Koremitsu Character Analysis in The Tale of Genji

Koremitsu is one of Genji's personal attendants, whom he often sends on missions to find information on Genji's various lovers or to carry messages when Genji is trying to woo women. Koremitsu finds much of this annoying. He does accompany Genji into exile and is instrumental in helping Genji gather the information necessary to kidnap Murasaki.

Koremitsu Quotes in The Tale of Genji

The The Tale of Genji quotes below are all either spoken by Koremitsu or refer to Koremitsu. 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:

). Note: all page numbers and citation info for the quotes below refer to the Vintage edition of The Tale of Genji published in 1976.

The priests did not know who he was. They sensed something remarkable, however, and felt their eyes mist over.

Related Characters: , ,

Page Number and Citation: 58

Explanation and Analysis:

Koremitsu Character Timeline in The Tale of Genji

The timeline below shows where the character Koremitsu appears in The Tale of Genji. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...is coming home from a visit at Rokujō, he stops to see his old nurse, Koremitsu's mother. Genji finds the old woman's gate locked, so he waits in the street. He... (full context)

The Parent-Child Relationship Theme Icon

Genji enters Koremitsu's mother's home, where she has two other children and their spouses visiting. The old woman... (full context)

...the fan, which is written in a cursive that implies "breeding and taste." He asks Koremitsu about the residents of the house. Though Koremitsu is annoyed, he asks around and discovers... (full context)

...house of the Lady of the Evening Faces again, burning with curiosity. Several days later, Koremitsu tells Genji that he figured out that a few months ago, someone came to live... (full context)

Koremitsu is unable to identify the Lady of the Evening Faces, though he does discover that... (full context)

...to disguise himself, which both scares her and makes her suspect that Genji is actually Koremitsu. Genji spends his days fretting about what he'll do if she decides to move without... (full context)

...to tell him her real name. She refuses, but they continue to talk all day. Koremitsu discovers them but leaves them alone as the day goes on. In the evening, the... (full context)

...woman from his dream by the lady's pillow. Genji asks the torchbearer to go find Koremitsu and a holy man. In the following silent hours, Genji listens to the wind and... (full context)

Koremitsu finally arrives and Genji explains what happened. Koremitsu almost cries but composes himself and insists... (full context)

...an "unexpected defilement." This means that Genji is unable to receive visitors, though he receives Koremitsu immediately when he arrives later. He explains that the Lady of the Evening Faces is... (full context)

...must see the Lady of the Evening Faces one more time. Against his better judgment, Koremitsu takes Genji on horseback. The moon lights their way to the desolate temple, and upon... (full context)

...live long. After a few days, Genji summons Ukon to the palace, and he and Koremitsu get her settled in. After twenty days, Genji's period of cleansing from his defilement is... (full context)

...as he believes Genji has been possessed by a hostile power. That evening, Genji and Koremitsu go back down to the bishop's house. They stand at the fence and watch a... (full context)

That night, as Genji sleeps, a messenger comes for Koremitsu and begs him to have Genji visit the bishop's house. The bishop himself also comes... (full context)

Genji sends Koremitsu up the mountain to speak with Shōnagon. Koremitsu explains how serious Genji is, but the... (full context)

...Rokujō lady. As he prepares to visit the lady one night, Genji is sidetracked when Koremitsu points out the nun's house and explains that she's become very ill. Genji decides to... (full context)

...tears and Murasaki cries for days. Genji receives summons from the palace and so sends Koremitsu to call on Murasaki in his place. This worries Shōnagon and she shares some of... (full context)

Koremitsu again relays this to Genji, who is at Aoi's house in Sanjō, bored as usual.... (full context)

...will be upset, but she feels she has to remain loyal to Murasaki. Genji has Koremitsu set up screens and makes Murasaki lie down with him to sleep. Shōnagon sits up... (full context)

...wonders whether he may have an opportunity to see Oborozukiyo in the daylight. He sends Koremitsu and another attendant, Yoshikiyo, to investigate. Their investigation turns up nothing useful. (full context)

...In the evening, Genji and Murasaki eat the traditional wedding sweets and after, he and Koremitsu make oblique references to consummating the marriage. Genji feels like a "child thief" and is... (full context)

...younger sister. On his way, he notices a house with ladies playing the koto inside. Koremitsu carries a note to the ladies. In their reply the ladies feign ignorance as to... (full context)

...They listen to fishermen singing and geese honking overhead. The geese inspire poems from Genji, Koremitsu, and Yoshikiyo about the power of friendship. They stare at the moon and Genji cries... (full context)

...that "plebian life" is too dirty for her. Genji spends his winter playing music with Koremitsu and Yoshikiyo and thinks of Chinese literature telling of situations similar to his. He spends... (full context)