Who is kokoro

It is impossible to know the kokoro of another person entirely. At Kokoro Media, we are an editorial team made of long-term foreign residents in Japan and Japanese nationals. We aim to show the world the different facets of the kokoro concept that we have captured from people, objects, and other aspects of Japan. A French resident living in Japan since , I have been passionate about the Japanese culture and language since my high school years.

What is it? The brain is dead but people are still alive. There is why it is very important to relate kokoro to our body. They are inseparable. When you hear a good story that makes you feel warm, what kind of expression would you use? So when you are touched by a good story, you feel warm in your heart.

We all know that we are not talking about anatomical heart here. I am sure in kendo training you are told to give everything you have once, twice or more. What do you think it means? Do they give their physical strength that they have? Now why do you think we shout before, during and after our strike? We are trying to encourage ourselves.

We are trying to charge ourselves up so we can bravely confront our opponent standing right in front of us. We need really a strong heart, i. And also I would like to add soul here. Kokoro are mind , emotions , feelings , spirit and soul. I must add mentality as well. And if you know Japanese, you may think there are different terms for each word.

Yes, it is true we have different Japanese terms for each word. The term, kokoro, can have various meanings depending on how we use it. Does it make sense if I say your mind is dirty? It means you are selfish and do not think about others and apply very dirty tricks to gain whatever you want. I think I gave you enough information about how the Japanese uses the term, kokoro. And I hope these examples help you to understand the concept of kokoro. This is the ultimate goal of kendo.

We do hit each other with shinai but that is not the final goal. So what do you think it means? Your kokoro is yourself. You must fight your opponent with the best of yourself at the moment of fighting. Up until now you have experienced a lot not only in kendo but also in your life. More Details Original Title. Kamakura Japan Tokyo Japan. Other Editions Friend Reviews. To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

To ask other readers questions about Kokoro , please sign up. Anyone compare this to Catcher in the Rye? Ramona Boldizsar I don't see much similarity if truth be told. Botchan one of the author's earliest works , on the other hand, could be compared quite easily with Cat …more I don't see much similarity if truth be told. Botchan one of the author's earliest works , on the other hand, could be compared quite easily with Catcher in the Rye.

Richard Hearn did write a book titled Kokoro. Hearn did not speak, let alone write, Japanese fluently enough to translate any books from Japanese to English. He died in See all 6 questions about Kokoro…. Lists with This Book. Community Reviews. Showing Average rating 4. Rating details. Sort order. Start your review of Kokoro. Jun 29, Jim Fonseca rated it really liked it Shelves: japan , japanese-authors , suicide. The main character is a young man, a college student, who meets an older man at a beach resort.

Over time he develops a strong admiration for him, visiting at his home and calling him Sensei. His only activity is making a monthly visit a grave at a local cemetery.

Who that deceased person is becomes t The main character is a young man, a college student, who meets an older man at a beach resort. Who that deceased person is becomes the key to the story. But he promises the young man that he will tell him the story when the time is right. He warns the young man that when he hears his story his admiration of the old man will turn to disdain and disillusionment.

Years go by as the young man graduates from college. He does nothing. Meanwhile traumatic events have happened in Japan. The last Meiji emperor died and his right-hand military man General Nogi Maresuke commits ritual suicide.

I read one other work by this author , Botchan, about a schoolboy, which is totally different in outlook and style. Haruki Murakami said Soseki was his favorite author. View all 24 comments. A languid, melancholic dream of a novel which pierces the heart of the reader with its quiet intensity. Cautious in its narrative tread on the ground of contentious issues, delicate in its broaching of subjects like the indignity of death, sin and redemption, existentialist ennui, self-recrimination and misanthropy, 'Kokoro' is a masterful recounting of a tragedy which unfolds against the backdrop of the dying years of the Meiji era.

As Emperor Meiji breathes his last taking along with him the an A languid, melancholic dream of a novel which pierces the heart of the reader with its quiet intensity. As Emperor Meiji breathes his last taking along with him the anachronistic echoes of an obsolete way of life rigidly shackled by the conservatism of the isolationist years, a hesitant Japan steps into the welcoming embrace of modern day materialism while simultaneously waging an inner war with the self-denying Confucian ideologies of its past.

