7 pm. One of my categories is Modern Literature. I plan on using this to cover any notes that I may wish to make while reading modern fiction. This raises an interesting question of what constitutes learning, but I prefer a broad interpretation. However I do not wish to become a literary critic. Rather I may simply make a couple of brief notes indicating how much I have read and my overall impression.

I began The Mask Carver's Son by Alyson Richman. It is about a Japanese artist who moves to Paris at the turn of the century, thus breaking with the tradition of becoming a carver of Noh masks for the Japanese theatre. The theme is a rich one. I have read about 120 pages and am overwhelmed! This is a deeply moving and sensitive story.

It also illustrates the fragility of my category system. Should this be classified as Modern Literature or Japan? I am definitely enriching my understanding of Japan at the beginning of the Meiji era.