LANGUAGE IN INDIA

Strength for Today and Bright Hope for Tomorrow

Volume 25:5 May 2025
ISSN 1930-2940

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         Nathan Mulder Bunce, M.A., Ph.D. Candidate
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         B. Mallikarjun, Ph.D.
         A. R. Fatihi, Ph.D.
         G. Baskaran, Ph.D.
         T. Deivasigamani, Ph.D.
         Pammi Pavan Kumar, Ph.D.
         Soibam Rebika Devi, M.Sc., Ph.D.

Honorary Managing Editor & Publisher: M. S. Thirumalai, Ph.D.

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The Interplay of Emotional Healing and Interpersonal Relationships in
Days at the Morisaki Bookshop: A Novel: A Synthesis with Fritz Heider's
Psychological Theories

Dr. M. Benazir Nuzrath
and S. Sri Ishwaryia

Abstract

The research article explores the themes of emotional healing and personal growth in Satoshi Yagisawa's Days at the Morisaki Bookshop: A Novel, analysing the protagonist Takako's journey through the lens of Fritz Heider's psychological theories, specifically Attribution Theory and Balance Theory. The novel portrays Takako?s transformation from a state of emotional numbness following a heartbreak to a renewed sense of self through her immersion in literature and interpersonal connections. Heider?s theories provide a framework to understand her shifting attributions of blame, her quest for emotional equilibrium, and the restorative power of relationships. The article highlights how the novel aligns with Heider's emphasis on perception, internal versus external attributions, and the balance sought in human relationships. By synthesizing literary analysis with psychological theory, the study emphasizes the redemptive power of books and the importance of community in fostering emotional resilience.

Keywords: Emotional Healing, Interpersonal Relationships, Attribution Theory, Balance Theory, Literature and Psychology, Personal Growth

Introduction

Satoshi Yagisawa (1977) is a prolific Japanese writer who penned his first novel Days at the Morisaki Bookshop: A Novel (Morisaki Shoten No Hibi), which was published in 2009 and earned him the Chiyoda Literature Prize. The book was adapted into a film in 2010. In 2024, he released a sequel titled More Days at the Morisaki Bookstore. Yagisawa often visited the Kanda Babelsberg bookstore and enjoyed coffee, experiences that likely inspired his debut novel. The Chiyoda Literature Prize, awarded by Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward, honours exceptional literary works. His writing delves into themes of love, human connections, and the profound role books and bookstores play in bringing people together.

Satoshi Yagisawa's Days at the Morisaki Bookshop: A Novel is a poignant narrative that probes deep into the quiet yet profound journey of emotional recovery and self-discovery. The novel follows Takako, a young woman who, after a devastating betrayal by her boyfriend, retreats into isolation until her estranged uncle offers her refuge in his second-hand bookstore. The Morisaki Bookshop becomes a sanctuary where Takako's healing unfolds through literature and human connections. This article examines Takako's emotional and psychological development through the theoretical framework of Fritz Heider, a foundational figure in social psychology. Heider's Attribution Theory and Balance Theory offer valuable insights into Takako's shifting perceptions of her circumstances, her relationships, and her eventual emotional maturation. By intertwining literary analysis with psychological theory, the study illuminates the novel's deeper exploration of how individuals navigate pain, reinterpret their experiences, and restore emotional harmony.

This is only the beginning part of the article. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE IN PRINTER-FRIENDLY VERSION.

Dr. M. Benazir Nuzrath
Assistant Professor,
PG Department of English, Sadakathullah Appa College, Tirunelveli-627011
benuzsac@gmail.com

S. Sri Ishwaryia
III B.A English,
PG Department of English, Sadakathullah Appa College, Tirunelveli-627011
aishu382004@gmail.com

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