Mrs. Shigemura Character Analysis in Snow Falling on Cedars

A woman with whom young Hatsue studies traditional Japanese culture. Like Fujiko, Mrs. Shigemura emphasizes the differences between the Japanese and the hakujin (white people). Hatsue often thinks back to what Mrs. Shigemura taught her when she feels torn between her love for Ishmael and her duty to honor her family.

Mrs. Shigemura Character Timeline in Snow Falling on Cedars

The timeline below shows where the character Mrs. Shigemura appears in Snow Falling on Cedars. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...old and elegant. She picks strawberries during the summer. During Hatsue’s childhood, a woman named Mrs. Shigemura had taught Hatsue the cultural traditions a young Japanese girl should know, such as how... (full context)

Mrs. Shigemura ’s lessons taught Hatsue to react to hardship with studied composure. These teachings would come... (full context)

Hatsue’s parents arranged for her to have these lessons with Mrs. Shigemura so that Hatsue would never forget her Japenese identity. Hatsue’s parents had incurred numerous hardships... (full context)

The Psychological Impact of War Theme Icon

...his honor was compromised. Hatsue eventually agreed with her husband, citing something she’d learned from Mrs. Shigemura , “that character was always destiny.” (full context)

...were high school seniors: In the cedar tree, Hatsue tells Ishmael about her training with Mrs. Shigemura , about how she’d been strongly advised to marry a Japanese boy. She feels that... (full context)