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Continued reading 'Kitchen' today, and realized that Mikage's attachment to the kitchen is untarnished even when she moves into different home with another kitchen, in this case Yuchi's and Eriko's. Although initially in doubt, Mikage begins to trust Eriko and Yuichi because of the objects within their kitchen. To Mikage, the kitchen represents something concrete; its state of care reflects the characters of the owners. It is only through examination of the kitchen's contents such as the "Silverstone Frying Pan " and "German-made vegetable peeler ", that she able and willing to form a relationship with its owners. In 'Kitchen', food is not only used to represent love and affection, but it is also the platform through which characters form relationships with each other. It is the kitchen which puts her mind to rest as she decides that the Tanabe's kitchen is "a good kitchen ," one which she could trust, something which is familiar in an unknown environment. For Mikage, the kitchen is physical representation of the family, which she uses to assess the Tanabes. This idea is once again illustrated when Mikage decides she must view the kitchen one more time before going to sleep, and when she decides to sleep in the living room rather than the bedroom because it is closer to the kitchen. This physical displacement in her environment shows that being close to the kitchen, her source of comfort, brings her both physical and psychological solace.
Another important point in 'Kitchen' is Yoshimoto's use of food and culinary objects as conceptual metaphors to replace emotion and feelings, especially gratitude. For example, Eriko insists than Mikage doesn't pay rent, but instead asks her to make "soupy rice "as a method of payment for staying at their house. Homemade food which carries with it the love and care of a family member is shown as being more important than material possessions. Mikage uses food as a method of communication in order to establish a relationship with Yuichi and Eriko. During the following weeks Mikage struggles to get out of bed, and when she does, it is only to cook food. Mikage's cooking is greatly enjoyed by Eriko, who in turn, buys Mikage a "pretty glass " and a juicer as a way of saying thanks. This act of giving a material object brings Mikage to tears, which highlights the emotional response that these symbolic acts are capable of invoking in the characters. Yoshimoto depicts members of Japanese society having a inability for physical discourse, but instead conveying all that they feel through materialistic methods. The characters in 'Kitchen' are unable to express their feelings: especially Mikage, who states "I was thinking that but I was unable to say it. " This suggests a typical Japanese family who cannot express themselves through discourse of touch, but instead displays their emotions and voices their thoughts to one another by buying each other gifts or cooking for one another.
Another important point in 'Kitchen' is Yoshimoto's use of food and culinary objects as conceptual metaphors to replace emotion and feelings, especially gratitude. For example, Eriko insists than Mikage doesn't pay rent, but instead asks her to make "soupy rice "as a method of payment for staying at their house. Homemade food which carries with it the love and care of a family member is shown as being more important than material possessions. Mikage uses food as a method of communication in order to establish a relationship with Yuichi and Eriko. During the following weeks Mikage struggles to get out of bed, and when she does, it is only to cook food. Mikage's cooking is greatly enjoyed by Eriko, who in turn, buys Mikage a "pretty glass " and a juicer as a way of saying thanks. This act of giving a material object brings Mikage to tears, which highlights the emotional response that these symbolic acts are capable of invoking in the characters. Yoshimoto depicts members of Japanese society having a inability for physical discourse, but instead conveying all that they feel through materialistic methods. The characters in 'Kitchen' are unable to express their feelings: especially Mikage, who states "I was thinking that but I was unable to say it. " This suggests a typical Japanese family who cannot express themselves through discourse of touch, but instead displays their emotions and voices their thoughts to one another by buying each other gifts or cooking for one another.
