After reading Lian Hearn's first novel about Takeo and
Kaede, I had to look these names up on BtN. I found
Kaede but not Takeo. But I believe the author has used real Japanese names, b/c I found many others (
Takeshi,
Shiro,
Naomi,
Yuki).
I've read that there is a Japanese name Takao meaning "noble". Maybe Takeo and Takao is the same name?
In the book, Takeo's original name is Tomasu. Which of course is a form of the
Christian Thomas.
"You sought a flower and found a fruit. You sought a spring and found a sea. You sought a woman and found a soul. You are disappointed."
"It does not become me to make myself smaller than I am." (
Edith Södergran 1891-1923)