Kitchen

**Quiz Question: *Kitchen* by Banana Yoshimoto** Who is the protagonist in Banana Yoshimoto's *Kitchen* that seeks comfort by sleeping next to the kitchen following her grandmother's death? A) Eriko B) Yuichi C) Mikage Sakurai D) Satsuki **Correct Answer: C) Mikage Sakurai** *Explanation: Mikage Sakurai is the young orphaned main character of* Kitchen. *After the death of her grandmother, who was her last family member, Mikage finds comfort in sleeping next to the kitchen, which she considers her favorite place. She later moves in with Yuichi Tanabe and his mother, Eriko.*

ap_lit · ib_lang_lit · college_intro_lit · world_literature

**Quiz Question: *Kitchen* by Banana Yoshimoto** Which setting does the protagonist Mikage Sakurai find most comforting at the beginning of the novel, and what does this reveal about her character? A) Her childhood bedroom — it evokes safety and nostalgia from her past. B) The kitchen — she finds solace in its warmth, light, and the hum of the refrigerator as she deals with her grief. C) The school library — it offers an escape through books and learning. D) The rooftop of her apartment building — the open sky provides her with a sense of freedom. **Correct Answer: B** *Explanation: At the start of the novel, Mikage shares that her favorite place in the world is the kitchen. After losing her grandmother, her last family member, she sleeps on the kitchen floor next to the refrigerator, finding comfort in its light and hum. This detail quickly shows her as someone who looks for warmth and connection in everyday life rather than in grand gestures or typical sources of comfort.*

ap_lit · ib_english · general_high_school_lit · world_literature

**Question:** Who wrote the novel *Kitchen*? - A) Haruki Murakami - B) Yoko Ogawa - C) Banana Yoshimoto - D) Natsuo Kirino **Correct Answer:** C) Banana Yoshimoto **Explanation:** *Kitchen* (1988) is a well-known novella by Japanese author Banana Yoshimoto, whose real name is Mahoko Yoshimoto. This was her first book, which quickly became a bestseller in Japan and later received international recognition after being translated.

ap_lit · ib_lang_lit · world_literature