Reading Okinawa

Japanese Text:
Medoruma, Shun. “Kamiunagi” [The Eel God]. Mita Bungaku: A Literary Quarterly, No. 131 (Autumn 2017), 56–95.

Click here to get Japanese-English flashcards for “Kamiunagi.” Strongly recommended for anyone who wants to read the story in Japanese.


1.     Introduction

“Kamiunagi” was published in the autumn issue of Mita bungaku in 2017. This short story is about the conflict of a middle-aged Okinawa man named Katsuaki Asato, who by coincidence meets Akasaki, the elderly ex-soldier who killed Katsuaki’s father during the war. Katsuaki eventually confronts Akasaki, but the older man does not regret his actions, which infuriates Katsuaki. In flashbacks, readers learn that Katsuaki’s father tried to protect the villagers during the Battle of Okinawa but was killed by Akasaki. Katsuaki struggles to make sense of the past and to get an apology from Akasaki, but the confrontation does not go well.

2.     Character List
 
Katsuaki Asato  安里 勝昭

Katsuaki Asato is the protagonist of the story. He is over fifty years old and has a wife named Yūko and four children. Although Katsuaki lives in Okinawa, he works as a temporary worker on the Japanese mainland. At the time of the Battle of Okinawa, he was nine and respected Akasaki and the other Japanese soldiers. As a boy, Katsuaki was embarrassed about his father, who opposed the war. Now that Katsuaki is older, he respects his father and admires his courage.
 
Akasaki  赤崎

Akasaki is an elderly man who killed Katsuaki’s father during the Battle of Okinawa. He is about seventy years old, teaches kendo to children, and is trusted by the people around him. He has a daughter and a grandson, who are proud of him. At the time of the Battle of Okinawa, he was about twenty years old and served as a captain. Katsuaki remembers him as being oppressive and overbearing. Akasaki does not regret what he did during the war and refuses to apologize for killing Katsuaki’s father. In fact, Akasaki still feels that he did the right thing.
 
Katsuei Asato  安里勝栄

Katsuei Asato is Katsuaki’s father, who was killed during the Battle of Okinawa. At the time, he was running a barbershop. Katsuei married Fumi, Katsuaki’s mother, when he was thirty and had two children: Katsuaki and Akiko. Katsuei had lived in Hawaii when he was twenty years old, so he knew that Japan was not strong enough to beat the powerful US in a war. Because of his strong opinions, he sometimes quarreled with his customers in his barbershop. His ideas put himself and his family in danger. Also, he could speak English very well.
 
Fumi  フミ

Fumi is Katsuaki’s mother. She had a husband before marrying Katsuei and divorced because they could not have children. However, after marrying Katsuei, she gave birth to Katsuaki and Akiko. Fumi is sensitive to gossip and what people think, so she told Katsuei to be careful when talking about America.
 

3.     Plot Summary
 
Section 1 (56-8)

Katsuaki is drinking at a Japanese-style bar and happens to see Akasaki, whom he has not seen for over forty years. After noticing him, Katsuaki cannot stop listening to the conversation between Akasaki and the barkeeper. From the conversation, Katsuaki learns that Akasaki teaches kendo and is trusted by those around him. Even after leaving the bar, Katsuaki cannot get Akasaki out of his head. The incident reminds Katsuaki of his father, Katsuei, who died during the battle of Okinawa over forty years ago.

 
Section 2 (58-63)

The narration jumps to the past. In the summer of 1944, Akasaki was a captain, the leader of the Japanese regiment that came to the village where Katsuaki’s family lived. At that time, Katsuaki was nine years old and was helping prepare for the Battle of Okinawa. For example, he helped build air-raid shelters and assisted with farming. At that time, he respected Akasaki more than his father. Katsuei was forty-one years old and ran his own barbershop. In his twenties, he immigrated to Hawaii, so he knew more about America than other villagers. He often said that it Japan couldn’t beat the US, but his wife, Fumi, warned him not to ignore the opinions of others. She was worried that people would think he was an American spy.

Japanese soldiers arriving on Okinawa. Wikimedia Commons photo.

