Komura Left Home
Komura left home with the package wrapped in a heavy shirt in his suitcase. The plane was much more packed than he had expected. Why were so many people traveling from Tokyo to Kushiro in the dead of winter?
Murakami's Definition
Murakami (2006) defines formalized formalized formalized formalized formalized formalized formalized formalized formalized Komura was leaving Kobe, Japan, a city he had considered home but had become a mystery due to his wife's sudden departure. After a few sentences explaining the condition of a lady who is later identified as his wife, his character is inserted into the plot. Komura's wife seems to have been affected by the earthquake that killed many people, wounded many others, and destroyed much land. This is an assumption made by her husband since she would not talk but stare at the television (Murakami, 1). This was symbolized by her sunken state in the cushions of the sofa. The irony in the introductory part of the story is brought about by the fact that Komura's wife had not lost anyone in the tragedy but was sad and could not talk.
Physical Appearance
Komura is described as a hard working man who is tall, slim and quite a stylish dresser. This is significant in that it gives a reader something to imagine about the character. His description as a tall man brings the imagination of a handsome man since the trait tall almost goes hand in hand with handsome. His slender description brings about the thought that he is probably a man who tends to look after himself very well in terms of his health in order to look slender and in shape. His stylish dressing draws a reader to the imagination of a very classy young man who looks good and dresses well. His physical appearance is quite a contrast compared to his wife's physical description (Murakami, 2). His description symbolizes order, responsibility, maturity and class. It also gives readers an allegory of a man who was focused and knew exactly what he wanted.
Background
Komura's background is not described in detail as such but there are a few things that are mentioned. He got married at the age of twenty six years and the story describes him as a man who had the desire for sexual adventures. However, his sexual desires change as soon as he gets married and he settles quite well with his wife. This is significant in making readers understand the kind of mannerisms Komura had and his relationship with his wife. He is portrayed as a responsible man who had been working as a salesman at the same company for eight years (Murakami, 2). The mention of doctors, independent business men and rich provincials is a symbol of richness and wealth, giving readers a picture of the kind of environment Komura worked in and the people he interacted with. The irony brought out here is the difference in personalities and physical appearance between Komura and his wife. While Komura is seen to have a wonderful personality and good physical looks, his wife is totally different and is not seen as a friendly person or a well-groomed lady. The description of his wife comes out as allegory as it creates the picture of an ordinary woman who was short, had thick arms and a dull appearance.
Language Use
Komura's language is decent to say the least. After he returns home and finds his wife gone, he decides to call his parents in-law and he is informed that his wife left for good and would not be going back. He is informed that divorce papers would be sent to him and he was expected to send them back right away. Komura answered back firmly but politely that he would not be able to send them back right away. His language is decent throughout the story even when he meets the two ladies who pick him up at the airport. One of the ladies Keiko is a sister to his colleague and the other lady is Keiko's friend. There is an irony in the way Komura responds to his wife's departure and the news that she wanted a divorce. One would have expected him to be very angry and show his anger by lashing out at friends or his parents in-law. However, Komura responds very well to the situation and is even polite to his mother in-law when they talk on the phone. The part of the story where he informs his friend about his wife's departure creates an allegory where a reader envisions a calm Komura in the midst of a huge challenge that he has no idea how to solve.
Personality
Komura's personality is that of an advocate. He is quiet and mystical yet very inspiring and idealistic. His personality is first seen at the beginning of the story when he does not show any reaction to his wife's behavior. His wife starts off being quiet and unresponsive to his tireless efforts to find out what the problem could be. He does not quarrel with her or disrespect her in any way. This is significant in showing the readers how different personalities coexist and deal with various challenges differently. Komura stayed with his wife despite the challenges he was facing as a husband. On the other hand, Komura's wife had issues she was not willing to talk about and ended up leaving her husband with no explanation. His act of fending for himself when the wife gets unresponsive is a symbol of an understanding person. There is no mention of his wife partaking of the meals he prepared with him or later, therefore an allegory is created of two partners who are not in bad terms but are not communicating as they should.
Relationship with Others
Komura is portrayed as a friendly person who is on good terms with everyone around him. His friends know him quite well and are surprised at his choice of wife considering his personality and outward appearance. He does not seem to have any issues at work since he has been working at the same place for eight years. His interaction with his friend and colleague Sasaki is significant in showing how well he relates to his workmates. Sasaki asks him whether he has ever visited Hokkaido (Murakami, 5). Sasaki is not a favorite at his workplace but Komura is known to be easygoing and blends in well with everyone. This symbolizes the different personalities and characters that people have to deal with often in their daily routines. In any given environment, there has to be a Komura and a Sasaki. This creates a balance in life and tolerance for one another. Sasaki's intentions are revealed when he requests Komura to drop a package for his sister, which he accepts. In his discussion with his parents-in-law, Komura is portrayed to have a good relationship with them when talking about the divorce papers. His good relationship with them is also seen at the beginning of the story when readers are introduced to the fact that his wife would visit her parents often and he would not mind.
Conclusion
Komura lands safely in Hokkaido and is received by Sasaki's sister and her friend Shimao. A lot of possibilities present themselves towards the end of the story. What if Komura still loved his wife and just signed the divorce papers out of hopelessness? Komura enjoys the ladies' company but still thinks of his wife to the extent that he is not able to concentrate on Shimao's advances in the hotel room. A lot is left to be imagined about Komura and his fate given that he signed the divorce papers and traveled somewhere else to relieve his mind. He also meets a young girl who flirts with him and opens possibilities for Komura.
