“The Bonfire”

Japanese literature has been praised for attempting to showcase some social concepts that are witnessed in real-life situations. The Bonfire is one of the creations that has been read over time as it strives to provide a picture of what people go through in the society in the quest for self-gratification and freedom. The term “Datsusara” is used in the piece to define a person who has abandoned his or her job in pursuit of personal dreams or ambitions. The author gives a succinct picture of Yohei in this context. Hence, this discourse provides details of a Datasusara as applicable in Yohei’s life.

Yohei had a well-paying job, but he decided to quit. He felt that there are personal engagements that could not be accomplished if he continued at his post. Hence, his primary reason that motivated him to leave was based on the desire to be free: to make personal decisions (Mistsios 35). The corporate world has its ties that bind individuals to norms that they do not have to cherish necessarily, but have to be executed so that the entity can continue being viable. Yohei is portrayed as a person who had been fed up with the daily routine at his place of work. Therefore, he thought that it would be wise to be a “Datsusara. He set off to look for other options that were mainly lased with leisure as he attempted to break the norm that most people had subscribed to in the Japanese context.

Yohei’s shift to Datasusara in “The Bonfire” is meant to show the world that an individual can break away from shackles and still be successful in other spheres. Most people work because they want to get the money that accrues from their salaried positions, but they are not happy. Yohei chose a different path, living his job enabled him to move to different places without being tied with the regulatory measures at his employer (Mistsios 44).  His experience makes “The Bonfire” an intriguing read because it demystifies some elements of the Japanese culture.

Work Cited

Mistsios, Helen. Digital Geishas and Talking Frogs: The Best 21st Century Short Stories from Japan, 2011.

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