A Summary Of 'like A Willow Tree' - Based On A True Story

A willow tree is soft and flowy on the outside but unbreakable and strong on the inside. It stands unruffled to the lashings and extremities of wind and storm. It never breaks!

An overview of the novel:

Hanako Ishigaki, a young Japanese girl of nine years moves from the traditional, beautiful community of Kyoto to America in 1930s along with her family. One obstinate decision of her father forced the family to blend in the world which was pole apart from where they came from. The migration, cultural differences, racism and discrimination people of Hawaii held against Japanese made things worse for them, yet they managed to survive the winds. The life at Hawaii exposes them to the world of Japanese migrant community in the tents at a settlement called Furusato raising the conflict of two cultures, East and West.

Hanako life revolunatizes with the shift of the family to Honolulu where she encounters James Robertson, an American fellow student and love blossoms between the two young kids acting as a bridge between East and West. The way James came along with an enriching friendship that survived thirty eight years of separation was a sheer stroke of luck.

Fate played its part and separation was on its way. On the way, Hanako moved from camps to camps torn by the after effects of the war and the cultural gap. Finally, a call ensures that she and her closest ally Melanie are back to Japan were people considered them nothing more than aliens to their land as now they have to share it with them.

To a land which was her origin, Hanako held a deep connect with it but here she was reduced to nothing more than a refugee. The land where she had to ensure her survival along with Melanie by pitching a camp in the most unpredictable industry - fashion.

After thirty five years, James and Hanako were in the late 50s reunited in a school reunion. What unfolded was unpredictable and unexpected as now James was a successful entrepreneur at United States well settled with a family and Hanako well established in the fashion industry of Japan along with her childhood best friend Melanie.

The story ends with the separation of the two as Hanako breathes her last breath due to a chronic ailment beside Melanie and James. At the end, James takes his final call and listens to his soul at least for once in his life where he finally chooses to never go back again to the old remorse life he ended up with due to a drunk encounter with a lady and firmly decides to stay forever in the land of his love. The only girl he ever fell for most ardently!

The character of Hanako is like a willow tree! She is fragile, soft and pleasant yet stands unruffled to the storming winds of her life.