“If the love is true, then treat it the same way you would a plant—feed it, protect it from the elements—you must do absolutely everything you can. But if it isn’t true, then it’s best to just let it wither on the vine.”
– “The Briefcase” (2001) by Hiromi Kawakami
by Hiromi Kawakami (Author), Allison Markin Powell (Translator)
Today, I’d like to share a touching quote from Hiromi Kawakami, one of Tokyo’s leading contemporary writers. I’ll be introducing a beautiful passage about love from “The Briefcase” that contains some amazing insights for all of us living in modern times!
💡The author’s background
Born in Tokyo in 1958, Hiromi Kawakami is such a cool writer! She studied biology and worked as a high school teacher before becoming an author. After winning the prestigious Akutagawa Prize in 1996 for “Tread on a Snake,” she’s been captivating readers worldwide with her unique literary perspective.
💡Context
This quote appears in a scene where the protagonist contemplates the nature of love through her relationship with “Sensei,” her former teacher. Using the relatable metaphor of caring for plants, she explores the essence of nurturing love.
Manga and movies have also been made based on this work.
💡Meaning and Interpretation
What makes this quote brilliant is how it compares nurturing love to tending plants. It suggests that true love requires daily care and patience, just like growing plants. But it also offers practical advice: there’s no need to hold onto feelings that aren’t genuine.
💡Works and historical background
When published in 2001, Japan was experiencing a trend where young people were becoming less interested in romantic relationships, and human connections were becoming increasingly superficial. This work offered a fresh perspective on examining the essence of human relationships in an era before smartphones and social media.
The proliferation of the Internet and mobile phones, the weakening of workplace and friendship relationships, and the weakening of ties in the local community are all thought to be contributing factors.
💡Other Works
I also highly recommend “Strange Weather in Tokyo” by the same author! It’s another beautiful story set in Tokyo that gently explores modern loneliness and connection. The English translation is readily available!
Source
[1] https://www.timeout.com/tokyo/things-to-do/the-best-quotes-that-sum-up-tokyo-and-japan-perfectly
[2] https://www.quoteikon.com/yasunari-kawabata-quotes.html
[3] https://positivepsychology.com/ikigai-quotes/
[4] https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/637929.Hiromi_Kawakami
[5] https://www.japanesepod101.com/blog/2021/03/04/japanese-quotes/
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