“Separate Ways,” by Higuchi Ichigo, is a literary work that reflects realism, for it explores the lived experiences of a pair of friends who are struggling with poverty, Okyo and Kichizo. This piece of literature focuses on the struggles the characters have to face based on their ascribed social class and how their position in society impacts the choices they make.
In the beginning of the short story, Kichizo visits Okyo and they converse. Okyo tells Kichizo, “He who wears another’s clothes will never get anywhere in life” (908). This emphasizes how an individual must work for themselves in order to succeed in life. If one were to rely on another person, he would forever remain stagnant in the position that he is in. This is ironic because at the end, Okyo proceeds to join a household that will provide her the lavish kimonos she wants to wear.
Furthermore, Kichizo is an umbrella factory apprentice. He is a poor orphan who was adopted by a granny from an umbrella factory. He is short and is constantly made fun of due to his stature and background with insults such as, “Dwarf! Dwarf!” and “Eating fish on the anniversary of your parents’ death! It serves you right that you’re so short. Round and round we go- look at him! The tiny monk who’ll never grow” (910). As a result of Kichizo’s economic status and orphan status, he is miserable. He is miserable because he was abandoned by his family and never received the proper love. He became someone who is temperament, violent, and ready to answer people with a clenched fist. If he were to be born to an upper class position, no one would dare make fun of his parents and his stature.
On the other hand, Okyo is a young kimono seamstress in her early twenties. Not much is said about Okyo, but we discover that due to Okyo’s marginal social status, she decides to abandon her reputation and poverty to become a mistress with a luxurious lifestyle. She states, “Kichizo, I’m sick of all the washing and sewing. Anything would be better. I’m tired of these drab clothes. I‘d like to wear a crepe kimono, too, for a change- even if it is tainted” (912). This demonstrates that Okyo acknowledges the fact that she is degrading herself by becoming someone’s mistress. However, she would much rather live in a better position where she does not have to worry about making ends meet.
Thus, these two friends go on their “separate ways.” Kichizo has accepted his fate and is content with oiling umbrellas. He states that he “was born to wear a plain kimono with workman’s sleeves…” (908). Compared to Okyo, who would abandon her reputation in order to achieve a better lifestyle. Not only did she abandon her social class, she has also abandoned her good friend.