Memoirs of a Geisha Character Analysis

Sayuri Nitta / Chiyo Sakamoto

The novel’s narrator and protagonist, Sayuri tells the story of how she went from a poor fisherman’s daughter named Chiyo Sakamoto to become Sayuri Nitta, one of Kyoto’s premier geisha. With her piercing blue-grey eyes… read analysis of Sayuri Nitta / Chiyo Sakamoto

Toshikazu Nobu

A man in love with Sayuri, Nobu spends much of the novel trying to get Sayuri to become his personal geisha. Injured from his time in the military, Nobu is missing an arm and… read analysis of Toshikazu Nobu

Chairman Ken Iwamura

Referred to as simply “the Chairman” for most of the novel, Ken Iwamura is the gentle, dignified, and kind love interest of Sayuri. While most people in Kyoto would pay no attention to a… read analysis of Chairman Ken Iwamura

Hatsumomo

The novel’s antagonist, Hatsumomo is the most beautiful and the cruelest geisha in the book. Though she hides her cruel nature from the men she entertains, Hatsumomo insults or sabotages anyone she dislikes. Jealous of… read analysis of Hatsumomo

Mameha

Mentor to Sayuri and Hatsumomo’s chief rival in Kyoto, Mameha is a kind but cunning geisha. She takes Sayuri under her wing as a favor to the Chairman, and provides guidance to Sayuri on… read analysis of Mameha

Pumpkin

Nicknamed “Pumpkin” by Sayuri because of her round head, Pumpkin grows up with Sayuri in the okiya. Compassionate but a little slow-witted, Pumpkin struggles to make it as a geisha. With Hatsumomo as her… read analysis of Pumpkin

Mother/Ms. Nitta

Greedy and completely self-serving, Mother runs the okiya where Sayuri, Hatsumomo, and Pumpkin live. She only cares about the people in the okiya as much as they can help her make money. Mother… read analysis of Mother/Ms. Nitta

Satsu Sakamoto

Sayuri’s beloved older sister. Since Satsu is not as pretty or as clever as Sayuri, Mr. Tanaka sells her to a brothel instead of an okiya. Satsu despises life as a prostitute, so she… read analysis of Satsu Sakamoto

The Baron

Mameha’s wealthy and aristocratic patron who bids against Dr. Crab for Sayuri’s virginity. A drunk and an uncaring man, he forces Sayuri to undress in front of him so that he can pleasure himself while… read analysis of The Baron

Noritaka Sato

The ugly, dim-witted Deputy Minister who uses his influence to reverse the American government’s decision to strip the Chairman and Nobu’s company of its assets. Since Nobu finds Sato detestable, Sayuri sleeps with him in… read analysis of Noritaka Sato

Minor Characters

Auntie

The most senior maid at the okiya, Auntie is a failed geisha who cares for Pumpkin and Sayuri, providing them with advice on how to survive Hatsumomo’s cruelty and Mother’s penny-pinching greediness. Granny adopted Auntie and Mother, raising them in the okiya.

Ichiro Tanaka

The wealthiest man in Sayuri’s home village, Mr. Tanaka is an eloquent and naively altruistic man. Thinking he is saving Sayuri and Satsu from a life of poverty, he convinces their father to sell the girls to an okiya and a brothel, respectively.

Dr. Crab

Nicknamed “Dr. Crab” by Sayuri because of his crablike appearance, Dr. Crab is a dry, emotionless doctor who pays a record amount to take Sayuri’s virginity.

Granny

The elderly, mean-spirited owner of the okiya who raised Mother and Auntie. Granny dies early in the novel after being electrocuted by her electric heater.

Minoru Sakamoto

Sayuri’s emotionally negligent father who sells her and her sister Satsu to Mr. Tanaka. A poor fisherman, Sakamoto has a lot of wood in his personality, meaning that he is slow and methodical in his ways.

Mrs. Sakamoto

An unnamed character, Sayuri’s mother develops a sickness at the beginning of that confines her to bed. Like Sayuri, Mrs. Sakamoto has a lot of water in her personality. Sayuri also inherited her mother’s blue-grey eyes.

Korin

Hatsumomo’s only friend, Korin is as mean but not as beautiful as Hatsumomo. She dies during the war when the Americans bomb the factory at which she works.

General Junnosuke Tottori

The potbellied man that Sayuri sleeps with twice a week in exchange for extra rations for the okiya during the war years. Nobu thinks Sayuri dishonors herself by sleeping with such a lowly man.

Jakob Haarhuis

The novel’s fictional translator who records and translates Sayuri’s story in New York City during the early nineties.

Kuniko Tanaka

The mischievous daughter of Mr. Tanaka, who takes Chiyo to spy on Mr. Tanaka when he visits a teahouse.

Ms. Fidget

The woman who examines Sayuri and Satsu at the beginning of the novel to determine if they are fit to become geisha.

Shojiro

Hatsumomo’s most loyal client, Shojiro is the Kabuki actor who makes Hatsumomo jealous by flirting with Mameha.

Mr. Bekku

The curt man who transports Satsu and Sayuri to Kyoto.

Miyagiyama

The famous sumo wrestler who uses his opponents’ own force to unbalance them.

Arashino

The kimono maker who gives Sayuri a place to live during the war years as a favor to his friend Nobu.

Mr. Itchoda

Mameha’s tightlipped dresser who accompanies Sayuri to the Baron’s party.

Takazuru

The young apprentice who asks Sayuri for help to make Nobu like her more.

Minoru Nishioka

The man whom the Chairman hopes will marry his oldest daughter and inherit the business.

The Sugi Boy

Satsu’s boyfriend.