He’s very keen on faces – the face of Christ and how it’s not described in the bible, but also that of the Japanese: blank, emotionless faces, faces like folded paper. He’s trying to see their soul in the face.
With very few words, Endo creates beautiful images of the rain, the night, and the mountain shack. Helps that I’ve seen a lot of classic Japanese films, too.
Kichijiro is a wonderful character.
I vaguely remember watching the BBC/PBS series when it was on WAY back in 1980. I don’t remember any specifics other than what she does when she leaves the house at the end, but I do remember thinking how exotic it all sounded and how exciting it must have been to live there.
Huxley writes beautifully and can immediately create a character and whole dynamic with just a few words.
She calls her dad by his name.