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“I could see that there was something in Keiko’s eyes that had changed. She stood in the thick mist, her hair damp against her forehead with some secret knowledge as to who I was. She had watched me sleep, maybe even understood the fact that I was dreaming of being with her. There was something intimate between us now.” (170)

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“I could see that there was something in Keiko’s eyes that had changed. She stood in the thick mist, her hair damp against her forehead with some secret knowledge as to who I was. She had watched me sleep, maybe even understood the fact that I was dreaming of being with her. There was something intimate between us now.” (170)

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“‘You see Stephen-san, that day I learned that there were greater losses than mine. Every man and woman in Yamaguchi had a life before coming here.  From then on I could never look at any of them without asking myself: “Whom did they leave behind? How much did they give up? What bargains did they try to make?” If I hadn’t learned humility before then, from that day on I knew what the word meant. Here in Yamaguchi I learned that beauty exists where you least expect to find it.’” (149)

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“‘You see Stephen-san, that day I learned that there were greater losses than mine. Every man and woman in Yamaguchi had a life before coming here.  From then on I could never look at any of them without asking myself: “Whom did they leave behind? How much did they give up? What bargains did they try to make?” If I hadn’t learned humility before then, from that day on I knew what the word meant. Here in Yamaguchi I learned that beauty exists where you least expect to find it.’” (149)

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“‘You see Stephen-san, that day I learned that there were greater losses than mine. Every man and woman in Yamaguchi had a life before coming here.  From then on I could never look at any of them without asking myself: “Whom did they leave behind? How much did they give up? What bargains did they try to make?” If I hadn’t learned humility before then, from that day on I knew what the word meant. Here in Yamaguchi I learned that beauty exists where you least expect to find it.’” (149)

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“‘You see Stephen-san, that day I learned that there were greater losses than mine. Every man and woman in Yamaguchi had a life before coming here.  From then on I could never look at any of them without asking myself: “Whom did they leave behind? How much did they give up? What bargains did they try to make?” If I hadn’t learned humility before then, from that day on I knew what the word meant. Here in Yamaguchi I learned that beauty exists where you least expect to find it.’” (149)

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Sachi’s return to Yamaguchi after 40 years (54)

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Sachi’s return to Yamaguchi after 40 years (54)

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“Matsu’s definitely happier with Sachi around. There’s a gentleness about him when he’s with her. They speak in low tones, and he’s always making her laugh. ‘Little hana,” he calls Sachi when she laments that he has lost all his autumn blossoms. She’s the only flower than matters to him. (59) 

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“Matsu’s definitely happier with Sachi around. There’s a gentleness about him when he’s with her. They speak in low tones, and he’s always making her laugh. ‘Little hana,” he calls Sachi when she laments that he has lost all his autumn blossoms. She’s the only flower than matters to him. (59) 

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“It was for you and Matsu that I came, not for myself.” (58)

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“It was for you and Matsu that I came, not for myself.” (58)

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“‘Can I help?’ I asked. I took a step down and leaned weakly against the genken.‘Don’t worry about the garden,’ Matsu answered. ‘The first thing you need to do is get your strength back.’‘What better way to get my health back than to work in the fresh air,’ I argued. Then Sachi turned to Matsu and softly said, ‘I remember a time when you told me working in the garden would give me back my life.’’ (56)

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“‘Can I help?’ I asked. I took a step down and leaned weakly against the genken.‘Don’t worry about the garden,’ Matsu answered. ‘The first thing you need to do is get your strength back.’‘What better way to get my health back than to work in the fresh air,’ I argued. Then Sachi turned to Matsu and softly said, ‘I remember a time when you told me working in the garden would give me back my life.’’ (56)

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“Each day I work in the garden with Sachi, I feel stronger. The headaches lose their urgency once my hands dig deep into the cool, dark, soil, and I smell the damp dirt and pine. Even the cold wind of approaching winter makes me feel more alive.” (57)

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“Each day I work in the garden with Sachi, I feel stronger. The headaches lose their urgency once my hands dig deep into the cool, dark, soil, and I smell the damp dirt and pine. Even the cold wind of approaching winter makes me feel more alive.” (57)

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“I was old enough to understand everything he said, but as his mouth softly formed the words, I knew the sense of integrity I had long admired in him had died, and that I was already grieving for its loss.” (185)

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“I was old enough to understand everything he said, but as his mouth softly formed the words, I knew the sense of integrity I had long admired in him had died, and that I was already grieving for its loss.” (185)

