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Masuji Ono
The younger, prettier, and more outspoken of Ono’s two daughters, Noriko is unmarried for much of the novel and, at nearly twenty-six years old, is becoming worried that she will not find a husband. The year before the action of the novel, the Ono family was in talks to marry Noriko to Jiro Miyake. After the Miyake family withdrew from marriage negotiations without providing a believable explanation, Noriko suspects that perhaps something her father said or did caused the rupture. At the novel’s start, Noriko is living alone with her father in their home, but working in an office. She often complains to Ono about his laziness, meddling, and lack of activity. Noriko is playful and good with children, getting along especially well with her nephew, Ichiro. Later, as marriage negotiations progress with a new match, Taro Saito, Noriko becomes stiff and nervous during the formal meeting of the two families. It is only after Ono tells the assembled group that he regrets some of his work during the war that Noriko begins to show her personality during the all-important meeting. The engagement goes through, the couple is eventually married, and Noriko moves out of her father’s spacious home and into a small modern apartment with her husband Taro. At the novel’s end, she is expecting her first child.
Noriko Quotes in An Artist of the Floating World
The An Artist of the Floating World quotes below are all either spoken by Noriko or refer to Noriko. 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
"We took him once to the cinema to see an American cowboy film. He's been very fond of cowboys ever since. We even had to buy him a ten-gallon hat. He’s convinced cowboys make that funny sound he does. It must have seemed very strange.”
“So that’s what it was,” I said with a laugh. “My grandson’s become a cowboy.”
Down in the garden, a breeze was making the foliage sway.
Noriko was crouching down by the old stone lantern near the back wall, pointing something out to Ichiro.
“Still,” I said, with a sigh, “only a few years ago, Ichiro wouldn't have been allowed to see such a thing as a cowboy film.”
Setsuko, without turning from the garden, said: “Suichi believes it's better he likes cowboys than that he idolize people like Miyamoto Musashi. Suichi thinks the American heroes are the better models for children now.”
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“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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November 1949
Quotes
'Noriko hasn't told you about the miai? Well, I made sure that evening there'd be no obstacles to her happiness on account of my career. I dare say I would have done so in any case, but I was nevertheless grateful for your advice last year.'
'Forgive me, Father, but I don't recall offering any advice last year. As for the matter of the miai, however, Noriko has indeed mentioned it to me a number of times. Indeed, she wrote to me soon after the miai expressing surprise at Father’s . . . at Father’s words about himself.’
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Noriko Quotes in An Artist of the Floating World
The An Artist of the Floating World quotes below are all either spoken by Noriko or refer to Noriko. 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
"We took him once to the cinema to see an American cowboy film. He's been very fond of cowboys ever since. We even had to buy him a ten-gallon hat. He’s convinced cowboys make that funny sound he does. It must have seemed very strange.”
“So that’s what it was,” I said with a laugh. “My grandson’s become a cowboy.”
Down in the garden, a breeze was making the foliage sway.
Noriko was crouching down by the old stone lantern near the back wall, pointing something out to Ichiro.
“Still,” I said, with a sigh, “only a few years ago, Ichiro wouldn't have been allowed to see such a thing as a cowboy film.”
Setsuko, without turning from the garden, said: “Suichi believes it's better he likes cowboys than that he idolize people like Miyamoto Musashi. Suichi thinks the American heroes are the better models for children now.”
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Explanation and Analysis:
“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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November 1949
Quotes
'Noriko hasn't told you about the miai? Well, I made sure that evening there'd be no obstacles to her happiness on account of my career. I dare say I would have done so in any case, but I was nevertheless grateful for your advice last year.'
'Forgive me, Father, but I don't recall offering any advice last year. As for the matter of the miai, however, Noriko has indeed mentioned it to me a number of times. Indeed, she wrote to me soon after the miai expressing surprise at Father’s . . . at Father’s words about himself.’
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