ASIA 444 951

2024 Summer Session Term 2

Last updated on July 3

Reading Note Template

Your full name: Edmund Daniel Jiang

Student ID number: 79041182

1. For which lesson is this reading note? [Refer to the lesson page on Canvas]
- Lesson 3

2. Title (and subtitle) of the story: What is the English translation title (and subtitle) of the
story? [Refer to the lesson page on Canvas]
- The Cocktail Party

3. About the Author: What is the name of the author? [Refer to the lesson page on Canvas]
- Oshiro Tatsuhiro

4. Original Publication Year in Japan: When was the story originally published in Japan?
[Refer to the lesson page on Canvas]
- 1967

5. Characters: Who are the main and sub-characters? What are their names, genders,
occupations, characteristics, relationships to one another, conflicts among characters, etc.?
[Describe each character in as much detail as possible (more than 3 full lines) to show that you
have carefully read the text; otherwise, you cannot get full points.]

- “I” (The Unnamed Okinawan man): One of the Chinese language research group
members who knew Chinese from living in Shanghai, and also served in the Japanese
army as an officer during the war. He was invited to Mr. Miller’s cocktail party and was
eager to prove that Okinawan culture was distinct from that of Japan and China. He also
sought support from Mr. Miller, Mr. Ogawa, and Mr. Sun to press charges against Robert
Hariss for raping his daughter. While his daughter opposed the prosecution, he ultimately
carried on with it due to his desire to seek revenge in the unjust legal system.

- The Okinawan Protagonist's wife: Worked for a laundry chain that serviced the military.
She also often reminds the main character about his family obligations and shares his
grief regarding the rape of their daughter.
- Mr. Miller: An American man who was the host of the cocktail party. He was the head of
the “Chinese language research group” that met to practice Chinese. He hid his true
occupation to the rest of the group as a US intelligence officer until it was revealed in the
latter half of the story when the main character accused him of masking his true
intentions. The main character requests him to help convince Robert Hariss to go to court,
but ultimately declines due to the lack of evidence and his disinterest to accuse a fellow
American.

- Mr. Sun: Chinese lawyer practicing in Okinawa who fled from Hong Kong after the
Chinese communists came to power, and left his wife and remaining child. Described to
likely be suffering from last years in China and does not wish to think much about it (his
wife was raped by a Japanese soldier). He is very attached to the culture of his homeland
and does not like speaking with people of other nations. Furthermore, he accepts the main
character's request to confront Robert Hariss in the hospital but is unable to help in court.
He also strongly opposes pressing charges and gets into an argument with Mr. Ogawa
regarding the situation.

- Mr. Ogawa: Newspaper reporter from mainland Japan who was suspected to be a
Burakumin by “I” due to his romanticization of stoicism particular to marginalzied
societies. He was also a member of the Chinese language research group. He also helped
the main character and went to see Robert Hariss in the hospital. Goes into conflict with
Mr. Sun for opposing charges even though his wife was similarly raped by a foreign
occupant. Argues that Japan's occupation of China is similar to that of US in Okinawa
and that Mr. Sun is pathetic for not fighting back.

- The Okinawan Protagonists daughter: High school student who attended a private english
conversation school at night that was taught by Mrs. Miller. She was raped by Robert
Hariss and allegedly injured him afterwards. Was sent to questioning by the authorities
but strongly opposed pressing charges.

- Robert Harris: The soldier that rented the apartment behind the main character's house
and stayed there 2-3 days a week. Raped the Okinawan protagonists daughter and refused
to go to court even when confronted in the hospital. His girlfriend left after finding out
about the rape incident.

- Mrs. Miller: Described to have a beautiful face and voluptuous figure by the main
character. She was the instructor of english conversation school and hostess of the party.
 - Mr. Morgan: An American engineer with the Army Maintenance Department. He was
described to be a chatterbox and also interested in Okinawan independence. His son was
supposedly kidnapped by the maid, but was found to be untrue. Nevertheless he was said
to have pressed charges against the maid near the end of the story.

6. Point of view/Narrator: Which point of view is used, the first person, second person, or third
person?; Who is narrating the story?

- In the first part of the story (Prelude), the Okinawan man known as “I” narrated it in the
first person.

- In the second part of the story (Aftermath), the second person is used. The unknown
narrator refers to the audience as “you”, while inferring that the audience takes on the
role of the Okinawan man “I” from the prelude of the story.

7. Setting: When and where is the action of the story occurring? In what time period and place is
the action of the story occurring? (modern period? urban? countryside?) Is any outstanding
historical reference (events, people, products, etc.) mentioned? Gather as much information
about the setting from the text itself as you can and write the process of your investigation and
reasoning based on the text. [Textual evidence with their page numbers is required. More than 3
full lines except quotations are required.]

