ABSTRACT

For a number of years, I have observed changes in my students when they read Paradise in the Sea of Sorrow. This story, a signature piece by Ishimure Michiko (石牟礼道子 1927–2018), illustrates both the plight and the beauty of the life of people affected by Minamata disease. Ishimure is often referred to as an environmental novelist or the Rachel Carson of Japan, and was a key member of the Minamata disease movement all her adult life. Ishimure’s powerful story continues to touch profoundly my students’ hearts and inspires them to engage with learning on a different level: They begin to think about social issues not just intellectually but at a deeper level. It is as if her story has infused ‘soul’ into their learning.