Importance Of Water In The Sound Of Waves Of Uta-Jima

The island of Uta-Jima is surrounded by hefty bodies of soothing ocean water. The islanders are the individuals that have the pleasure to view it every day when they wake in the morning, and in the darkness of the night. Those bodies of water bring many privileges to the islanders of Song Island. The oceans allow for the majority of the individuals to be well-off in their lives. This could be proven by taking into account the jobs that the islanders have, the food they consume, the transportation they use, and the faith that they islanders hold on to. It is true; the oceans surrounding Uta-Jima serve as a life support for the population in The Sound of Waves.

“When a steamship sailing to or from Nagoya or Yokkaichi passed through the Irako Channel, threading its way among the countless fishing boats scattered […] the lighthouse watchman could easily read its name through his telescope.” (5, par. 2, chp. 1) The bodies of water were filled with fishing boats and steamships. In order for boats and ships to even play a role near the island, water had to be present. In general, the boats serve as a method of transportation for the individuals living in the island. Two characters in particular that caused major mischief in the novel, Chiyoko and …show more content…
"Yashiro Shrine is dedicated to Watatsumi-no-Mikoto, god of the sea. […] the inhabitants should be devout worshippers of this god. They are forever praying for calm seas…" (4, par. 2, chp.1) The islanders are so gracious for the ocean, that they made a shrine of a sea god to represent the seas that surround the island. The islanders have been devoted to their faith in order to receive a sense of reassurance. They pray in hopes to please the sea god that they worship in order to gain pleasant seas to sail on. The action of praying erases their fears, and if they thanked the ocean they will not receive any