- The setting of the story is in Okinawa, Japan particularly during the American occupation
in World War 2 as demonstrated by the mention of the “vast American army post…
known officially as Base Housing” (35) and its surrounding vicinity. Furthermore, there
is an explicit reference to the “American occupation”, after World War 2 thad had
subsequently placed Okinawa under a higher governmental authority (70).

- The story also talks about the experiences of Mr. Sun who was “separated from the nation
of his birth”, in reference to China and his experiences during the Japanese invasion
through various flashbacks. Ogawa and the main character also reflect on their activities
during “March twentieth, nineteen forty-five” where the two were respectively in
Mongolia and Peking (690.

8. Conflict(s): Identify at least one conflict in the story and describe what it is and how it is
resolved or treated. [Textual evidence with the page numbers is required; More than 4 full lines
except quotations are required.]

- The primary conflict in the story is between the Okinawan man's daughter and the
American soldier Robert Harris who had raped her as demonstated by the “rips and
 stains” of her school uniform (52). Thereafter, the Okinawan man’s daughter had
allegedly pushed Harris and made him “seriously hurt”. This ultimately led to her arrest
“on suspicion in connection with an injury to U.S. forces personnel”. Although the courts
in Okinawa had no “subpoena power” to summon U.S. military personnel, the Okinawan
man ultimately chooses to press charges against Robert Hariss and challenge the unequal
legal treatment of the Ryukyu peoples (56). Ultimately, the Okinawan man’s daughter is
brought to testify in court with the final verdict unrevealed to the audience.

- Another conflict in the story occurs after the Okinawan man confronts Robert Hariss,
leading to a quarrel between Mr. Ogawa, Mr. Sun, and the protagonist regarding the
similarities of “America’s occupation of Okinawa and Japan’s occupation of China” (70).
This confrontation demonstrated the lasting effects of occupation that lead to differing
perceptions of the issue of how the “rights and obligations that should apply don’t exist in
Okinawa” much like how powerless the Chinese were during the Japanese invasion (68).
As a result, the audience is shown the varying power dynamics between the characters
with respect to their differing ethnic identities throughout the “troubled course of human
history”.

- Thirdly, the Okinawan man and Mr. Miller clashes during a discussion of Okinawan
culture. The debate revealed the intrinsic identity struggle of the Okinawan peoples who
have had a “history of cultural exchange” (75) with China, a loss of sovereignty in the
context of American occupation, and their position as a Japanese prefecture. While Mr.
Miller states that “friendly relations between nations start with friendships between
individuals” (77) the Okinawan man believes it to be a masquerade as Okinawa’s national
identity is heavily eroded by the presence of external powers who do not provide the
“PROSPERITY to RYUKYUANS” that Commodore Perry had toasted in 1853 (78).

9. Marginalization: Which character(s) is/are marginalized in the story? And how is that
character marginalized? [Textual evidence with the page numbers is required; More than 4 full
lines except quotations are required.]
Ÿ According to UBC Equity and Inclusion office, ‘marginalization/marginalized’ means “a
social process by which individuals or groups are (intentionally or unintentionally)
distanced from access to power and resources and constructed as insignificant,
peripheral, or less valuable/privileged to a community or “mainstream” society.” For
more on this, see the lecture slides for Lesson 1.
Ÿ Your answer should be based on and/or respond to the above definition.

- Due to the occupation of Okinawa by Americans, the native population “fell under the
jurisdiction of a higher government” and hence lost basic privileges in court compared to
their American counterparts (55). The marginalization of the main character, and his
 daughter is demonstrated through their legal struggles against Robert Harriss, as the
Okinawan man believed that bringing Mr. Miller, an American, could increase their
chances of making Harriss a witness in court– something that the “Okinawan judiciary
had no authority” to do (55). In addition, the Okinawan man recognizes that if he were to
“hire an Okinawan lawyer, no American would listen to” (61) him as the cross
examination would be “before a court composed entirely of American judges, lawyers,
and prosecutors” (62). This therefore leaves the Okinawan characters out of options as
they are distanced from access to power and political resources, as defined by the UBC
Equity and Inclusion office.

10. Theme(s): What is the main theme (s) of the story? Identify at least one main theme and
develop it into a more complexed one. [Textual evidence with the page numbers is required;
More than 4 full lines except quotations are required.]

- The central theme of the story is exploring the injustices of foreign occupation. From
“America’s occupation of Okinawa [to] Japan’s occupation of China” (70) the lasting
consequences of prevailing foreign powers are illustrated throughout. As revealed,
various characters have fallen victim throughout “the troubled course of human history”
(68) such as Mr. Sun had lost two of his children and found that his “wife had been raped
by a Japanese soldier” (69), while the main character and his daughter (who was also
raped) are alienated by the American dominated legal system. This theme also develops
into the challenges of national identity of a nation sandwiched by the influence of
neighboring cultures. While “Okinawans disagree about the connections among
Okinawan, Chinese, and Japanese culture” the characters are continuously provoked by
American occupiers who continue to redefine the Ryukyu peoples as a mere copy of
other Asian cultures (74). Overall, the masquerade of developing international relations is
overshadowed by the perils of cultural imperialism and the loss of sovereignty for the
occupied nations.

