Ufo In Kushiro Analysis

In the first story, “ufo in kushiro,” Komura is a man going through a mid-life crisis. After an earthquake hits Japan, his wife decides to leave him - leaving him shocked and confused. To help combat his depression, his co-worker sends him on an all-expenses-paid vacation to deliver a package to a woman named Shimao who lives in Kushiro. Shimao tries to solicit sex from Komura, but he declines. But this intimacy with her enables him to feel comfortable opening up to Shimao. Komura says, “‘There’s nothing inside me, I guess’”(22). Shimao, a supportive person, replies, ‘“I don’t know whether you’ve got something inside you, but I think you’re terrific”’(22-23). Shimao’s encouragement reminds Komura that he has self-worth. Shimao says, ‘“I feel

as if I’ve come a really long way’” (23). Ultimately, the primary reason Komura was sent on this vacation was to have sex with Shimao, as opposed to deliver the package. The package was actually empty. Shimao confirms this by saying, “‘It’s because the box contains the something that was inside you. Now you’ll never get it back’”(23). The empty box that Komura gave to Shimano represented himself. By giving away the box, he let go of the emptiness he felt. Now he can finally become something new and have self-worth. With the help of Shimao, Komura realizes that he now has a new meaning to life.
In the story “thailand,” Satsuki is a middle-aged woman who lives a stressful and busy life.

Satsuki goes on a combined vacation and work trip in Thailand and has a very relatable guide with whom she becomes very close. After several days together, her guide, Nimit, recognized that Satsuki had issues that she had not been addressing. Nimit took Satsuki to a spiritual guide, who uncovered unresolved issues with her old boyfriend. The spiritual guide told Nimit that Satsuki had such a strong hatred for her boyfriend, that she wished he died in the earthquake. Nimit told Satsuki,“‘The man is not dead, he did not receive a scratch. It may not be what you wanted, but it was actually very lucky for you that he was not hurt’”(86). Nimit is telling Satsuki that she should let go of her anger that she’s kept inside of her for years. His solution for her getting rid of her angst is, ‘“The stone and its inscriptions are old, old things. You have been living with them inside you for a very long time. You must get rid of the stone ”’(85). The stone stands for all of the hatred that she has been holding onto. Learning this enables Satsuki to open up and finally share her deepest secrets. ‘“I have a secret I’ve never told anyone. But I’d like to tell it to you now”’(88). Without the help of Nimit, Satsuki would still be holding onto grudges that were weighing her down like a

stone.
Through both of these stories, Murakami has conveyed that people need help from others to change. The two main characters, Satsuki and Komura, needed help from others around them in order to change. This can be true in today's society as well. Everyone lives in their own bubble and rarely go out of their comfort zone. People may not even realize that they need help or are holding onto something. When in a new environment, you meet new people, which leads to new perspectives that can help you discover yourself, and find a new meaning to your life.