Section 3 (63-7)

In September, Katsuei got into trouble. In the village, a sacred fountain called “Ubugā” was famous for having the cleanest water, which the villagers had used since long ago. The water was used for drinking and rice cultivation, so the villagers viewed Ubugā as the source of life. A giant eel, called “Kamiunagi” (or Eel God), helped to clean the water and protect Ubugā, so the villagers believed Kamiunagi was the Guardian deity of Ubugā and the village. For this reason, the villagers never hurt and always cherished the eel.
 
One day, Akasaki and some Japanese soldiers caught Kamiunagi to eat. At that time, only Katsuei tried to stop them. He bowed his head repeatedly and begged Akasaki to put the eel back into the water. However, Akasaki and the other soldiers made fun of him and then killed the Eel God in front of everyone. Katsuaki spoke with his father, and his respect for Akasaki started to disappear.
 
Section 4 (67-74)

On October 10, the Americans started their air raids against Okinawa. The attacks were precise, so people thought there was an informant. Katsuei was suspected because he had lived in Hawaii and had fought with Akasaki. From then on, Katsuei tried to be more careful about his behavior. The village was bombed on March 27 of the following year, so families fled to a cave. While staying in the cave, people still assumed that the Japanese soldiers would defeat the enemies, but Katsuei knew that was impossible.


Okinawa - American LCTs unload supplies on Yellow Beach near the mouth of the Bishi Gawa river on 13 April 1945. Public domain photo.

As time passed, people noticed that the US had overwhelming military power. After ten days, some families decided to move deeper into the mountains, but Katsuei and his family stayed in the cave. Other families tried to leave the cave but returned because Americans were nearby. People were in despair because the Japanese soldiers had told them that Americans tortured prisoners to death. Katsuei knew, however, that the Americans would never do such a thing, so he desperately tried to persuade the villagers that they would be okay.
 
Section 5 (74-9)

In the late evening, people in the cave heard US soldiers calling for them to surrender. Katsuei persuaded the villagers to do so and then followed them. Katsuei translated for the US soldiers and managed to move everyone to a safe place. After that, people were put on trucks and returned to the village. In late April, the US military guarded the village during the daytime, but at night, Japanese soldiers hiding in the mountains came to the village to get food. They also looked for Katsuei because someone had told the Japanese soldiers that Katsuei was a spy. Knowing he was in danger, Katsuei left the village and hid at night. However, on May 10, Katsuaki’s family discovered that Katsuei had been beheaded. The villagers knew right away that Japanese soldiers were responsible. After this, other villagers were killed, too. In late May, the villagers were moved to a camp on the other side of the island to solve this problem. Rumors spread that Akasaki himself had killed Katsuei and the other villagers. Katsuaki was deeply troubled and cried alone every night.
 
Section 6 (79-84)

The narration returns to the present. Katsuaki cannot stop thinking about Akasaki. He imagines talking with Akasaki and demanding an apology. He also imagines Akasaki’s possible reactions. In October, after weeks of inaction, Katsuaki finally calls out to Akasaki and starts a conversation. When Katsuaki introduces himself and mentions his father, Akasaki blurts out, “Your father was an American spy.” Katsuaki gets angry, and they start arguing. Akasaki leaves and tells Katsuaki that he will not speak with him anymore. Katsuaki realizes it is useless trying to talk with him.
 
Section 7 (84-9)

Whenever Katsuaki recalls the conversation with Akasaki, he feels anger and regret. Unable to forgive Akasaki, Katsuaki struggles with his feelings. Just before returning to Okinawa, Katsuaki decides to talk with Akasaki one last time. He finds Akasaki at the park with his grandson. Katsuaki walks up to Akasaki and says he just wants him to apologize for killing his father. Instead, Akasaki makes a discriminatory comment. Just then, Akasaki’s daughter comes up and says that her father is a good man and that he did a lot for Okinawa. Katsuaki wants to say something, but he cannot. After leaving the park, Katsuaki feels disappointed and regrets failing in his last conversation with Akasaki.
 
Section 8 (89-95)

Katsuaki returns to his home in Okinawa but does not tell his wife or family about Akasaki. After dinner, he decides to go to Ubugā, the spring where the eel lived. When he arrives, Katsuaki cuts the grass and searches for Kamiunagi, the eel god. When he finally finds Kamiunagi, he realizes that even the villagers have forgotten the god, even though Kamiunagi has continued to live through the generations. At the same time, Katsuaki remembers his brave father, the only person who resisted the Japanese soldiers. As he releases the eel back into the water, Katsuaki feels as if his father has touched him–and swears in his heart to never forget.
 
