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Japan had always been a country with rigid class divisions, and with its culture of tight-knit circles so prevalent, it was difficult—more than ordinarily difficult—for people in the middle class to break into upper-class circles...
Forget the middle class trying to enter high society—even after moving house, fitting into the social circle among one's neighbors required skill. For example, you had to bring a housewarming gift, or rather, a greeting gift. And there was an art to gift-giving too: too expensive, and people said you were showing off; too cheap, and they said you were stingy. That was one reason why most Japanese people were reluctant to move.
Trying to enter a social circle was truly a headache.
Don't think this was an exaggeration. Moving was nothing; even socializing after having a child took effort. Trying to casually join the little circles formed among new mothers...
All one could say was, heh heh!
The park made its entrance! This was a problem every new mother had to face. Of course, except for social butterflies. If you weren't one, then you could only watch your child get bullied by other children. If a new mother wanted to step in and help, the group of new mothers who had already formed their little circle would tell her, "Your XX did this and that. If it weren't for XX..."
If she happened to be bad with words, she would definitely be argued into questioning her entire life. Not just those who were inarticulate—even the girls in the Service Club could only swallow it when facing such a situation alone.
Adults could endure it, but what about children? Obedient children could endure it too, but because they yielded too much, they would instead be bullied by those bratty kids who banded together, then