History 459/659, Japan Since 1800
Professor Constantine Vaporis
Study Questions for Naomi
1. What tensions arose from attempting to be both "modern" and
Japanese? How does Joji feel about Westernization and Westerners? (What
evidence to you see of the impact of Western culture?) What do Joji and
Naomi represent or symbolize? Does this story have a moral?
2. Compare the impact of Westernization in cities versus the
countryside. Compare to Hane's account of modernization.
3. In what ways have values, family relations, women's status, and
the aspirations of youth changed since more traditional times?
4. What does the novel tell us in broader terms about social change?
(Think in terms of long-term changes.)