Shigeko Ito is the author of the new memoir The Pond Beyond the Forest: Reflections on Childhood Trauma and Motherhood. Also an educator, she lives in Seattle.
Q: Why did you decide to write this memoir?
A: It took me a lifetime to figure out what I know now—especially regarding the lasting effects of unmetabolized childhood trauma—and I wanted to pass that on to others. Had I known it much earlier, I could have spared myself unnecessary pain and suffering.
I finally have the language and framework to talk about things that long remained elusive and puzzling.
Q: How was the book’s title chosen, and what does it signify for you?
A: My earliest title was Motherless Daughter's Journey, but my memoir teacher pointed out that it's been overused. I then came up with Out of the Mud, inspired by my Prologue Fish Dream.
However, when I consulted with a literary agent, she felt it wasn't evocative enough. After I explained the Fish Dream, she suggested The Pond Beyond the Forest.
In my mind, the Prologue encapsulates my hero's journey in the simplest way possible, and the title captures the sense of transformation and discovery after the journey.
Q: The writer Theo Pauline Nestor said, “In turns hilarious and poignant, this memoir is so real.” What do you think of that description, and how did you balance humor and poignancy as you wrote your memoir?
A: I have a quirky sense of humor that finds absurdity in the most serious situations. Maybe I developed it as a defense or coping mechanism, but it helps me not to take myself too seriously. It doesn't always work, but it often helps me dig myself out of the rabbit hole.
Q: What impact did it have on you to write the book, and what do you hope people take away from it?
A: Writing this book helped me cultivate a habit of introspection and deep reflection on my life events, allowing me to live more deeply.
Revisiting my past wounds with the perspective of an ethnographer—drawing on my academic background—enabled me to reprocess those experiences in a way that promoted genuine healing. It's been tremendously liberating (unshackled from the past) and cathartic.
My hope is that readers will see the value of self-examination and recognize that, with self-awareness, it's possible to find meaning and growth even in painful memories.
I want to encourage others to be compassionate and curious about their own stories, and discover pathways toward healing and personal transformation.
Q: What are you working on now?
A: Right now, I'm focusing on publicity and marketing for my memoir, which is a new and exciting challenge in itself. I've also recently joined Toastmasters to become more comfortable with public speaking, so I'd say my current project is developing confidence in my skills as a speaker and sharing my story with new audiences.
--Interview with Deborah Kalb
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