<![CDATA[This study aims to analyse intergenerational relationships, particularly the relationship between children and parents, as represented in Ogawa Mimei’s short story *Umi e*. The research employs a qualitative descriptive method combined with a sociological approach to literature to examine how social values and family structures shape the dynamics of the characters’ relationships. The primary data source is the text of *Umi e*, accessed through Aozora Bunko, while the data consist of narrative descriptions and dialogues that reflect interactions between the main character and his parents. The findings reveal that the short story portrays a complex intergenerational relationship characterized by differences in expectations, responsibilities, and perceptions of personal autonomy. Rather than representing a simple opposition between collectivist parental values and the child’s individual aspirations, the parents and Tatsuo are portrayed as negotiating multiple and sometimes overlapping concerns. The parents’ attitudes reflect familial responsibility, concern for their child’s future, and expectations regarding appropriate behaviour, while Tatsuo’s desire to pursue his own path does not necessarily indicate a rejection of family ties or shared values. The tension between them therefore emerges from different ways of understanding responsibility, autonomy, and the child’s future within the family relationship. This conflict reflects broader social realities in which younger and older generations negotiate changing expectations while maintaining familial bonds. Furthermore, the study shows that miscommunication and limited mutual understanding contribute significantly to familial conflict, while acceptance and dialogue create possibilities for transformation within the relationship. The sea functions symbolically as a space associated with freedom, self-discovery, uncertainty, and Tatsuo’s attempt to determine his own path. In conclusion, *Umi e* represents intergenerational relationships not as a rigid conflict between collectivism and individualism, but as a dynamic process of negotiating family obligations, personal aspirations, and changing social values. ]]>