A mysterious and scholarly middle-aged man only referred to as 'Sensei' meets our young protagonist in a chance encounter and the unique mentor-protege bonding, that forms between them subsequently, brings an indescribable joy and solace to both.

While 'Sensei' eventually summons the courage to confess to past wrongdoings in a letter to the young man he barely knows and attains a kind of salvation through a self-imposed exile from society, his unnamed protege learns to look past the horror and agony of slow bodily death and accept the natural order of things.

A powerfully written spiritual inquiry into the corruption of the human soul, an elegant acknowledgement of the juxtaposition of mournful endings and optimistic beginnings and a testimony to the fragility of human lives. View all 43 comments. Jun 28, [P] rated it really liked it. A few years ago I had arranged to meet up with a girl I was loosely dating. I liked her a lot, but as she is a DJ, who works late nights, seeing each other was not easy.

I had agreed to go to the club she was playing at that night and wait for her to finish, which would be something like 3am. I explained why I wanted to go out, I assured him that I would be fre A few years ago I had arranged to meet up with a girl I was loosely dating.

I explained why I wanted to go out, I assured him that I would be free most of the night until 3am, and offered to pay for all his drinks. He agreed, and so we got ready and left our apartment around 9pm, to have a few drinks before we made our way to the club.

However, in the first pub I noticed that my brother was spending a lot of time on his phone. When we had finished our drinks, I asked if he wanted another, and at this point he declined and started to groan theatrically, holding his stomach. He told me that he needed to go outside for some air. It was clear to me that he was playacting, so I offered to accompany him.

He was not best pleased. He maintained that he was very unwell and therefore I let him leave. I stayed in the bar for a while, had another drink, and then, after texting my girl to say I might be late or not make it at all, decided to go home and see if my brother was ok. Of course, the apartment was empty. By this stage, I was so disgusted and tired of the whole situation I decided not to go out again.

Then, in the early hours of the morning my brother rolled in, extremely inebriated. He had, as I suspected, left me to go and meet up with some friends. It is possibly unfair, and an exaggeration, but I see my brother as a kind of poster boy for the modern age [the above anecdote is only one example out of thousands].

My generation has been raised to believe that you are important, that what you want is what really matters; we are encouraged to indulge ourselves, to choose ourselves if ever faced with a two courses of action, one of which will benefit someone else and one that will benefit the great me. Qualities like honour, sacrifice, duty etc are becoming increasingly rare.

Of course, I am not perfect in this regard, I am not completely selfless, but I am not absolutely self-interested either. I believe that it is important to have integrity, and to be able to see outside of oneself. Unfortunately, I see less and less of this with each new generation. This is certainly true of his most famous work, Kokoro , whose title can be roughly translated as 'heart. The matter being what we have been discussing, i. The novel is split into three sections, the first of which centres on the relationship between an older man, Sensei, and a young student who narrates the action.

The student, whose name is never revealed, is away from his family, first at college and then at university in Tokyo. The student, like many of us, goes to university, not with a career in mind, or even to learn, but because it is something to do. In fact, he values Sensei — whose acquaintance he makes almost by stalking him — more than his lectures or books.

It is the young man who gives him this title, and so it is clear that the student is looking for guidance [although Sensei himself says that the boy is lonely and looking for love].

In this way, perhaps Soseki is saying that young people, living in times where morality and values are less certain, where freedom is almost absolute, need help or direction.

In light of all this, it is not difficult to see the older man as having a symbolic function in the novel; he is, in this scenario, representative of the old or traditional world.

Yet, while that might be true to a certain extent, his character is more complex than it appears to be initially. As one progresses through the opening section, it becomes clear that Sensei is harbouring a secret, that something happened to him long ago to make him the way that he is.

One would expect that this revelation [which comes in the final section] would involve him being mistreated, would involve some confrontation with the modern, selfish, dishonourable approach to life.

