Yukio Mishima committed seppuku the day he finished this last book. When I read the book and his life story, I empathize with his rationale.In the book, Honda, 78-year old Judge believes that 16-year-old Toru is the third reincarnation of his dead friend, and so he adopts him. I think Toru is Mishima's 16-year-old self.
The five signs of the decay of an angel are:
1. The flowery crown withers,
2. Sweat pours from the armpits,
3. The robe is soiled,
4. They lose self-awareness, or become dissatisfied with their station, and
5. The body becomes fetid or ceases to give off light, or the eyelids tremble.
