Discuss the role of nature in the novel. You could consider the title of the novel, the symbolism that associates Akira with the sun and Nori with the rain, the role of gardens and trees, and the chapter titles that reference nature.

Nori loves Akira and idolizes him. However, she often worries that the fervor of her devotion to him is one-sided. Do you think this is true? Discuss.

Nori, Seiko, and Yuko—the three generations of Kamiza women—defy patriarchal standards in their own individual ways. In what ways are they similar and different from one another?