The Heart of Hyacinth

"The Heart of Hyacinth" by Onoto Watanna is a story that takes place in Japan during a time of important cultural change, especially in places like Sendai and Matsushima Bay. The story is about identity, struggles, and relationships between different cultures. It starts with Madame Aoi, a Japanese woman, raising her mixed-race son, Komazawa, and their adopted daughter, Hyacinth. They deal with lots of changes in society and the growing impact of Western culture. When Aoi's English husband passes away, she has to figure out who she is as a mother and wife in a changing world. As Komazawa gets older, he wrestles with his mixed background, and Hyacinth tries to fit into both cultures, even as she struggles with her own identity. Outsiders start to come into their lives, which leads to problems caused by cultural differences. Through the characters' relationships, Watanna shows the feelings of wanting to belong in a world that's constantly changing.