Dr. Saito Character Analysis in An Artist of the Floating World

An art professor with a good social status, Dr. Saito is a confident, pleasant man. Ono believes he met Dr. Saito before the war and that Dr. Saito knows his work, but Setsuko tells Ono that Taro does not think Dr. Saito was acquainted with Ono’s work or that the two older men had met. Ono’s depiction of himself as a prominent artist is called into question by Setsuko’s claim that Dr. Saito was not familiar with his work.

Dr. Saito Character Timeline in An Artist of the Floating World

The timeline below shows where the character Dr. Saito appears in An Artist of the Floating World. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Memory, Self-Perception, and Self-Deception Theme Icon

...giving Kuroda any thought if his name had not come up when he ran into Dr. Saito last month when he took Ichiro to the monster movie. On that day, Noriko and... (full context)

Family Reputation, Family Secrets, and Familial Loss Theme Icon

On the tram, Ono and Ichiro run into Dr. Saito , the father of Taro, the man with whom Noriko is in marriage negotiations. Ono... (full context)

A little before his tram stop, Dr. Saito tells Ono that they have a mutual acquaintance: a Mr. Kuroda. Dr. Saito says that... (full context)

...says that his Aunt Noriko would have been terrified. Ono mentions that they ran into Dr. Saito and that Dr. Saito had met Kuroda. He notices his daughters exchange a glance and... (full context)

...agrees that the war has interrupted the normal course of Noriko’s life. Setsuko brings up Dr. Saito , and then Dr. Saito’s acquaintance with Kuroda. She says she remembers when Kuroda used... (full context)

Dr. Saito is very good at creating a relaxed atmosphere. At one point, he raises the question... (full context)

Dr. Saito asks Ono whether he sides with Mrs. Saito and Taro in believing his attitude towards... (full context)

Dr. Saito brings up Kuroda, explaining that his younger son Mitsuo studies at the Uemachi College. Ono... (full context)

...career was a negative influence, and Kuroda is likely one of these people. Ono thinks Dr. Saito is watching him carefully, as a teacher watches a pupil. Ono continues, saying that he... (full context)

Ono remembers the first time he met Dr. Saito clearly. It was sixteen year ago, the day after he moved into his house. Ono... (full context)

...the main room. He says to Taro that it is a shame that he and Dr. Saito didn’t get to know each other well until the marriage negotiations, since they were both... (full context)

...puzzled by Ono’s behavior at the miai. Ono says he was under the impression that Dr. Saito appreciated what he said during the miai. He says that Dr. Saito had followed his... (full context)