Near the beginning of the novel, Fusako returns to her parents, taking her two children with her. She left Aihara because he was not a good husband and their marriage was very flawed. It is suggested in the novel that Aihara might have been violent. Shingo also reveals information that Aihara has started selling drugs. After discovering that Aihara attempted suicide, Fusako and Aihara officially divorce. Often, Fusako gets angry at Shingo for letting her marry someone like Aihara. In an argument, Fusako tells Shingo how her husband was a mess and therefore she is a mess. She then states, “If you didn't want it to be this way, then it would have been a very good idea for you to look into the situation before marrying me” (Kawabata 134). This shows that Shingo has failed to establish a strong marriage for his daughter and this causes tension between them, which has a negative effect on the entire family. Fusako's separation also has a powerful effect on Shingo as he now has to support himself again. Yasuko tells Shingo that she notices her "'sourly face when she comes back and you have to take care of her and those two kids'" (46). Additionally, Shingo believes that the divorce will affect his family's reputation. Additionally, the separation has a negative effect on Fusako's children. A passage explains that