And that is, at least partly, the case. As a young man Sensei was cheated out of his inheritance by his uncle after the death of his parents. Is Soseki saying that an obsession with money is a disease particular to the new Japan? Perhaps, although I think he was making a point about how there are no truly good or bad people, that our values are reliant upon circumstances, that, for example, if you have the opportunity to steal then you will.

We return again to the idea of freedom. There is no such thing as a stereotype bad man in this world. Under normal conditions, everybody is more or less good, or, at least, ordinary. But tempt them, and they may suddenly change. That is what is so frightening about men. What makes him fascinating is that he, in a sense, embodies the conflict that Soseki was writing about, because he himself does something that is considered dishonourable.

Sensei, however, is severely damaged by it, to the extent that it dominates, and ruins, his life. Yes, Sensei does wrong, but he feels overwhelmingly guilty about it, and, ultimately, he takes his own life [not much of a spoiler as we know Sensei is dead within a few pages of the book], as a way of atoning for his behaviour.

There is something about the Japanese idea of honour suicide that I find extraordinarily attractive. One is that of the city and the provinces. As for the parents, they note immediately that Tokyo has had an effect upon their returning son. Yet, even here, the provincial is, essentially, a symbol of the traditional, from which the student is trying to escape. Likewise, death, which plays a major role in Kokoro , and the tension between generations, could both be seen to suggest change or the ending of an era.

Finally, what of love? I wrote earlier that it is central to the novel, but have as yet said very little about it. In his three greatest novels — Kokoro , The Gate and And Then - love could be said to be both a blessing and a curse. If so, I guess he got that right too. View all 16 comments. Aug 03, Federico DN rated it liked it. Sometimes you feel the desire to know the all-time greatest different nationalities have created through history.

In this case, a japanese classic. This novel is divided into three parts of a same story, taking place during the Meiji reign, around the s. The laborious life of an university student trying to graduate; his relationship with his countryside family and a delicately tragic situation with his father; and, lastly, his friendship with "Sensei", a kind of extremely well educated mento Sometimes you feel the desire to know the all-time greatest different nationalities have created through history.

The laborious life of an university student trying to graduate; his relationship with his countryside family and a delicately tragic situation with his father; and, lastly, his friendship with "Sensei", a kind of extremely well educated mentor, but with a painful past, and a very dark secret. The three parts of the story slowly progresses and unfolds into an uncertain This is not really one of my most memorable readings.

This novel certainly left me with a very, very sour taste. But, on the other hand, it provided me with a lot of knowledge regarding japanese life and culture, at least during that time. And the terrible burdens of carrying an unspeakable Still remaining, the movie Las tres partes de la historia se van desarrollando lentamente hasta llegar a un final Y los terribles efectos de sobrellevar un secreto View 1 comment. May 27, Adina rated it liked it Shelves: w-modern-world-literature , , japan.

The other one is guilt. One must alwa "You see, loneliness is the price we have to pay for being born in this modern age, so full of freedom, independence, and our own egotistical selves. One must always be on one's guard. I can see why this novel became a classic but I have to admit I wasn't that moved by the characters. I failed to see why Sensei was so admired by the narrator since we were not told about his merits. We only learn that he is withdrawn, misanthropic and that he is consumed by guild over a detail from his past.

We are told that he is cultured and that the narrator and his mentor have elevated discussion but there is no proof of them in the novel. I enjoyed the simplicity of the writing and its plot although I wished for a bit more in terms of depth. View 2 comments. I aspire to compose a review. This book richly deserves it. The key to Kokoro is knowing yourself as a reader and whether its charms are ones you'll appreciate or reject. Alex provides you the info you need to decide whether Kokoro and you will be a satisfying match.

View all 3 comments. Sep 24, Elyse Walters rated it it was amazing. Beautiful classic Japanese story This is a quiet introspective book that was first published in Was it moving? Thought- Provoking? A few things I can tell you I mention this because I honestly think this is a great choice book to do that with. At the start of this story, an unnamed narrator wants to be friends with Sensei. We meet several characters- which are important to this story too , but primarily the focus is the relationship between the above two men.

I felt so sad The other day Honestly- I hate everything about that phrase This story reaches deep inside the heart of loneliness I must read this book again View all 23 comments. Jul 06, Michelle rated it really liked it. An unusual book which I really enjoyed, and I would recommend it to readers who do not mind their stories sprinkled with an air of sadness throughout.

