The Housekeeper and the Professor

Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. Caregiving for elderly populations affects a society on both cultural and economic levels. What support systems commonly exist for the aging and elderly, and how might these systems compare around the globe? What are the concerns caregivers might experience in providing this support?

Teaching Suggestion: This question invites students to consider the role of caregiving for elderly populations in a general way; more specific topics students might discuss in connection include the repercussions of long-term care for the elderly, the medical establishment’s role, and potential governmental responsibility. The question serves as an opportunity to introduce the novel’s themes of The Nature of Family and Relationships and The Nature of Memory, as well. The discussion of support systems for elderly populations is an issue of global attention, particularly in countries where a large proportion of the population is over 65 years of age. Consequently, the role of caregiving, either through informal familial support or formalized hires, is an important topic in how to support aging populations. In the novel, which is set in Japan, the Housekeeper is hired to clean the home of the aging Professor; however, her role quickly overlaps into caregiving as she begins to support the health and well-being of the ailing intellectual. Although the Professor’s memory does not last for more than 80 minutes, the Housekeeper takes great pains to support the Professor by creating a familial atmosphere.

• The US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides an overview of statistics regarding caregiving in the US in “Caregiving for Family and Friends—A Public Health Issue” that may offer parallel ideas for discussion about the Housekeeper’s role.
• This opinion article in The Washington Post discusses what other nations might learn from Japan’s caretaking and wellness strategies for an aging population.

2. Consider the terms “memorization” and “understanding.” How are these terms similar? How are they different? Do both of these terms equate to learning? Why or why not?

Teaching Suggestion: This question invites students to focus on the ways in which recall and comprehension connect to learning. Students might brainstorm a brief response privately, then share and compare their thoughts in a small group of peers. Students also might revisit their answers as they read the novel and reflect on and make comparisons to their initial thinking. Ogawa’s novel highlights that The Nature of Memory does not necessarily indicate one’s intellectual abilities. For example, the Professor’s love of mathematics is not lost with his memory, as he uses his reasoning abilities in order to solve difficult problems. This love of mathematics transcends the traditional equations for memorization that students learn at school; the Professor introduces The Poetry of Mathematics as a new way of thinking to the Housekeeper, ultimately inspiring her to find the beauty of numbers in her day-to-day life.

• The Atlantic’s “When Memorization Gets in the Way of Learning” focuses on one teacher’s experience to reframe the way in which his students learn. (Subscription may be needed to view.)
• Smithsonian Magazine’s “How Poetry and Math Intersect” explores the connection between two seemingly different disciplines.

Short Activity

Although baseball is often associated with the US, it is one of the most popular sports in Japan. Working in small groups of 3-5, research the history of this sport in Japan. Consider the historical, political, social, and economic implications of baseball in this nation. In an informal presentation, share your findings with your classmates. Include a simple visual aid that showcases at least 3 statistical pieces of information you learned.

Teaching Suggestion: In the novel, baseball is integral to the budding friendship between the Professor and the Housekeeper’s son Root. Although the Professor has never seen a game, the two bond over baseball players’ statistics and batting averages. The progression of the Tigers baseball team’s 1992 season parallels the Housekeeper’s narrative, and different games are referenced throughout the novel. This Short Activity may be structured as an informal, in-class discussion or a team investigation followed by sharing.

• The Association of Asian Studies explores the history of America’s pastime in Japan in “Baseball in Japan and the US: History, Culture, and Future Prospects.”
• Major League Baseball (MLB) provides an overview of “Japan’s Most Influential MLB Players.”

Personal Connection Prompt

This prompt can be used for in-class discussion, exploratory free-writing, or reflection homework before reading the text.

What does it mean to be a “good” teacher? Consider an instructor that you have had in your life. What qualities or traits made them “good”? In what ways did the instructor exemplify and make the best use of these traits? Did they make you think about a certain subject in a different way? If so, how?

Teaching Suggestion: This prompt invites students to consider the role of the teacher as it relates to the theme of Philosophies of Education. The Housekeeper notes that the Professor guides Root into understanding the material by encouraging inquisitiveness and reducing any fear in asking questions. The Housekeeper also notes that the Professor focuses more on the outcome of learning, as opposed to being “right”; for him, it is the journey to understanding that is most important.

Differentiation Suggestion: For a comparative literature approach, the following question may be used instead: Consider the character of an educator from a work of literature or a film that had a profound effect, either good or bad, on students. Why is this educator influential? What qualities make this character an effective or ineffective educator?