Ant Allegory
Ants are shown as an allegory of advanced human civilization in the Insect Study of Ants. The narrator describes ants' system in a human form to show a sort of possible human utopia if human were to follow that system.
Motif of nature
Nature is used to show human relationship with it. Nature is seen as a living being as well, it is pure but wise just like Aoyagi from The Story of Aoyagi. Horai is a pure natural place but it was tainted by the West, it was tainted by the toxic hand of civilization. Seeing a Hi-Mawari which is a sunflower takes the narrator back to his most pure state of childhood.
Cherry-Tree symbol
The Cherry-Tree is shown as a symbol of sacrifice. In the story Ubazakura a milk-nurse sacrifices her life for a girl she loved as her own daughter and because of the promise she made if her wish comes true a cherry-tree was planted. In the story Jiu-Roku Zakura an old man sacrifices his life for his old cherry tree and his soul enters the tree making it bloom again every year on the same day.
Bell symbolism
Bell symbolizes the connection to the spiritual world. In the story Of a Mirror and a Bell the bell can be seen to symbolize faith because when people are hopeless they turn to faith and hope for some other-worldly solution to their problems.
