Black Rain
By
Masuji Ibuse (1969)
Introductory Comments
How does one go about “studying” a novel? What is the difference between “studying” and
“reading” a novel? Why should one “study” a novel?
There are many published books on “How to Study a Novel”. While there are many suggestions
that are common to all sources, such as a concern for plot, character portrayal and writing style,
it is also true that these are always couched as suggestions rather than prescriptions. There is no
commonly agreed upon algorithm for studying a novel, or any other form of literature.
However such an analysis should contain more than simply a description. In general, whatever
points the reader wishes to make about the book should be backed up with specific references to
portions of the text that support the argument or position being made.
Such an analysis could include a brief biography of the author – which might entail further
research, and might also involve comparisons with other authors and novels. However both ideas
go beyond the actual novel under consideration and are strongly influenced by the background of
the reader. As such, this component is probably better left until the end, so as to not detract and
distract from the actual first reading.
Procedure to be Followed
The procedure that I intend to follow is to read fairly quickly and smoothly – to let myself be
immersed in the flow of the story, although it is some helpful to make a few rough notes on the
side.
I plan to read a chapter through, then stop and make a few notes, and repeat this process for
about 5 chapters. At this point I will make a few more comprehensive notes and then continue
until the book is finished. Upon completion of the book, I will make a few more summary notes
and concluding comments.
Chapter 1
The first chapter identifies the three main characters: Shigematsu Shizuma, his wife Shigeko and
his niece Yasuko. The story takes place in about 1950 but contains many flashbacks to the times
immediately following the dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima. All three characters live
in the village of Kobatake, about 100 miles east of Hiroshima. All three were in Hiroshima when
the bomb was dropped.
The story begins, “For several years past, Shigematsu Shizuma, of the village of Kobatake, had
been aware of his niece Yasuko as a weight on his mind. What was worse, he had the
presentiment that the weight was going to remain with him, unspeakably oppressive, for still
more years to come.” This gives a sense of the difficulties to follow. The main problem is the
difficulty of arranging a marriage for her when there is a rumor that she may suffer from
radiation sickness. This is a very personal theme, one that points to the difficulties arising from
the bombing as they impact on one particular family. It is strikingly at variance with the overall
enormity of the event.
There are obvious gaps in the telling that require the reader to fill in. For example, “As they were
eating, an unprecedented broadcast by His Majesty the Emperor came over the radio inside the
house (p. 13)”. There is no mention of what was said, but the story continues describing that they
left their bamboo spears at the house. Clearly this was the message indicating Japan’s
unconditional surrender. By not mentioning the text, the impact is more powerful, implying that
the author respects the intelligence of the reader to understand what had happened and that it is
thus not worth repeating. This procedure is repeated a few pages later when there is no explicit
record of what was said between Shigeko and Yasuko but only that they were silently sobbing on
each others shoulders.
There is also a strong flashback procedure used by having sections of Yasuko’s diary copied
which describe past events as if they were in the present, giving them a freshness and immediacy
even though the main part of the story occurs “4 years and 9 months after August 6”.
Yasuko’s diary describes the white flash just as they were about to begin the tea ceremony. This
is an incredible contrast between the deep historical ties to hospitality and the sudden destruction
of the world as they know it. This contrast is continued shortly after, “My knees as I squatted
there shook so uncontrollably that I pressed them against a rock, heedless of a small white flower
clinging to it (p. 22)”. A third example of the contrast is the description of the image of Mt. Fuji
on a piece of broken floorboard, once again taking an image of Japan and showing its
destruction.
The chapter ends with Yasuko’s description of them entering Hiroshima just after the bomb
blast. They bypass a military blockade by passing through a couple of deserted homes – an
action that would have been unthinkable only a few hours earlier. Clearly Japan is entering a new
era. “My heart was thumping faster when I came out of the passageway than when I had gone in.
(p. 25). The future does not look good.
A superb first chapter. I know the main characters, one of the main problems (Yasuko’s
difficulties getting married), the setting (a village near Hiroshima, 5 years after the bombing) and
have some excellent examples of good writing style. Stopping to write this all down has been
worthwhile as well, as it has forced me to explicitly recognize many of the features of the novel.
[ 2:45 pm Friday May 14, 1999]
Chapter 2
The chapter begins with a description of some of the details of Shigematsu’s efforts at raising
carp. This is in the present (1950). This is followed by further details from Yasuko’s diary, and
then an excerpt from Shigematsu’s own diary.
First, why is so much of the chapter devoted to a description of raising carp? On the surface, this
is simply a way in which three of the men who were suffering from a mild form of radiation
sickness could arrange for a mild form of exercise. “Taking a walk” was not an acceptable option
since that had always been viewed as wasting one’s time when there was something useful that
could be done instead. This provides an interesting contrast of the ethics of pre-war Japan and
the emerging changes following the war.