Commentary:

The story is thought-provoking because the writer uses flashbacks to make the story vivid and powerful. The first scene establishes the conflict between Katsuaki and Akasaki, but readers cannot possibly know why the meeting upsets him. However, the flashback to the Battle of Okinawa shows why Katsuaki knew Akasaki and why he became so angry upon seeing him. When the narration returns to the present, readers can now identify with Katsuaki and relate to his feelings. The flashback, then, intensifies Katsuaki’s internal conflict, making the story more interesting. Just as Katsuaki changes his view of his father by reflecting on the past, readers will likely change their view of Akasaki because of the flashback.
 

4. Setting
 
In the beginning, “Kamiunagi” takes place in mainland Japan, where Katsuaki sees Akasaki at a bar. The setting of the flashback is Nakijin Village, in the northern part of the main Okinawan island. Medoruma does not clearly state this, but people in Nakijin believed in Ubugā, and villagers and soldiers hid in the mountains there during the war, so the hints are clear. When the narration returns to the present, the setting returns to mainland Japan until the final section, when Katsuaki returns to his home in Okinawa. In terms of time, the story starts in the late 1980s, has a flashback to the events leading up to and including the Battle of Okinawa, and then returns to the late 1980s.



The setting helps to keep readers in suspense. Katsuaki’s chance encounter with Akasaki on mainland Japan means that Katsuaki is on Akasaki’s turf, where Akasaki is respected and considered a hero. In addition, Medoruma used the place to emphasize the conflict between Okinawa and Japan, especially in how Japanese and Okinawans view the war. The setting moves from mainland Japan to Okinawa (in flashbacks) to mainland Japan again. In the final scene, Katsuaki returns to Okinawa again. Medoruma hints at the current year by mentioning the characters’ ages or how much time has passed since the war’s end.
 

5. Point of View
 
The entire story is narrated in third person, from Katsuaki’s point of view. The present tense scenes are narrated from his point of view as an adult, while the flashbacks give his point of view of the war as a child, focusing on explaining what happened to his father. The main point of view is tied to Katsuaki’s experience in the late 1980s when he saw Akasaki on the mainland. The narrator limits descriptions to those of Katsuaki, which keeps readers in suspense. In conclusion, readers can read this story from Katsuaki’s point of view as an adult and child. As a child, he could not understand his father or the Japanese propaganda that colored and distorted his perspective. However, as an adult, he can respect how his father stood up to everyone.
 

6. Symbolism and Imagery

Ubugā うぶがー

Springs provide clean water that is indispensable for life. For this reason, ancient societies often worshiped springs or set up places of worship near them. In “Kamiunagi,” the village highly values Ubugā, the spring that provides them clean water. Since long ago, the villagers valued the spring and used the water for drinking, rice cultivation, and daily life. For this reason, the spring symbolizes the pride and life of the villagers. The spring is described like this: “Ubugā was the pride of the village, and those who lived in the village drank Ubugā’s water from birth to death” (63). Readers can understand how the villagers feel about the spring.
 
Kamiunagi 神ウナギ(The Eel God)

Kamiunagi is the eel that lives in the Ubugā spring, keeping the water flowing smoothly. Villagers believed Kamiunagi was the guardian deity of Ubugā and the village, so they always valued the eel. This shows that the villagers respect life and nature. In the story, however, Akasaki callously kills Kamiunagi, even though Katsuei strongly protests. The villagers are shocked, and the incident leads them to distrust Akasaki and the Japanese soldiers. As the title suggests, the eel god symbolizes the villagers’ faith and belief in nature. The Japanese soldiers, however, make fun of those beliefs and end up eating the eel. After the incident, Katsuaki explains his feelings: “The trust I had for the Japanese army was shaken, and I felt anger and sadness about Kamiunagi being killed” (67). This quote shows how much the villagers believed in Kamiunagi and how they felt betrayed by the Japanese soldiers. At the end of the story, Kamiunagi reappears, showing that nature has the power to regenerate itself, even when abused by human beings.