11. Which scene/What stood out to you the most in the story? And why? [Textual evidence
with the page numbers is required; More than 4 full lines except quotations are required.]

The Okinawan man reflecting on Mr. Sun’s position:

- The scene where “Mr. Sun continued to gaze at the landscape painting” was particularly
interesting as it demonstrated the Okinawan man’s (who was marginalized) appraisal of
the difficult position other outsiders faced in a community dominated by “five hundred
houses with people from various countries” (65). Not only does this scene demonstrate
the difficult position Chinese face in the context of Okinawa, but it also depict how one
will continue to tether to their cultural origins as Mr. Sun “spent so much of his time
gazing at ancient art objects from his homeland” (65). Furthermore, it reveals the
 hierarchical system of Okinawan society at the time, with Americans dominant, followed
by the Japanese and Okinawans (who were more prevalent), and lastly the Chinese who
“kept [their] distance from the people”-- revealing the loneliness of characters such as
Mr. Sun who were not only isolated by politics, but also population (65).

[1] [2]
12. Which literary & visual devices or characterization , stood out to you the most in
the story (the page number is required)? And why? What literary/visual effect does it give
you or the reader? [Textual evidence with the page numbers is required; More than 4 full lines
except quotations are required.]

- I found that the scene when the main character describes the Okinawan atmosphere while
they were searching for Mr. Morgan's boy to be particularly interesting as it functioned
almost like an allusion of the political climate under American occupation. The line says:
Countless stars sparkled overhead. But the warm air was heavy with humidity,
and I wondered if a typhoon might be brewing somewhere to the south. The wind
high above us seemed to be stirring restlessly; and the stars, lacking their usual
tranquility, flickered in fitful patterns (48).
Not only was this a very powerful visual device, but the acknowledgement of the stars
lacking their usual opulence paralleled much to the geo-political situation in Okinawa—
one that was dominated by American occupation. I believe that Tatsuhiro implemented
this abrupt descriptor of the natural, and serene landscape to contrast the turmoils that the
native population faced during this period.

- In addition I liked the allegory demonstrated through the main characters line:
I had heard from a Japanese classmate in Shanghai: People of a ruined nation
learn languages instinctively. “It makes me wonder why Okinawans aren’t better
at English nowadays,” I said instead (45).
This line, though somewhat superficial, demonstrates the moral lesson that perhaps
Tatsuhiro wanted to allude to by comparing China’s political turmoils with that of
Okinawa. It is an allegory that makes reference to both societies similar situation of
facing foreign encroachment and how Okinawa should have followed the pattern of
China is adopting foreign languages due to occupational rule. Lastly, this literary device
Effectively, yet indirectly summarizes that in the main characters opinion, Okinawa has
become a ruined nation.
---
Here is the YouTube link for short lectures on literary/narrative concepts and terminology
produced by School of Writing, Literature and Film, Oregon State University (OSU). Their
lecture videos are concise, but comprehensive. Refer to them as needed. Each lecture video is 4-6
min.
OSU School of Writing, Literature and Film: https://www.youtube.com/@SWLF/videos

Especially for this reading note assignment, watch the following lecture videos in their YouTube
channel.

“What is Close Reading?”: https://youtu.be/J2KHX1Pm5co

“What is a Theme in Literature?”: https://youtu.be/I5KZcdAmWLw
“What is Conflict in Literature?”: https://youtu.be/XqR0Hv6mwNU
“What is a Narrator?”: https://youtu.be/bCNNBxlnkjQ
“What is Point of View?”: https://youtu.be/acURl_KBiRI
“What is a Protagonist?”: https://youtu.be/G5nZzak4TFk
“What is a Setting?”: https://youtu.be/omsbv-hbXiM
“What is Imagery?”: https://youtu.be/uX413tALG7Q
“What is Symbolism?”: https://youtu.be/GR9VbSXxouM
“What is a Motif?”: https://youtu.be/isBKoIORntI
“What is Foreshadowing?”: https://youtu.be/nc-2Jg6b0Dw
“What is Figurative Language?”: https://youtu.be/c2CRxHOgxBM
“What is Tone in Literature?”: https://youtu.be/KoBekTbDKRQ

[1]
Literary/visual devices include (but are not limited to) imagery, motifs, symbols, figurative
languages; in films, music, camera work, editing techniques, mise-en-scene; in manga, speech
bubbles, panel layouts, facial expressions; and any other formalistic elements.
[2]
Characterization is the process by which the author revels the personality of a character.