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“I was old enough to understand everything he said, but as his mouth softly formed the words, I knew the sense of integrity I had long admired in him had died, and that I was already grieving for its loss.” (185)

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“I was old enough to understand everything he said, but as his mouth softly formed the words, I knew the sense of integrity I had long admired in him had died, and that I was already grieving for its loss.” (185)

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“I have never compromised my devotion either to you children or to your mother. It was because I loved you all that I could never leave one for the other. Yoshiko has always lived quietly with the fact that my family came first.” (84)

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“I have never compromised my devotion either to you children or to your mother. It was because I loved you all that I could never leave one for the other. Yoshiko has always lived quietly with the fact that my family came first.” (84)

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“He is the true kami of Yamaguchi.” (125)

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“He is the true kami of Yamaguchi.” (125)

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 On page 92-93 Stephen's mother writes about the responsibly she feels to accept the fact that her husband is cheating on her, in order to keep the family together. "i can accept this fact-I must-provided the family stays together in every other respect." This shows that Mah-mee finds purpose in her family.

# data[].attributes.subject
 On page 92-93 Stephen's mother writes about the responsibly she feels to accept the fact that her husband is cheating on her, in order to keep the family together. "i can accept this fact-I must-provided the family stays together in every other respect." This shows that Mah-mee finds purpose in her family.

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"'In the beginning, we could not have survived without his help. He is the true kami of Yamaguchi, which is what must have brought him here today.'" page 125

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"'In the beginning, we could not have survived without his help. He is the true kami of Yamaguchi, which is what must have brought him here today.'" page 125

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"My head filled with Sachi's rich insight and careful words that slowly began to give me the pieces of her story with Matsu. I couldn't forget the oddly smooth feel to her scarred face, and how she finally trusted me to see and touch it." pg 81

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"My head filled with Sachi's rich insight and careful words that slowly began to give me the pieces of her story with Matsu. I couldn't forget the oddly smooth feel to her scarred face, and how she finally trusted me to see and touch it." pg 81

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Neala

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" 'I came here to tell you you don't have to hide from us. The scars make no difference to me, and I know they never did to Matsu' "

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" 'I came here to tell you you don't have to hide from us. The scars make no difference to me, and I know they never did to Matsu' "

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pg.76&77
-Malachi

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On page 52 Matsu and Stephen place boards up during a bad storm

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"She was the first, and all alone then. No matter what she did; drink strong teas, spread herbs on her face, pray to the gods, nothing worked. The disease remained." Page 79. 

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"She was the first, and all alone then. No matter what she did; drink strong teas, spread herbs on her face, pray to the gods, nothing worked. The disease remained." Page 79. 

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She cared so much about the way she looked that she cut off all contact with everyone she loved and tried everything in her power to become what she was told was beautiful.
Robin Macrorie

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"' It was like a bad dream with only one saving grace: my family thought I was dead. I suddenly felt lighter, relieved of the burden that had been placed on me as a living person. Yet, there was still someone who knew that I existed, which made me feel like a real person again, not a ghost roaming the earth." pg 140

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"' It was like a bad dream with only one saving grace: my family thought I was dead. I suddenly felt lighter, relieved of the burden that had been placed on me as a living person. Yet, there was still someone who knew that I existed, which made me feel like a real person again, not a ghost roaming the earth." pg 140

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"My friend King accompanied me on the train, and hovered over me all the way home to Hong Kong. " pg 3

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"My friend King accompanied me on the train, and hovered over me all the way home to Hong Kong. " pg 3

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-Molly Clever

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"it seemed we already had something in common in our loneliness" pg 27 

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"it seemed we already had something in common in our loneliness" pg 27 

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nuraya

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"It's just a quick sketch I did this morning. I wanted to bring you a token of my appreciation." "You have brought me more than that, you have brought me the sea," Sachi said, her voice tight with emotion.

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Pg 150-151
"'I knew its beauty would appear if we worked hard enough," he answered. 'But I never expected it to be like this.'
Matsu smiled. 'Beauty can be found in most places.'"

"'Sachi-san, you've only known the ordinary kind of beauty which appears on the outside. Perhaps you now desire something deeper'"
- Oonamae

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Pg 23. "'Yamaguchi is also called the Village of Lepers,''When some of those who had the disease were no longer wanted by others in town...'

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Pg 23. "'Yamaguchi is also called the Village of Lepers,''When some of those who had the disease were no longer wanted by others in town...'

