pearl divers, daily brave the elements. The cold of the ocean water, the strength of its waves, and the danger of its jagged, rocky floor all pose existential threats to the women as they dive for abalone so that the valuable pearls inside can be harvested and sold. These women never see the fruits of their Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut

Shinji’s Mother Character Timeline in The Sound of Waves

The timeline below shows where the character Shinji’s Mother appears in The Sound of Waves. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...working as a fisherman in order to provide for his brother, Hiroshi, and his widowed mother. As Shinji arrives at the lighthouse, the older couple rejoices at Shinji’s arrival—and the beautiful... (full context)

...open ocean. Last night, when Shinji returned home, his twelve-year-old brother Hiroshi and his widowed mother, who has worked as a pearl diver since her husband was killed in the final... (full context)

...the ways of the sea [and] the weather.” He asks for the protection of his mother and his brother. Lastly, he asks to become a person worthy of a beautiful bride—someone... (full context)

...the waves so rough that not a single fishing-boat is out on the ocean. Shinji’s mother has asked him to bring down a store of firewood she gathered and left on... (full context)

On the monthly commemoration of the day of Shinji’s father’s death, Shinji, Hiroshi, and their mother head to the graveyard to visit Shinji’s father’s grave in the early morning hours. There,... (full context)

...into his sweater to pull out his envelope—he always gives his pay directly to his mother for household expenses. He is shocked to find that the envelope is missing. Knowing he... (full context)

...and Hiroshi can use to get into the shipping business and take care of their mother financially. No matter how successful he gets in life, he says, he hopes to come... (full context)

...outside world for the first time, spotting streetcars, skyscrapers, and cinemas at long last. Hiroshi’s mother buys talismans at the Yashiro Shrine and packs Hiroshi’s bag full of snacks and candies.... (full context)

...returns home for lunch, then goes back out into the storm. After he goes, his mother is left to finish up the dishes. In the quiet house battered by rain, she... (full context)

...the seats flipped down. Hiroshi says he hopes that one day he can take his mother to a movie, too. Shinji’s mother, crying, orders Shinji to kneel with her before their... (full context)

That night, after visiting the bathhouse with his mother, Shinji spies someone standing on the street looking up at the eaves of one of... (full context)

That night, when Hiroshi gets home, he asks his mother what his friend Sochan meant about Shinji and Hatsue sleeping together. Shinji is not yet... (full context)

The next evening, when Shinji’s mother goes to a meeting of the island women’s club, everyone stops talking as soon as... (full context)

As the weather turns warm, Shinji’s mother longs to get back to pearl diving. She is bored of doing housework and she... (full context)

Shinji’s mother approaches the surprisingly modest home of Terukichi Miyata. She is nervous—she knows that simply being... (full context)

A moment later, Hatsue returns and sheepishly announces that her father will not see Shinji’s mother. Shinji’s mother, enraged, shouts that she will never again cross the threshold of the Miyata... (full context)

In the aftermath of the incident, Shinji’s mother is embarrassed. She doesn’t tell Shinji what transpired right away—but when she finally confesses the... (full context)

...as they compare their bare breasts and argue over whose are the most shapely. Shinji’s mother is quietly proud of her own breasts, which are the most youthful-looking among the women... (full context)

Shinji’s mother and Hatsue immediately enter the contest along with six other women. They take a boat... (full context)

...the ferry to the mainland. At the docks, Shinji sees Hatsue whisper something to his mother, then hand her a small package. Shinji’s mother approaches him to say farewell and wish... (full context)

On the way to Terukichi’s, the lighthouse-keeper’s wife spies Shinji’s mother doing laundry in the stream with some other diving women. Realizing how strange it is... (full context)

...what she has to say. He is shocked, however, when five other women, including Shinji’s mother, enter the sitting-room. The lighthouse-keeper’s wife says she wants to talk to Teruichi about Hatsue... (full context)

Shinji’s Mother Character Analysis

Shinji’s Mother Quotes in The Sound of Waves

Chapter 10 Quotes

Chapter 12 Quotes

Chapter 13 Quotes

Shinji’s Mother Character Timeline in The Sound of Waves