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People Involved: Old Man Gower, Naomi
Where: Vancouver (Gower's garden)
In an unsettling detailed description of past events Naomi reveals one of her darkest secrets that shapes the way she begins to see the world. She is repeatedly molested throughout the year and finds herself secretly desiring to go back, and she feels as if it has created a rift between her and her mother. -
People involved: Mother
Where: Vancouver - Japan
When Grandma Kato becomes ill Mother goes to Japan to visit her but never returns. Throughout the book Naomi wonders where her Mother is and why she abandoned her. -
People involved: Obasan, Stephen, Naomi
Where: Vancouver-Slocan
As the conditions for the Japanese in Canada deteriorate, the family finds themselves being torn apart and sent to different encampments or containment areas. Obasan, Stephen, and Naomi are forced to leave their home in Vancouver and find a place in a Ghost town. -
People Involved: Father, Naomi, Obasan, Grandma Nakane, and Stephen
Where: New Denver
Grandma Nakane died because of an ailment. She is cremated because she is Buddhist. Naomi knows this will make her stronger as the Samurai sword in the fire. This is her first exhibition of death. -
People Involved: Naomi, Kenji, Rough Lock Bill.
Where: The lake in Slocan
When Kenji and Naomi go out to play in the woods they began going on a raft on the lake. When the raft goes out too far Kenji abandons Naomi, who can't swim, and Naomi almost drowns. Rough Lock Bill saves her life. In the hospital she contemplates a lot about the chicks and the Color Yellow. -
People Involved: Naomi, Stephen, Penny, Nakayama-Sensei
Where: Granton
One day in Granton as Naomi and the family are all inside, it is mentioned that she was told something, at first we don't know what but later it is revealed that it is her Father's passing. Naomi only truly comes to terms with it when Penny the neighbor in Slocan comes over and Naomi says the words out loud to her. Stephen also adds to the grief by saying that Grandma Kato and Mother are also probably dead. -
People Involved: Mother, Naomi, Aunt Emily, Stephen, Obasan, Uncle
Where: Trip to Slocan, Slocan and British Columbia Before Mother left she gave Naomi an elegant doll that she loved and it gave her memories of her mother. Later when Aunt Emily wants to go for an adventure the family (Obasan, Uncle, and the children) go for a trip through British Columbia. Naomi notices that she lost her doll and they all look for it but can never find it. -
People involved: Naomi, Obasan, Uncle
Where: Granton With the death of 'Uncle' Naomi begins to uncover many painful memories from the past leading into the events of the book. It is the inciting moment of the book. -
People Involved: Nakayama-Sensei, Obasan, Stephen, Naomi
Where: Obasan's house Nakayama-Sensei, Stephen, and Aunt Emily have all arived at Obasan's house and Nakayama-Sensei begins o read the letters that reveals what happened to Grandma Kato and Mother while they were in Japan. Naomi learns that Mother had been horribly mutilated and diseased from the bombing and that her son, Naomi's brother, was dying of Lukemia. -
People Involved: Naomi
Where: Obasan's house As Naomi is looking through old boxes she discovers an old box of letters that Aunt Emily had sent to her mother over a period of a couple months after she left. Each letter contains different emotions and presents new problems, but the letters were never answered.
