I've enjoyed reading everyone's thoughts on this wonderful love story of Takeshi and Seiko. Thank you for sharing!
In my opinion, it’s heartbreaking for Seiko to feel that she has to reject Takeshi’s marriage proposal and for Takeshi to be rejected by the
love of his life (the star that illuminates his lonely journey as a warrior). To understand Seiko’s decision, I think it is important to recognize Seiko’s upbringing as a farmer’s daughter who has lived a very much simpler and more peaceful existence until she met Takeshi. In the book, Seiko’s character
was described as someone who is “beautiful, shy and very soft spoken and does not like confrontation.”
We also have to remember that in a short period of time Seiko’s life was turned upside down (physically and emotionally) because of her relationship
with Takeshi, i.e. she was kidnapped by Kenichi; she was physically and emotionally abused and harassed by Aiko; she was made 2nd wife for her
protection; she had to witness her lover being shot and fight for his life. Geez! What an emotional roller coaster!! No matter how strong you are, anyone having to go through these events in their life (I think the timeline here is within a few months) will have a difficult time dealing with them. In hindsight, Seiko should have stood by her man, the love of her life, regardless of the consequences but given her upbringing and personality, I understand her decision. Sometimes we need time apart to really appreciate what is most important in our lives; so I see Seiko’s decision as a way to give her time to think about her love for Takeshi and her commitment to be with Takeshi for better or worse.
In my opinion, it’s heartbreaking for Seiko to feel that she has to reject Takeshi’s marriage proposal and for Takeshi to be rejected by the
love of his life (the star that illuminates his lonely journey as a warrior). To understand Seiko’s decision, I think it is important to recognize Seiko’s upbringing as a farmer’s daughter who has lived a very much simpler and more peaceful existence until she met Takeshi. In the book, Seiko’s character
was described as someone who is “beautiful, shy and very soft spoken and does not like confrontation.”
We also have to remember that in a short period of time Seiko’s life was turned upside down (physically and emotionally) because of her relationship
with Takeshi, i.e. she was kidnapped by Kenichi; she was physically and emotionally abused and harassed by Aiko; she was made 2nd wife for her
protection; she had to witness her lover being shot and fight for his life. Geez! What an emotional roller coaster!! No matter how strong you are, anyone having to go through these events in their life (I think the timeline here is within a few months) will have a difficult time dealing with them. In hindsight, Seiko should have stood by her man, the love of her life, regardless of the consequences but given her upbringing and personality, I understand her decision. Sometimes we need time apart to really appreciate what is most important in our lives; so I see Seiko’s decision as a way to give her time to think about her love for Takeshi and her commitment to be with Takeshi for better or worse.