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Akira Sugimura
A nationalist and art-appreciator, before the war, Matsuda influences Ono to take a new direction in his art. Matsuda believes that artists are failing to address the social and political problems around them, and he mocks Ono’s naïve attitude towards the world. Ono comes to work closely with Matsuda and to have great respect for him as an independent thinker who tries to achieve something meaningful through his work. After the war, Matsuda is in poor health and confined to his home. He seems regretful that he never married and has no heirs and says that his life’s work amounted to little. Ono, however, believes that Matsuda doesn’t truly believe this.
Chishu Matsuda Quotes in An Artist of the Floating World
The An Artist of the Floating World quotes below are all either spoken by Chishu Matsuda or refer to Chishu Matsuda. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
October 1948
Quotes
“I realize there are now those who would condemn the likes of you and me for the very things we were once proud to have achieved. And I suppose this is why you're worried, Ono. You think perhaps I will praise you for things perhaps best forgotten.”
“No such thing,” I said hastily. “You and I both have a lot to be proud of. It's merely that where marriage talks are concerned, one has to appreciate the delicacy of the situation. But you've put my mind at rest. I know you'll exercise your judgement as well as ever.”
“I will do my best,” Matsuda said. “But, Ono, there are things we should both be proud of. Never mind what people today are all saying. Before long, a few more years, and the likes of us will be able to hold our heads high about what we tried to do. I simply hope I live as long as that. It's my wish to see my life's efforts vindicated.”
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June 1950
Quotes
'But there's no need to blame ourselves unduly,' he said. 'We at least acted on what we believed and did our utmost. It's just that in the end we turned out to be ordinary men. Ordinary men with no special gifts of insight. It was simply our misfortune to have been ordinary men during such times.'
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Chishu Matsuda Quotes in An Artist of the Floating World
The An Artist of the Floating World quotes below are all either spoken by Chishu Matsuda or refer to Chishu Matsuda. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
October 1948
Quotes
“I realize there are now those who would condemn the likes of you and me for the very things we were once proud to have achieved. And I suppose this is why you're worried, Ono. You think perhaps I will praise you for things perhaps best forgotten.”
“No such thing,” I said hastily. “You and I both have a lot to be proud of. It's merely that where marriage talks are concerned, one has to appreciate the delicacy of the situation. But you've put my mind at rest. I know you'll exercise your judgement as well as ever.”
“I will do my best,” Matsuda said. “But, Ono, there are things we should both be proud of. Never mind what people today are all saying. Before long, a few more years, and the likes of us will be able to hold our heads high about what we tried to do. I simply hope I live as long as that. It's my wish to see my life's efforts vindicated.”
Related Characters:
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Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
June 1950
Quotes
'But there's no need to blame ourselves unduly,' he said. 'We at least acted on what we believed and did our utmost. It's just that in the end we turned out to be ordinary men. Ordinary men with no special gifts of insight. It was simply our misfortune to have been ordinary men during such times.'
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
