The Sound of Waves

The next day, on the Taihei-maru, Jukichi reaches into his pocket and pulls out a piece of paper. He tells Shinji that earlier, when he passed the Miyata household, Hatsue came outside and gave him the note—it is for Shinji. Shinji takes the note and opens it carefully. In the letter, Hatsue writes about how the night before, Terukichi overheard the gossip about her and Shinji and has forbidden her not just from seeing Shinji, but from leaving the house almost entirely. Hatsue begs Shinji to think of a way for them to meet. In the meantime, she says, she will leave a letter under the water jar at the front of the house each day—Shinji should leave his replies there as well. She concludes her letter by begging Shinji to join her in “go[ing] on truly, with strong hearts!”

Shinji is relieved to know that Hatsue still cares so deeply for him. He grows lost in thoughts of love as Ryuji and Jukichi read the letter aloud colorfully. Jukichi urges Shinji to tell him what really transpired between him and Hatsue. Shinji tells the story of his and Hatsue’s courtship, and insists that while they did embrace while naked, they remained pure and did not consummate their love—despite what the rumors state. Jukichi insists that everything will work out all right for Shinji and Hatsue. As gentle waves rock the boat, they calm Shinji nearly as much as Jukichi’s kind words.

Ryuji volunteers to pick up Hatsue’s letters each morning, and soon, the letters are the principal topic of conversation between the three fishermen while they’re out on the water. Ryuji and Jukichi become just as emotionally invested in Hatsue’s letters as Shinji himself—especially in one letter in particular that describes Yasuo’s assault. Hatsue writes that though she told her father about what Yasuo did to her, Terukichi is still on good terms with Yasuo’s family. As Shinji reads the letter aloud, he laments that he is in the position he’s in because he’s poor. He immediately regrets making a statement that’s so weak and self-pitying.

The wise old Jukichi, sensing Shinji and Ryuji’s anger, warns them not to pick a fight with a fool like Yasuo. When it comes to love, what’s needed, as in fishing, is patience.

The news that Terukichi has forbidden Hatsue to see Shinji reaches the lighthouse that evening. Chiyoko, overhearing the gossip, is immediately overcome with guilt. She is relieved that Shinji doesn’t seem to know that she is the source of all of this turmoil—but she still can’t meet his eyes when he comes by to bring her parents their fish. She is due to return to Tokyo soon, and she is determined to confess the truth to Shinji and beg his forgiveness before she goes.

On the morning of her departure, Chiyoko goes down to the beach early in the morning to say goodbye to Shinji. She catches him before he boards the Taihei-maru and bids him farewell—but she cannot bring herself to tell him the truth. As Shinji turns away from her and back toward the boat, Chiyoko realizes that what she truly wants is Shinji’s attention. Chiyoko asks Shinji if he thinks she’s ugly. Shinji kindly replies that Chiyoko is pretty. He boards the boat. Chiyoko remains on shore, feeling happy.

Later that afternoon, as she heads back to Tokyo by ferry, Chiyoko is overwhelmed by tenderness for Shinji. She accepts at last that he loves another, and she decides she must find a way to make up for the wickedness she has brought into his life.