Naoko fundamentally acknowledges that she’s worried she’s unable to certainly like any person and breaks down in tears
As thirty-seven-year-old Toru Watanabe countries during the airport in Hamburg, Germany, the airplanes he is on begins playing an instrumental address of this Beatles’ a€?Norwegian lumber.a€? The track strikes Toru difficult, and then he discovers himself flung back in memories of his youngsters.
In 1968, Toru try a freshman at Waseda University in Tokyo. The institution is in the throes of students transformation, but Toru prevents government while he settles into their dorm. One afternoon, Toru incurs Naoko , an acquaintance from his hometown of Kobe. Naoko will be the previous sweetheart of Toru’s best friend from highschool, Kizuki , who killed themselves throughout their elderly year. Toru and Naoko spend the mid-day walking and mentioning, but their discussion never ever drifts towards the subject of Kizuki. Once the several months go by, Toru and Naoko satisfy every Sunday. Though they grow near, they however never ever talk about Kizuki. Despite their relationship with Naoko, Toru feels aimless in other components of their life-his best other pal, Nagasawa , try a hyper-motivated pupil with expectations of signing up for the Foreign Ministry, an undeniable fact making Toru’s ambivalence manage more profound. On Naoko’s 20th birthday celebration, Toru visits the lady house to celebrate together. Naoko is within an unusual aura. She uses the night speaking continuous, with extreme rapidity. Once the perturbed Toru tries to set, she stops working in tears. Toru was amazed to understand Naoko had been a virgin. Toru requires Naoko precisely why she and Kizuki never slept together and Naoko reduces yet again. Toru does not hear from Naoko for days. The guy visits their apartment and learns she’s moved; the guy writes the woman at their parents’ house in Kobe but does not discover straight back. In July, Toru finally receives a letter from Naoko detailing that she actually is moving to a sanatorium for the hills of Kyoto.
In Sep, sessions began again. At the beginning of the session Toru fulfills an exciting lady from his reputation of crisis lessons, Midori , whenever she requires to borrow their records. Though Midori is a little flaky and misses the fulfilling she arranges to come back Toru’s notes, Toru finds themselves contemplating this lady. Both began hanging out together-even as Toru goes on creating to Naoko. One mid-day, after Midori cooks meal for Toru, both display a kiss on her roof. Toru tells Midori that he loves their but is tangled up in an elaborate intimate situation. Midori says that she’s got a boyfriend, anyway, and two agree to you need to be family.
Nagasawa, a serial womanizer, begins pleasing Toru out on the town to have inebriated, pick up girls, and push them to accommodation for gender
A couple of days later, a letter arrives from Naoko. She explains lifestyle at the sanitorium, Ami Hostel, and defines the attractive wooded landscaping, the emphasis on actual are employed in the property’s lavish home gardens and animal sanctuaries, as well as the ensconced conditions. She tells Toru that she is willing to read him. Without doubt, Toru packs a bag and starts the journey for the hostel. Upon showing up, Toru satisfy with a lady whom he thinks is Naoko’s doctor-but soon, a€?Doctora€? Reiko Ishida shows that she is Naoko’s roommate. She’s labeled as a a€?Music Doctora€? for the reason that their abilities at piano and guitar, and further explains that from the Ami Hostel, the lines between health practitioners and clients tend to be blurred-all customers have the duty of looking after the other person. The important advantages at the hostel, Reiko clarifies, was sincerity, and asks Toru to consent to be susceptible and open with Naoko treat. Toru agrees, and Reiko gives Toru to the woman and Naoko’s space. That nights, Reiko performs keyboards while Naoko and Toru speak about how it happened between them. Toru and Reiko decide on a walk, making Naoko by yourself to function this lady emotions. While walking, Reiko tells Toru about her own history. Once a promising pianist, Reiko’s notice snapped time before a big opposition. She spent time in and of mental medical facilities, eventually recuperating sufficient to began teaching. She hitched certainly this lady children, a guy her own era, and they settled down happily-but whenever Reiko took on a young schoolgirl as their brand new student , their existence got a turn the bad. Reiko suggests they’re going as well as check into Naoko, guaranteeing to complete her story the next day.