Thousand Cranes

It is custom for friends and family to visit the home of the deceased on the seventh day after the funeral, but Kikuji visits Fumiko on the eighth day instead so as not to risk upsetting her relatives with his presence. He sent flowers the previous day, and when Fumiko welcomes him into the house he sees that they are now displayed in a funeral shrine alongside a photo of Mrs. Ota. The vase holding the flowers is actually a white Shino (Japanese pottery with a thick white glaze) ceramic water jar that was originally used to hold the water for a tea ceremony. Kikuji admires the Shino jar, and Fumiko insists that he accept it as a gift in memory of her mother.

The bereaved Fumiko mostly retains her composure as they discuss memories of Mrs. Ota, despite her clear sadness. Kikuji apologizes for his part in driving Mrs. Ota to suicide, but Fumiko denies his guilt and says that his mother was the real guilty party. She asks him to forgive her mother and himself, since assigning blame only burdens the deceased.