Chapter summaries The City and Its Uncertain Walls Haruki Murakami

Chapter 42: Mr. Koyasu’s Ghost and the Library’s Fate

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

Mrs. Soeda recounts the sudden death of Mr. Koyasu from a heart attack while walking in the hills. Stunned and grieving, she also fears for the future of the library. Soon after, Mr. Koyasu visits her in a vivid dream. He appears in his familiar beret and skirt, reassuring her that he is not frightening. He instructs her to open his office safe (code 491) and follow the documents inside. The next morning, Mrs. Soeda finds the safe exactly as described. She contacts Mr. Inoue, the lawyer, and convenes the board. Koyasu’s will donates all his assets to the foundation, and a directive orders a public search for a new head librarian—with Mrs. Soeda as the sole selector. In truth, Koyasu’s ghost secretly reviews the applications and chooses the narrator. Mrs. Soeda merely rubber-stamps the decision. She reveals that Koyasu still appears to her occasionally, invisible to others, to discuss library matters. The narrator realizes he has sensed Koyasu’s presence all along, and both wonder why no one ever referred to Koyasu as “the late.” Mrs. Soeda suggests that invisible powers may be at work.

Key Events

  • Mr. Koyasu dies suddenly of a heart attack at age seventy-five.
  • Mrs. Soeda worries about the library’s future and her own job.
  • Koyasu appears to her in a dream, dressed as always, and instructs her to open his safe (combination 491).
  • She follows the instructions the next morning and finds the safe containing documents and a directive.
  • The board meeting reveals Koyasu’s will donates all his assets to the library foundation.
  • The directive makes Mrs. Soeda the sole selector for the next head librarian.
  • Koyasu’s ghost secretly reviews applicant materials and selects the narrator.
  • Mrs. Soeda continues to meet Koyasu’s ghost regularly, unseen by others.
  • The narrator admits he sensed Koyasu’s presence in the library but never confirmed it.
  • Both characters note that no one ever referred to Koyasu as “the late” in conversation.

Character Development

  • Mrs. Soeda: Evolves from a grieving colleague into a trusted steward of Koyasu’s vision. Her willingness to accept the ghost’s guidance shows her deep loyalty and courage. She becomes the bridge between the dead librarian and the living staff.
  • Mr. Koyasu (ghost): Remains a paternal, meticulous presence even in death. His planning reveals his foresight and dedication to the library. His ghostly appearances reinforce his role as a guardian rather than a frightening specter.
  • The narrator: Moves from suspicion to acceptance. Hearing Mrs. Soeda’s story validates his earlier unease. He now understands his appointment was not random but chosen by a dead man who foresaw his potential.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

  • Ghostly guidance: Koyasu’s posthumous instructions keep the library on its course. The motif of supernatural mentorship runs throughout the novel.
  • Trust and duty: Mrs. Soeda faces a moral choice—to follow a dead man’s order or to seize authority herself. She chooses duty, preserving the library’s unique spirit.
  • The veil between worlds: The narrative blurs life and death. Koyasu feels “alive” to Mrs. Soeda during their talks, and the narrator senses his presence as a physical reality, not just memory.
  • The safe (code 491): Symbolizes hidden knowledge and orderly transmission of legacy. Its successful opening proves the dream was real and that Koyasu’s spirit remains active.
  • Unspoken knowledge: The fact that no one says “the late Mr. Koyasu” suggests a collective, unacknowledged awareness that his presence endures.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter is the linchpin for the entire library subplot. It retroactively explains the narrator’s unexplained hiring and establishes the supernatural rules of the story. More importantly, it deepens the novel’s meditation on how the dead continue to influence the living. Koyasu’s ghost is not a vengeful spirit but a careful administrator. The chapter also cements Mrs. Soeda as a major figure—someone who sees beyond ordinary reality and acts as a custodian of both the library and its hidden history.

Study Questions and Answers

  1. Why does Mr. Koyasu choose to appear to Mrs. Soeda in a dream rather than directly?

    • He wants to deliver crucial information without frightening her. Appearing in a dream allows her to remain calm and receptive. He also needs to test whether she will believe him and follow instructions before revealing his ability to appear in daylight.

  2. What does the safe combination 491 signify in the context of the chapter?

    • The number itself is not explained, but it functions as a key that unlocks not only a physical safe but also the trust needed to move forward. Its precise recall—remembered even by a ghost—emphasizes Koyasu’s meticulous planning and the reliability of his instructions.

  3. How does the narrator react to learning he was chosen by a ghost?

    • He accepts the revelation with quiet wonder rather than shock. His final thoughts—wondering if Mr. Koyasu is currently in the room—show he is open to the supernatural. This reaction aligns with his character’s overall acceptance of uncertain boundaries between worlds.

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