Earthquakes

In the story, earthquakes symbolize widespread tragedy and societal panic. The story takes place one month after the Kobe earthquake of 1995, and Frog enlists Katagiri to prevent an earthquake from striking Tokyo. Frog states that Katagiri’s courage is necessary for the success of the mission, and thus the story seems to thematically assert the importance of communal courage in the wake of tragedies.

Worm

Worm symbolizes fear, panic, and hatred. Frog states that Worm was awoken by the Kobe earthquake and is poised to cause an earthquake in Tokyo. Frog says that Worm’s being is defined by hatred. These dynamics can be interpreted as representing the fear and ill will following a national tragedy, and the story frames such feelings as forces that should be resisted.

Collections

Katagiri’s job as a collections officer symbolizes courage and self-sacrifice. Katagiri’s job is unglamorous and...