Noriko and Neglect by Sylas Davidson

    Noriko is highlighted throughout the film and by its viewers for her kindness, her compassion. 

She is the only person to take a genuine interest in Tomi and Shūkichi, seemingly outside 

of obligation and without patronization.  However, she also seems to rely on tradition to guide her

behaviour, taking guidelines as strict rules, to the point of possibly sacrificing her personal happiness.

This is most obvious with her continued devotion to her husband, Shōji, and his photo. It’s a little hard

to see, but Shōji’s photo appears to be on the top of a simple cabinet or wardrobe with a candle to one side.

There doesn’t seem to be anything else, at least not anything easily identifiable, that would 

make this a family altar. This appears to be a shrine to Shōji, instead of an altar for worship. Noriko 

might not be particularly religious, but she still appears to havecreated an altar, and instead of it being 

a place for general prayer to ancestors or gods,it serves as a reminder of Shōji and her grief. It seems 

unlikely that, with its prominent placement and arrangement, this photograph would be meant to invoke 

anything other than this imagery of the traditional family altar, and to make obvious Noriko’s use of it.

Instead of allowing herself a place for possible spiritual comfort, she has created an obvious and ever 

present reminder of her loss and her obligation.

        Noriko also keeps this strict adherence to tradition, at least to the letter of it if not the spirit,

 when she serves her parents dinner. Like Tomi she remains sitting formally the entire meal,

while Shūkichi sits informally. When the food arrives she passes the first serving to Tomi and

invites her to eat, the next serving is passed to Shūkichi, the third serving is not touched. It is 

polite, and proper, to serve older guests first, but Noriko not only serves her parents-in-law first,

she only serves them. We don’t see Noriko eat, or even begin to eat. Instead, she fans Tomi and 

Shūkichi throughout the meal, and doesn’t care for herself. I have a concern that some of the ability

that Noriko has to care for others is only possible because she neglects herself.

 

Comments

  1. Krishnan VenkateshNovember 3, 2021 at 10:30 PM

    That's interesting. She treats herself as unimportant, perhaps as someone who doesn't deserve happiness. On the other hand, perhaps she lives most of the time as a fairly contented modern woman, but Tomi and Shukichi's visit give her an occasion to reconnect to a kind of family spirit -- serving the elders while her husband looks on. The ceremoniousness helps her to restore a sense of wholeness.

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