You certainly don't need to know anything about Japan or Japanese culture to appreciate, and get something profound from this work. Like so many great works of fiction, it appeals to the human in everyone, and asks those questions every human struggles with, about life and death, and the ups and downs of life. The novel uses concrete character symbolism to depict the tension between tradition and modernity during the Meiji era.

Many Japanese people at the time were conflicted between accepting modernity and preserving traditional Japanese values. The story tackles difficult issues and does so with beauty and grace.

Interesting to see that issues of coping with family and finding ways to connect with others isn't just a modern day problem. A story about man, I would say, and the struggles with pride and dignity. This novel is a classic by no mystery. View all 4 comments. Really enjoyed it! Nonetheless, it is one thing to be an outside admirer and another thing to have that blood in your vein.

Kokoro is a novel of frustration, fragility, distrust, terror, and hopelessness of the blood the East has in it vein, a reflection on the super "I believe you don't really become a finer person just by reading lots of books" I know a lot of Westerners are obsessed with the East and our civilization, finding its mysterious inconclusiveness attractive in opposition to the somewhat dogmatic West.

Kokoro is a novel of frustration, fragility, distrust, terror, and hopelessness of the blood the East has in it vein, a reflection on the superficial nature of our race hiding behind the appearance of moral grandness.

Like in the story passed on through generations, those ascetic heroes who lashed themselves apparently for the sake of spiritual attainment, it is actually the cruelty, foolishness, vanity, and all kinds of superficial forces that drive the hustle and bustle of the shallow yet restless Eastern soul. I can sense the chill and frustration in Soseki's gentle description of how the Eastern souls are led astray to extremity, epitomized by those individuals who consciously or unconsciously, willingly or unwilling followed Emperor Meji to death.

Indeed we don't become a finer person by reading books, by devoting ourselves to a certain occupation, by following any trajectory to its end, as long as the sin in our nature is still sweeping upon our heart and soul. This is the frustrating message that Soseki sends to me. Nov 21, Michael Finocchiaro rated it really liked it Shelves: japaneseth-c , fiction , japanese-lit , read-in-french , novels. I have mentioned elsewhere that the later Soseki books tend to be darker and more melancholic not to say extremely pessimistic and Kokoro definitely fits this mold.

I am NOT taking anything away from the gorgeous language and descriptions here nor the intimate conversations primarily by writing between the protagonist and his Sensei, but it is not something to read if you are down in the dumps.

The narrative devices are original even for Soseki and his mastery of character and betrayal of emotio I have mentioned elsewhere that the later Soseki books tend to be darker and more melancholic not to say extremely pessimistic and Kokoro definitely fits this mold. The narrative devices are original even for Soseki and his mastery of character and betrayal of emotion is unsurpassed here.

A must read especially if you have already appreciated the lighter, younger, more optimistic yet always cynical Soseki of Bothan and I am a Cat. View all 8 comments. Mar 25, E. Shelves: , japan. It's not that you've done something wrong! It's that you haven't done anything. The critical moment in this book will seem so familiar to you: you've not done something like it hundreds of times, or realized you were in danger of not doing it. A conversation must be had.

You gotta break up with someone, or tell them you're in love with them. It's scary. You don't do it. These moments don't usually become crucial turning points in your life. You just move on, maybe a few degrees less happy than y It's not that you've done something wrong! You just move on, maybe a few degrees less happy than you might have been. But this is what Soseki is getting into, in this landmark Japanese novel from What if that was the crucial moment? What if it changed everything?

One senses a certain lack of urgency, one has to admit. He fails to tell his friend that he's even thinking about it. Finally, in the nick of time, he asks the woman - but it's too late, now it seems like a betrayal to his friend, who was also into the woman, and who now commits suicide. The tragedy poisons Sensei's arid marriage, and he finally decides to put everyone out of his misery and kill himself.

In real life it would stop mid-sentence on page two as the recipient lost interest. The letter is to his protege, and what even is he proteging? Like, what do any of these people do? They do nothing.