Samurai's Garden Matsu Quotes

A savior, caretaker, brother, friend, and outlet society are only a few of the characteristics and responsibilities of the quiet and reserved Matsu. In The Samurai’s Garden by Gail Tsukiyama, Matsu is understood to be a housekeeper of Stephen’s family beach house in Tarumi. He tends to his garden near the house and seems to have lived alone most of his life. He is described as an unforgotten samurai who is strong yet concealed behind the impenetrable mask that he wears. Slowly, he reveals to soften as his feelings become extracted. Matsu is revealed as a pillar of support for a baffled and anxious Stephen, throughout Matsu’s wise advice, his understandings, and his previous experiences.

Matsu strives through a complex transformation from the

The next day, Matsu finds that Stephen has visited Sachi’s house without alerting him, yet he wears a satisfied grin that show that he wanted Stephen to be there. They then decide to head back to Tarumi to gather supplies, but Matsu now is more curious and asks Stephen what he had discussed with Sachi earlier. After clearing up the issue, Matsu provides Stephen with a more detailed version of Tomoko’s story and how she decided to take her life. Stephen is eager to know understand Matsu’s feelings and “was still curious as to how Matsu felt” (154). After Matsu and Stephen finish building the eradicated houses, they go to the celebration. As Stephen is getting ready for his departure from Tarumi, he recollects his past year with Sachi and Matsu. As they arrive at the train station Matsu understands Stephen’s sorrow for leaving, and instead of a final bow, Stephen decides to hug Matsu as “he simply stood there frozen…until I felt him wrap his arms around me” (211). Matsu has altered his entire being since the visit of Stephen, from the man that didn’t speak and tended to his garden, to one that unleashed all of his