Megumi Naomi Nakane
Naomi is the main character and narrator of the novel. She is a grade school teacher in based in Cecil, Alberta in Canada. Like many Japanese-Canadian migrants of her generation she is diminutive and self-depreciating. She does most of the narrations as she is the main character but she says virtually nothing about herself.
Obasan Ayako Nakane
Obasan is the venerable and venerated grand old lady of the Nakane household. She is famed for her wisdom, her loving regard for her family, and ironically, for her silence.
Aunt Emily Kato
Aunt Emily is the polar opposite of Obasan Ayako. Unlike her more pacifistic relatives, she is a whirlwind of talk and activism, fighting to spread knowledge about the plight of the Nisei, or second-generation Japanese migrants, who are ashamed of their Japanese heritage and do their best to discard it. All her bluster and loud protests however are just a means to cover up hurt from what she believes to be a loss of her identity.
Stephen Nakane
Stephen is Naomi’s older brother. He is a musical prodigy and is a typical Nisei who wants nothing to do with his Japanese heritage. He rejects his Japanese heritage not because he hates it but because he experiences discrimination as a result of it. Fortunately for him his musical talents earns him the respect and admiration of his peers allowing him to integrate more successfully into mainstream Canadian society that his sister.
Uncle Isamu/”Uncle Sam”
Uncle Isamu, whom they lovingly dub “Uncle Sam,” is their eternally optimistic uncle. Nothing seems to ever get the man down for very long. He passes away not too long into the novel but his legacy of unflappability in the midst of trials becomes the stuff of legend. He is a fisherman and Boatwright by trade but he is forbidden to practice his craft when he gets to Canada.
K. Nakane/Mother
K. Nakane is Naomi’s beautiful, gentle, exceedingly soft-spoken mother, at least in Naomi's mind. She is typical of Japanese women of her generation. Ironically her high regard of her mother is drawn mostly from hazy memories of her as she had died from injuries received during the bombing of Hiroshima.
Tadashi “Mark” Nakane
Tasashi is Naomi’s father. He is emotionally distant from her and silently favors his son over her, largely because of his son’s skill in music; despite this however he is still a positive influence in her life as Tadashi actively encourages her to keep reading and studying. This constant encouragement/pressure may explain why Naomi ended up becoming a teacher.