7. Historical Background
 
Okinawa’s Reversion to Japan

On May 15, 1972, twenty-seven years of American rule came to an end, and Okinawa returned to Japan. However, the Ryukyuan government’s goal of an “unconditional full return” was not realized, and the many US military bases in Okinawa remained. As a result, various problems related to the bases also remained. For example, shortly after Okinawa’s reversion to Japan, numerous military employees were laid off due to the reorganization of US military bases. On December 4, 1970, the US military announced the dismissal of 2,400 base employees, and an additional 7,000 people were dismissed in May 1972. In response, the Ryukyuan government and then Okinawa Prefecture took measures, such as providing benefits and hiring employees, to assist those who lost their jobs. Another problem was the sharp appreciation of the yen against the dollar, which resulted when a floating exchange rate system was introduced in August 1971. In Okinawa, which was about to revert to Japan, it was predicted that the money received for exchanging dollars for yen would decrease, causing anxiety among residents.
 
Dialect Cards

Before and during the war, people in Okinawa were restricted from using the Okinawan language because the Japanese military could not understand it and viewed its use as espionage. Schools also used dialect cards to regulate the use of standard languages. The “dialect card” was a “punishment card used at schools throughout Okinawa as a means of enforcing standard language.” Whenever a student used the Okinawan language, he or she would have to wear the “dialect card” as a mark of shame until the card could be passed on to another student who failed the same way.
 
History of overseas immigrants in Okinawa

In the rural areas of Okinawa, the land was jointly managed, but a land readjustment project was carried out from 1899 to 1903 to establish individual land ownership and to allow for land tax payment. Therefore, buying and selling land to cover immigrant expenses became possible, and in 1898, a conscription order was enforced for general Okinawans. In order to avoid becoming soldiers, boys such as the heirs of houses often immigrated. On December 5, 1899, the first overseas immigrants from Okinawa departed for Hawaii. Then, after arriving at Honolulu Harbor on January 8, 1900, twenty-six people began working as contract immigrants on the sugar cane arable land on Oahu. Starting with Hawaii, Okinawan immigrants have traveled to South America and North America. The immigrants often continued to send money to their families remaining in Okinawa, which served to help the poor in Okinawan society. However, with the start of the war between Japan and the United States, the Okinawan returnees from Hawaii were placed in a difficult position, as they were sandwiched between the two countries.
 

8. Criticism
 
Tamayose, Akira. “Okinawa bungei hihyō” [Okinawa Literary Criticism]. Naha: Okinawa Times Press, 2017.
 
Tamayose argues that Akasaki despises and oppresses Okinawans and that Medoruma skillfully describes Katsuaki’s confrontation with him. Tamayose mentions that the story made him nervous to read because there were so many realistic scenes. He specifically mentions the intense tension in the scene in which Akasaki kills the eel and the scene where Katsuaki confronts Akasaki. On the other hand, Tamayose has three criticisms of Medoruma’s story: first, he thinks readers cannot fully feel Katsuaki’s regret and pity. Readers know that Katsuaki returns to Okinawa without being able to counterattack properly , but Tamayose feels more information is needed to convey Katsuaki’s feelings to readers properly. Second, Tamayose cannot understand why Katsuaki catches Kamiunagi in the final scene. Now that Katsuaki’s hometown has a water purification plant and has abandoned agriculture, people have forgotten about Ubugā and Kamiunagi. However, Katsuaki respects Kamiunagi and knows he is not allowed to catch it, but he does so anyway. Even though he releases Kamiunagi, Tamayose cannot understand Katsuaki’s behavior. Third, Tamayose feels dissatisfied that Akasaki, who killed Kamiunagi, insulted the villagers, and murdered Katsuaki’s father, gets off without punishment.
 

9. Themes
 
Unbalanced Power Relationship between Japanese and Okinawans

“Kamiunagi” reveals a massive gap in the social status of Japanese and Okinawans. To understand this theme, we will delve into the reality and story of Okinawa. During the war, Okinawa was protected by Japanese soldiers, so the people of Okinawa could not resist the Japanese. The fact that Okinawans could not even use their own language weakened their position. During the war, Japanese soldiers who fought in the war were respected throughout Japan. On the other hand, Okinawa wanted to believe that Japan was protecting the Okinawan people from the invading US military.
 
