Traditional Family Responsibilities

The traditional family structure is an important part of Japanese culture among the wealthier families such as the Makiokas. How the characters balance their responsibilities to the family with their personal lives and responsibilities to one another forms a central theme of the novel.

The family tradition is that the oldest son takes over as the head of the family upon the death of the father. In the case of the Makioka family, which has only four daughters, the responsibility has been given to the husband of Tsuruko, the oldest daughter. Her husband, Tatsuo, has even taken the Makioka name. Along with his responsibilities as head of the family, he is expected to maintain the main family house and manage the inheritance of the unmarried daughters. Tatsuo has the final word on matters such as who the unmarried Makioka sisters will marry.

Family tradition calls for...