Point of View

The short stories collected in Life Ceremony are written from a range of different points of view. “A First-Rate Material” is written from Nana’s first person point of view. “A Magnificent Spread” is written from the first person point of view of an unnamed wife, the sister of Kumi. “A Summer Night’s Kiss” and “Two’s Family” are written from the third person point of view and both trace the stories of best friends Kikue and Yoshiko. “The Time of the Large Star” is written from an omniscient third person point of view and adopts a fairy tale-like stance, voice, and tone. “Poochie” is written from the first person perspective of a young girl named Mizuho. “Life Ceremony” is written from the protagonist Maho’s first person perspective. “Body Magic” is written from the first person point of view of a junior high...