Fifty Words for Rain

Throughout Fifty Words for Rain, music symbolizes happiness for Seiko, Akira, and Nori. They are all talented musicians; they are also the characters who most desperately seek happiness throughout the novel.

The Kamiza household is not a happy one. Yuko is obsessed with family honor, especially after the emperor’s loss of power at the end of World War II. To regain past glory, Yuko rules with an iron fist. Unsurprisingly, the ruthless matriarch cares nothing about music. The music room at the Kamiza estate was intended for Seiko, who loves the piano and seeks to find happiness by studying music in France. However, when Seiko returns home to an arranged marriage, she loses her happiness (and therefore her interest in music) until she satisfies her family by bearing a son, Akira. Her love for Akira is genuine, and she passes on her passion for music to him. However, once she fears he has been ruined by his father and grandmother, Seiko gives up on him and once again seeks her happiness by returning to music. At a concert, she meets James, who is the love of her life and Nori’s father; Seiko gives in to her happiness by abandoning her family for love.