Irasshaimasé!

The term “Irasshaimasé!” symbolizes comfort in routine and social procedures. The convenience store workers are instructed to call out “Irasshaimasé!” to new customers in a cheerful and loud voice. This welcome greeting is an example of the strictly defined social rituals that take place in the convenience store, and Keiko finds great pleasure and comfort in repeating this phrase.

Dead Bird

The dead bird symbolizes the discrepancies between Keiko's worldview and more typical modes of thinking. When Keiko finds a dead bird on the ground in a park as a child, she thinks that it would be a good idea to bring it home to grill for her father, who loves to eat yakitori. Her mother is astonished by this reaction, and instead encourages Keiko to feel sad that someone’s pet died and suggests they bury it in a little grave instead. The death of...