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Owen McMorran

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P. 43 "And you created this?" "With Matsu's  help. He showed me life is not just from within, it extends all around you, wether you wish it to or not. And so, this garden has become a part of my life."

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P. 43 "And you created this?" "With Matsu's  help. He showed me life is not just from within, it extends all around you, wether you wish it to or not. And so, this garden has become a part of my life."

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Elizabeth Johnston

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After Matsu finds Sachi in the woods, he tells her that "it takes greater courage to live" (page 139). 

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After Matsu finds Sachi in the woods, he tells her that "it takes greater courage to live" (page 139). 

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-Grace Sharman

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Matsu found Sachi at her lowest point and continued to be her friend and didn't see her as less because of her leprosy.  pg 129

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Matsu found Sachi at her lowest point and continued to be her friend and didn't see her as less because of her leprosy.  pg 129

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alice

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"For the past week, I've endured all the quiet and loneliness like a blanket covering me until I'm well again" pg 17

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"For the past week, I've endured all the quiet and loneliness like a blanket covering me until I'm well again" pg 17

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Veronica

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“I don’t have many visitors, only Matsu-san. Often years will go by without my seeing a new face. I am honored to have you visit.” Pg. 27

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“I don’t have many visitors, only Matsu-san. Often years will go by without my seeing a new face. I am honored to have you visit.” Pg. 27

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Audrey

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On page 67, Matsu demonstrates courage by protecting Sachi from Kenzo's blind rage. Sachi also demonstrates courage here, as she keeps herself together while her former lover/close friend ridicules her for her appearance. 

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On page 67, Matsu demonstrates courage by protecting Sachi from Kenzo's blind rage. Sachi also demonstrates courage here, as she keeps herself together while her former lover/close friend ridicules her for her appearance. 

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Andy

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"'Don't be frightened, child,' the old women mumbled, 'Find the knife and end your misery. Return honor to your family.'" pg. 137

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"'Don't be frightened, child,' the old women mumbled, 'Find the knife and end your misery. Return honor to your family.'" pg. 137

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- Casey Hinds

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" 'yes, for the most part, but I miss everyone. It's rather lonely here.' "-pg 20

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" 'yes, for the most part, but I miss everyone. It's rather lonely here.' "-pg 20

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- Sadie

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P. 29 "One day it began to show it's ugly face and there was nothing we could do about it. It spread like wildfire, choosing randomly, infecting young and old."

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P. 29 "One day it began to show it's ugly face and there was nothing we could do about it. It spread like wildfire, choosing randomly, infecting young and old."

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Gage

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On the third night of Matsu's absence, I was so terrified he would never return. - Cassian p145

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On the third night of Matsu's absence, I was so terrified he would never return. - Cassian p145

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"Sachi continued to back away 'I will not dishonor you any more than I have,' she repeated 'Please you must go now.'" Pg 76

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"Sachi continued to back away 'I will not dishonor you any more than I have,' she repeated 'Please you must go now.'" Pg 76

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Amelia Stinson

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"It's harder than imagined, to be alone." Page 13

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"It's harder than imagined, to be alone." Page 13

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- Jackie

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Matsu's garden whispers at you, never shouts; it leads you down a path hoping for more, as if everything is seen, yet hidden. There's a quiet beauty here I only hope I can capture on canvas. Pg. 31 

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Matsu's garden whispers at you, never shouts; it leads you down a path hoping for more, as if everything is seen, yet hidden. There's a quiet beauty here I only hope I can capture on canvas. Pg. 31 

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Bay

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"I had been nothing but a prisoner in my own room"-pg 14

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"I had been nothing but a prisoner in my own room"-pg 14

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-Sydney

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"'And I often recall my father's voice telling me how the samurai maintained their honor by committing seppuku,'" pg. 131

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"'And I often recall my father's voice telling me how the samurai maintained their honor by committing seppuku,'" pg. 131

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Paisley Reid

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“‘Very slowly, Matsu and Michiko taught me how to live with others. And with myself. Gradually the thought of ending my life left my mind. As if I were a child learning to walk again, Matsu enticed me to take one step at a time: Bringing me first to Yamaguchi, then building me a house, and finally creating a garden for me to tend.’” (148)

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“‘Very slowly, Matsu and Michiko taught me how to live with others. And with myself. Gradually the thought of ending my life left my mind. As if I were a child learning to walk again, Matsu enticed me to take one step at a time: Bringing me first to Yamaguchi, then building me a house, and finally creating a garden for me to tend.’” (148)