Because of his past, Akasaki is highly trusted by his daughter and neighbors, who do not understand why Katsuaki blames Akasaki. Akasaki strongly feels he was fighting to protect Okinawa, and his confidence and pride are reflected in his speaking. He uses the word “omae” (a forceful and sometimes condescending word for “you”) when speaking with Katsuaki, which shows that Akasaki feels superior. Katsuaki, on the other hand, is in a weak position. To begin with, he is a poorly paid day laborer who did not go to college or high school. In addition, his current job is precarious. Consequently, Akasaki and Katsuaki are not on an equal footing and cannot have a fair debate. In conclusion, the balance of power between Japan and Okinawa has not been equal, so Japan decides what is right.
 
Clash of Perspectives on the Battle of Okinawa

Throughout the story, readers are encouraged to reflect on the meaning of justice, focusing on Katsuaki’s and Akasaki’s differing views. First, Katsuaki wants justice for his father by having Akasaki pay homage to his murdered father, Katsuei. His father was killed, so he wants Akasaki to apologize. On the other hand, Akasaki feels that killing Katsuei was necessary to protect Japan and Okinawa. He claims that he killed Katsuei because he was an American spy and that that was a good decision. Ultimately, both characters insist that they are on the side of justice, which means they cannot reconcile. Therefore, both positions can be understood, but refusing to listen to the other perspective makes it impossible for them to overcome the impasse.
 

10. Discussion Questions

1.     Why didn’t Katsuaki talk to Akasaki immediately after seeing him at the bar? Why does he wait?
 
2.     Why was Katsuaki in mainland Japan? What does this say about his social position, especially compared to Akasaki?
 
3.     How does Katsuaki remember Akasaki during the war? How did his views of Akasaki and his father change?
 
4.     Why did Katsuei try to protect the Eel God when the other villagers didn’t say or do anything?
 
5.     How do the villagers view the Eel God? How do the Japanese soldiers view the eel? And what do they think of the villagers’ beliefs?
 
6.     What does the eel represent or symbolize? In what ways can the eel be viewed as a god?
 
7.     Who killed Katsuei? And why was he killed? How did Katsuei behave during the war? Was his death inevitable? Why or why not?
 
8.     In the present, how is Akasaki viewed by his neighbors and the bar owner? Is that impression different from how people viewed Akasaki during the war? What does this show us about how mainland Japanese view Okinawans?
 
9.     Why does Akasaki get angry when Katsuaki talks to him about his father? Why didn’t Akasaki apologize?

10.  How does Akasaki respond to Katsuaki’s argument? What did you think of that argument?
 
11.  Why does Akasaki use “omae” when addressing Katsuaki? What does that suggest?
 
12.  Why doesn’t Katsuaki try to get revenge for his father’s death? What does Akasaki threaten to do to Katsuaki if he keeps following him?
 
13.  What is the significance of Katsuei’s going to Ubugā and catching the eel god after returning to Okinawa? What is the meaning of the eel still being there after all these years?
 
14.  What does the story teach us about war memory? What are some differences between how Okinawans remember the Battle of Okinawa and how mainland Japanese remember the Battle of Okinawa?

15.   How does Katsuaki change due to his experience in confronting Akasaki? Is the story relevant today?


11. Works Cited
 
Fukushima, Shunsuke. Okinawa no sekizō bunka [Stone Culture of Okinawa]. Naha: Okinawa Shuppan Press, 1997.
 
Kakuta, Kiyomi. Okinawa nanbuchihō no furuido [Old Wells in Southern Okinawa]. Tokyo: Senshu Zinbunronshu Press, 2014.
 
Medoruma, Shun. “Kamiunagi” [The Eel God]. Mita Bungaku: A Literary Quarterly, Autumn 2017, 56–95.
 
Nagamine, Misao. Okinawa no mizu no bunkashi [Okinawan Water Culture History]. Naha: Bodainku Press, 1992.
 
Ōi, Kotaro. Okinawa kodai no mizu no shinkō [Okinawa’s Ancient Beliefs in Water]. Naha: Okinawa Bunkyō Shuppansha Press, 1973. Print.
 
Tamayose, Akira. Okinawa bungei hihyō [Okinawa Literary Criticism]. Naha: Okinawa Times Press, 2017.
 

 
Original report by Chihiro Kinjō. Edited and revised by Kasumi Sminkey.