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Terms
A mysterious, supernatural object that becomes the focus of Hoshino and Nakata’s quest. The entrance stone is white, round, and about the size of a vinyl record. It seems to weigh more at some times than others. Most of the time, including when Hoshino first finds the stone, it is hefty but can be lifted without too much effort. At these moments, the stone is simply a stone, and does not possess any supernatural qualities. However, occasionally the stone becomes supernaturally heavy. This happens when the stone is functioning as the “entrance” to the parallel world that Kafka visits at the end of the novel. By flipping the stone over, Hoshino is able to open and close the entrance to that other world. Nakata feels drawn by destiny to find the entrance stone, but until he and Hoshino find it, he doesn’t actually know what it is or how to use it. Like many things in the novel, the origin and purpose of the stone is never fully explained.
Entrance Stone Quotes in Kafka on the Shore
The Kafka on the Shore quotes below are all either spoken by Entrance Stone or refer to Entrance Stone. For each quote, you can also see the other terms and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 23
Quotes
The drowning girl’s fingers
Search for the entrance stone, and more.
Lifting the hem of her azure dress,
She gazes—
at Kafka on the shore.
The lyrics to “Kafka on the Shore” speak deeply to Kafka, serving as one of many pieces of real or imagined evidence convincing him that he is being drawn to Miss Saeki by fate. Indeed, there are many references in the song tying different elements of the book together, adding a note of surrealism and coincidence that helps explain why characters like Kafka might believe so strongly in fate. The most obvious instance of this is the connection to Kafka’s name, which seems especially powerful because he chose the name “Kafka” for himself. The reference to the “search for the entrance stone” connects Miss Saeki and Kafka’s story to that of Hoshino and Nakata, reinforcing the suspicion of many characters in the book that their lives are on predetermined paths.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Get the entire Kafka on the Shore LitChart as a printable PDF.
Entrance Stone Term Timeline in Kafka on the Shore
The timeline below shows where the term Entrance Stone appears in Kafka on the Shore. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 26
...if his mind was floating separately from his body. He still doesn’t know what the entrance stone is for, but he knows now that it is white, round, and about the size...
(full context)
...spend the next couple of days in the library, trying to find information about the entrance stone . But their search reveals nothing. On the second afternoon, Nakata announces that it will...
(full context)
...Hoshino isn’t interested, until the Colonel announces that he knows about the search for the entrance stone , and he knows where it is. Shocked, Hoshino follows.
(full context)
Chapter 28
...money). They return to the shrine, and Colonel Sanders promises to take Hoshino to the entrance stone .
(full context)
Chapter 30
...shrine in the woods, and the Colonel instructs Hoshino to open it and remove the entrance stone from inside. Hoshino is reluctant, afraid of transgressing against God by desecrating a shrine. Hoshino...
(full context)
Hoshino picks up the entrance stone , which is round and white like Nakata described. It seems to be heavier than...
(full context)
Chapter 32
Over breakfast, Hoshino and Nakata consult about the entrance stone . Nakata is still unsure what must actually be done with it. As they’re discussing...
(full context)
...briefly visited during his coma. Now, he is afraid of what will happen if the entrance stone is opened again, but it must be done. However, the stone seems to have become...
(full context)
Chapter 36
...up to the police, because he believes he must fulfil the mission of closing the entrance stone .
(full context)
...talk about the creatures living on the ocean floor. Nakata explains that now that the entrance stone is open something has begun to happen, and when it ends, they must close the...
(full context)
Chapter 38
At Nakata’s request, Hoshino rents a car. While Nakata consults with the entrance stone about what to do next, Hoshino listens to a CD of the Archduke trio over...
(full context)
Chapter 40
...private office, ignoring Oshima’s protestations. Nakata tells Miss Saeki he wants to talk about the entrance stone . She gives a slight nod, and Oshima and Hoshino leave the pair alone in...
(full context)
Chapter 42
Miss Saeki says that she knows about the entrance stone , and that in fact she opened the entrance herself many years ago, to try...
(full context)
Chapter 44
...that he has to take a nap, but afterwards, they’ll be able to close the entrance stone . On the drive back to the apartment, Hoshino thanks Nakata for changing his perspective....
(full context)
...feels overwhelmed by the silence in the apartment. He realizes he has to close the entrance stone by himself now. If he makes a mistake, it could have dire consequences. Unsure what...
(full context)
Chapter 46
Hoshino spends the next day talking to the entrance stone , telling it stories about girls he’s dated. In the afternoon, he puts on the...
(full context)