However at a deeper cultural level the raising of carp is symbolic of a new beginning. Carp are
valued in Japan as fish that prevail against many hardships (much like salmon in west coast
cultures). They are the primary symbol for the celebration of Boy’s Day when carp streamers are
seen all over the country.
We also experience the phrase “black rain”. While Yasuko was in the boat going to Hiroshima
shortly after the blast there was a very brief shower – hardly worth noticing. Yet later when she
tried to wash the gray drops off her face, they would not come off. Another seemingly
inconsequential event that has far reaching consequences for Yasuko and her uncle and aunt. Yet
the symbolism of the event, its particular phrase which is both accurate and symbolic, forms the
title of the novel. A very powerful metaphor.
We obtain glimpses of the August 6 day as experienced by Asajiro, and see that he was spared
because of the seemingly inconsequential act of fishing for eels, which resulted in his being
under a bridge and sheltered from the initial blast. Life is full of such seemingly trivial events,
some of which have significant consequences for the individuals involved. Chaos theory at a
personal level.
We also discover that Shigematsu also kept a personal diary. This will provide us with two
different glimpses into the past and into the events immediately following the dropping of the
bomb. [ 8:20 am Sunday May 16, 1999]
Chapter 3
The chapter begins with a discussion between Shigematsu and Shegeko about the quality of ink.
Shegeko recalls that some earlier writing that had used the new Western ink had turned a light
brown. They find the old letter and she is right. The new Western ink is clearly inferior to the
traditional Chinese ink used with brushes. A striking example that not everything that is new is
better. Even more powerfully, there is a hint that what is new may not last, and that the old
traditions may well be the ones that endure.
This is followed by a long extract from Shigematsu’s diary providing a graphic detail of the
events immediately following the explosion. [2:10 pm Monday May 17, 1999]
Chapter 4
The chapter opens with Shigematsu commenting that there is so much to put down about the
events immediately after the bomb. Shegeko suggests that it is because he wants to “work in his
own theories”. Shigematsu rejects this, saying that his descriptions are the “crudest kind of
realism”. This is an attempt to give the reader a perspective on how the author is viewing this
book.
There is a nice paragraph that notes that their neighbors the Kotaros “gave up their ginko tree for
the war effort”. But when they removed the stump the found a large earthen jug that
subsequently served them for keeping many fish and amphibians during the war. Thus their early
sacrifice turned out to have an unsuspected value.
Shigematsu suggests that Shigeko write down everything that she can remember about what they
all ate during the war. The remainder of the chapter provides this sketch, showing how sparse
food was, and how little the people complained. [4 pm Wednesday May 19, 1999
Chapter 5
Shigematsu goes to visit his neighbor Kotaro and notices a new car outside the house. He
discretely learns that it is a visiting doctor from the town where the marriage enquiry for Yasuko.
He remains hidden until the doctor leaves and then delivers his package to Kotaro. He notices
that Kotaro is looking very uncomfortable so he leaves without letting on that he realizes that
Kotaro likely spoke of Yasuko’s time in Hiroshima. This increases Shigematsu’s resolve to
finish copying out his diary so it may help vindicate Yasuko’s plight.
The remainder of the chapter is a further extract from his diary. Much of the description is about
the fires that are now raging all over the city. He also uses the phrase “jellyfish” cloud rather
than mushroom cloud. This is both a more accurate description as well as a more powerful
metaphor. Shigematsu and Shigeko had agreed to meet at a university sports ground if anything
terrible ever happened. He meets one of his neighborhood association members who has all the
skin off his back. (He dies the next day). Shigematsu’s house is still standing, at a tilt, but the
fires are getting nearer. He finds his wife at the pre-arranged spot. Their earlier foresight paid
off! Shigematsu then makes a quick trip to their house to see what condition it is in. The chapter
ends with a saying from a daily calendar: “Never say die”. [2 pm Friday May 21, 1999]
Chapter 6
There is a brief section where two of Shigematsu’s neighbors tell him of their decision to take a
course on the raising of carp. Shigematsu agrees to join them, then he returns to copying his
diary.
Shigematsu and Shigeko return to their house to leave a note for Yasuko when she shows up.
Together the three of them then leave the area since the fires are getting closer all the time. They
baarely make it through the smoke but appear to successfully clear the area. [2:10 pm Friday
May 21, 1999].
I am really beginning to enjoy this book.
Chapters 7 - 10
Basically these chapters reveal a gradual shift until the entire chapter is a description of
Shigematsu’s diary. The diaray entries are strikingly unemotional, but reveal a graphic
description of the events immediately following the bombing. Everyone appears to be in a state
of shock, with little emotion as they try to figure out what to do during the day. The most striking
image is that of all the bodies being cremated along the river bank. There is still a strong sense of
tradition as Shigematsu is asked to read a number of Buddhist sutras for each cremation.
Chapter 10 ends, “… It seemed to me that the familiar world had started to come apart at the
seams since the bomb had fallen on Hiroshima.”