The Sailor Who Fell from Grace with the Sea Character Analysis

Noboru Kuroda

Noboru Kuroda, an angsty, nihilistic 13-year-old schoolboy living in Yokohama, is the protagonist of the novel. Like many teenaged boys, Noboru and his gang of friends believe that human life is meaningless and that society… read analysis of Noboru Kuroda

Ryuji Tsukazaki

Ryuji Tsukazaki, the subject of the novel’s title and arguably its central character, is an eccentric, passionate 33-year-old sailor who has lived and worked on the freighter ship Rakuyo for more than a decade. At… read analysis of Ryuji Tsukazaki

Fusako Kuroda

Thirty-three-year-old Fusako Kuroda, Noboru Kuroda’s mother and Ryuji Tsukazaki’s lover, is a wealthy widow who runs her late husband’s imported luxury clothing store in Yokohama. Sophisticated, respected, and self-reliant, Fusako represents both traditional… read analysis of Fusako Kuroda

The Chief

The chief is the murderous, authoritarian, highly intelligent leader of a cultlike gang of 13-year-old schoolboys, including Noboru. At the gang’s meetings, the chief lectures the other boys about “the uselessness of Mankind [and]… read analysis of The Chief

Yoriko Kasuga

Yoriko Kasuga is a popular actress and regular customer at Fusako Kuroda’s clothing store, Rex. Fusako treats Yoriko kindly but secretly resents her because Yukio is naive and desperate for attention. In particular, Yoriko… read analysis of Yoriko Kasuga

Noboru’s Father

Noboru Kuroda’s father (and Fusako Kuroda’s husband) died five years before the events of the novel. The reader learns little about him, except that he used to own Rex, the store that Fusako… read analysis of Noboru’s Father

Minor Characters

The Housekeeper

The Kurodas’ housekeeper maintains their extravagant house and helps Fusako keep Noboru in line. She’s friendly and professional but strongheaded. The housekeeper is also highly suspicious of Ryuji when Fusako starts seeing him. She once worked for a wealthy foreign family, and she comments on their strange customs.

Number Two

“Number two” is one of the boys in the chief’s gang (along with “number one,” “number four,” “number five,” and Noboru, who is “number three”).

Mr. Shibuya

Mr. Shibuya is the loyal manager at Rex, Fusako Kuroda’s luxury store. He is an expert on elegant European clothing and has dedicated his life to selling it. He has even traveled around Europe to build contacts with major brands.

The Chauffeur

Fusako Kuroda’s chauffeur drives her to pick up Ryuji Tsukazaki when he returns for the winter.