Reflective statement I have studied the context of the novel and presented the temporal and spatial backgrounds of Kitchen. During the 1980s, when the novel was written, the Japanese economy was booming. This was because Japanese industry imitated that of Western nations and produced goods that attracted many customers. This could be seen in the novel when the Tanabe purchase expensive Western products such as a juicer and a word processor. Furthermore, the characters in the novel are often indifferent to money, which reflects the strong economy of Japan in the 1980s. During the discussion, I realized that Mikage's being forced out of her apartment might be related to the late 1980s in Japan, when real estate prices were rising rapidly. Before the presentation, I was unable to understand why the characters did not blame anyone for the death of their loved ones which is often seen in other literary works. Through discussion, I gained an understanding of Japanese literature that explained my previous curiosity. A characteristic of Japanese literature is the lack of antagonists in the plot because the antagonistic factors and environments are accepted rather than opposed by the protagonist. In the novel, both Mikage and Yuichi show the process of overcoming and accepting antagonistic characteristics such as desperation and grief. I also learned that shoujo manga is specifically aimed at shoujo or young girls and focuses on character development and romantic relationships. I found it interesting that elements of shoujo manga and light novels were presented in the novel. Before the discussion, I couldn't understand why the story was less focused on plot development and didn't have a... middle of paper... Eriko's loneliness. The Cold portrays the period of time following the loss of his wife where Eriko felt despondent and hopeless. Throughout the novel, Yoshimoto uses warm and cold imagery to emphasize the characters' emotions, represent the importance of human interaction, and show the process of overcoming desperation in the characters. The use of heat and cold allows the author to investigate the characters' feelings and develop their character by exploring the different means by which they overcome inherent pain. Furthermore, the author constantly emphasizes the importance of family atmosphere and human interaction through characterization. Yoshimoto chooses to use many literary techniques to effectively structure the novel. Word Count: 1350 Works Cited Yoshimoto, Banana. Kitchen. Trans. Megan Backus. New York: Grove, 1993. Print.