IIR document
The Diving Pool Yoko Ogawa.pdf 1 Jun 2026
Number: 0754
Author(s) : GAGAN J., PAWLUCZUK A., LUKASZUK M., SMIERCIEW K., BUTRYMOWICZ D., MADEJ M., MASTROWSKIE M.
For anyone reading a PDF copy, Part 1 introduces the novella’s central triad: Aya (the observer/perpetrator), the orphanage (the stage), and Hisako (the object of obsession). Ogawa deliberately withholds violence in Part 1, instead flooding the text with sensory details—the smell of chlorine, the coldness of the tiles, the sound of Hisako’s tiny footsteps. This sensory overload is a trap. By the end of Part 1, the reader feels both the oppressive heat of summer and the cold dread of what Aya is planning.
Ogawa’s novella is a masterclass in minimalist psychological horror. Let’s explore its core themes.
: She is captivated by the precision of his movements and the "ripples" he creates, representing her deep, quiet, and somewhat distorted longing for him.
Yoko Ogawa's The Diving Pool is a collection of three novellas— The Diving Pool , Pregnancy Diary , and Dormitory —that explore themes of obsession, isolation, and domestic cruelty. The narratives are noted for their detached, clinical prose that masks profound psychological darkness and surreal decay. For a detailed overview of the stories and themes, visit 746 Books . Yoko Ogawa's The Diving Pool: Three Novellas
The novella centers on three interlinked obsessions of Aya’s:
Page 1. The quiet kind of horror begins.
#ReadingCommunity #HorrorBooks #YokoOgawa
This public link is valid for 7 days and shares a thread, including any personal information you added. This link or copies made by others cannot be deleted. If you share with third parties, their policies apply. Can’t copy the link right now. Try again later.
By approaching "The Diving Pool" with these features and tips in mind, you'll be well-equipped to engage with the novella's complex themes, characters, and atmosphere, and to gain a deeper understanding of Ogawa's thought-provoking work.
Jun is the object of Aya’s gaze. She never speaks to him meaningfully; she only watches. His swimming becomes a silent performance for her alone. Ogawa inverts the typical male-gaze theory: here, a teenage girl objectifies a younger boy, reducing him to a body in water. Yet the power is not sexual in a celebratory way—it is predatory and possessive. When Jun’s body moves through the water, Aya experiences not desire but a cold sense of ownership.
The novella is narrated by a teenage girl named Aya, who lives in a peculiar yet opulent setting: a home for orphaned children run by her parents. The centerpiece of this home is a pristine, blue diving pool—one that Aya has never seen anyone dive into. The story explores themes of jealousy, suppressed violence, religious ritual, and the distortion of love.
Available documents
Format PDF
Pages: 9 p.
Available
Public price
20 €
Member price*
Free
* Best rate depending on membership category (see the detailed benefits of individual and corporate memberships).
Details
- Original title: Experimental results of ejector refrigeration system with R1233zde operating under real industrial conditions.
- Record ID : 30031662
- Languages: English
- Subject: Technology
- Source: Proceedings of the 26th IIR International Congress of Refrigeration: Paris , France, August 21-25, 2023.
- Publication date: 2023/08/21
- DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.18462/iir.icr.2023.0754
Links
See other articles from the proceedings (491)
See the conference proceedings
Indexing
The Diving Pool Yoko Ogawa.pdf 1 Jun 2026
For anyone reading a PDF copy, Part 1 introduces the novella’s central triad: Aya (the observer/perpetrator), the orphanage (the stage), and Hisako (the object of obsession). Ogawa deliberately withholds violence in Part 1, instead flooding the text with sensory details—the smell of chlorine, the coldness of the tiles, the sound of Hisako’s tiny footsteps. This sensory overload is a trap. By the end of Part 1, the reader feels both the oppressive heat of summer and the cold dread of what Aya is planning.
Ogawa’s novella is a masterclass in minimalist psychological horror. Let’s explore its core themes.
: She is captivated by the precision of his movements and the "ripples" he creates, representing her deep, quiet, and somewhat distorted longing for him. The Diving Pool Yoko Ogawa.pdf 1
Yoko Ogawa's The Diving Pool is a collection of three novellas— The Diving Pool , Pregnancy Diary , and Dormitory —that explore themes of obsession, isolation, and domestic cruelty. The narratives are noted for their detached, clinical prose that masks profound psychological darkness and surreal decay. For a detailed overview of the stories and themes, visit 746 Books . Yoko Ogawa's The Diving Pool: Three Novellas
The novella centers on three interlinked obsessions of Aya’s: For anyone reading a PDF copy, Part 1
Page 1. The quiet kind of horror begins.
#ReadingCommunity #HorrorBooks #YokoOgawa By the end of Part 1, the reader
This public link is valid for 7 days and shares a thread, including any personal information you added. This link or copies made by others cannot be deleted. If you share with third parties, their policies apply. Can’t copy the link right now. Try again later.
By approaching "The Diving Pool" with these features and tips in mind, you'll be well-equipped to engage with the novella's complex themes, characters, and atmosphere, and to gain a deeper understanding of Ogawa's thought-provoking work.
Jun is the object of Aya’s gaze. She never speaks to him meaningfully; she only watches. His swimming becomes a silent performance for her alone. Ogawa inverts the typical male-gaze theory: here, a teenage girl objectifies a younger boy, reducing him to a body in water. Yet the power is not sexual in a celebratory way—it is predatory and possessive. When Jun’s body moves through the water, Aya experiences not desire but a cold sense of ownership.
The novella is narrated by a teenage girl named Aya, who lives in a peculiar yet opulent setting: a home for orphaned children run by her parents. The centerpiece of this home is a pristine, blue diving pool—one that Aya has never seen anyone dive into. The story explores themes of jealousy, suppressed violence, religious ritual, and the distortion of love.