its interesting to me that that is the way the discussion turned but its not what i originally meant. there were just qualities to this story that are hallmarks of great modern japanese short and long form lit. for example:
- referring to characters by single letters (c.f.: K in Kokoro)
- romantic descriptions of nature as the meat of the work that ties the actual plot together (... basically all japanese lit since ooku no hosomichi in the 9th century)
- anthropomorphism of nature like the wind talking (c.f.: the sound of the mountain)
- a pervasive sense of nostalgia, especially when telling a story by way of the places one has lived in their early adulthood ( again basically all "slice of life" lit and tv )
- referring to characters by single letters (c.f.: K in Kokoro)
- romantic descriptions of nature as the meat of the work that ties the actual plot together (... basically all japanese lit since ooku no hosomichi in the 9th century)
- anthropomorphism of nature like the wind talking (c.f.: the sound of the mountain)
- a pervasive sense of nostalgia, especially when telling a story by way of the places one has lived in their early adulthood ( again basically all "slice of life" lit and tv )