Nagasawa Character Analysis in Norwegian Wood

One of Toru’s dormmates and friends in Tokyo. A serious student and an even more serious womanizer, Nagasawa is smooth, slick, and charming. Though he has lofty dreams of a future in the Foreign Ministry and a lucrative career, Nagasawa struggles to be a decent human being, viewing his weekly exploits picking up women as a kind of game while ignoring or actively hurting his loyal, sweet girlfriend, Hatsumi. Nagasawa is brilliant and studies several languages at once—he is determined to prove himself through his intellect, succeed wildly in his career and in money-making, and go on to bigger and better things. Nagasawa is Toru’s polar opposite in that he participates, perhaps, too much in the world—his constant seductions, obsessive study habits, and intense but mainstream visions of success make him seem, very often, like a hamster on a wheel, unable to rest for even one second as he pursues some invisible, perhaps unreachable goal.

Nagasawa Character Timeline in Norwegian Wood

The timeline below shows where the character Nagasawa appears in Norwegian Wood. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Truth, Lies, and Communication Theme Icon

...several times. One day, while reading Gatsby in the dining hall, Toru is approached by Nagasawa, an older student who lives in his dormitory. Nagasawa is studying law at the prestigious... (full context)

As Toru and Nagasawa become closer, Toru finds himself conflicted. Nagasawa is charming and fun, but also has a... (full context)

Memory, Nostalgia, and Regret Theme Icon

Death, Suicide, Grief, and Existentialism Theme Icon

...letter, but sending it only makes him feel worse. He tries to go out with Nagasawa to pick up some girls, but even as he sleeps with multiple women each weekend,... (full context)

Later that afternoon, Toru goes to Nagasawa’s room to return a book. The two of them eat in the dining hall, and... (full context)

That Saturday, Nagasawa comes to Toru’s room and invites him out on the town. The two of them... (full context)

...lot of questions about school and Tokyo, and Toru tells her about his friendship with Nagasawa—and Nagasawa’s serial pursuit of women. Naoko says he sounds like a “sick” person. Toru tries... (full context)

...the hospital for stitches. As he wanders home in a daze, he decides to visit Nagasawa. Nagasawa tells Toru that he’s passed a major Foreign Ministry entrance exam and suggests the... (full context)

On Saturday, Toru joins Nagasawa and Hatsumi at a fancy French restaurant. The three of them eat and drink lavishly,... (full context)

...If he really loves his girlfriend, she says, he should be able to control himself. Nagasawa interrupts and tells Hatsumi she simply doesn’t understand the sexual needs of men. Hatsumi demands... (full context)

...of them don’t speak much more except about the food. Just before the check comes, Nagasawa tries to bring the discussion up again and defend himself, but Hatsumi shouts at him,... (full context)

Nagasawa’s cab drives away, and Toru hails one for himself and Hatsumi. He asks if she... (full context)

...into tears in the middle of the restaurant thinking about how, just four years after Nagasawa left Tokyo, she killed herself, slashing her wrists with a razor blade. Nagasawa wrote to... (full context)

...As she changes Toru’s bandage, she asks him what he thinks she should do about Nagasawa. Toru, answering honestly, tells Hatsumi she should leave him and find someone better. Staying with... (full context)

Hatsumi admits that she doesn’t think she’ll ever leave Nagasawa—all she wants is to be a wife and mother and doesn’t feel able to do... (full context)

...her about the cut on his hand and about the disastrous evening with Hatsumi and Nagasawa. As he writes about shooting pool with Hatsumi, he finds himself writing about the afternoon... (full context)

...going on with her and where she is. A few days later, he bumps into Nagasawa in the dining hall. Nagasawa apologizes for his behavior at dinner and tells Toru that... (full context)

...new apartment in a more upscale neighborhood along with Momoko. He avoids going out with Nagasawa—Hatsumi’s words got to him, and he is trying to be loyal to Naoko. (full context)

...of April and spends most of the month alone. He doesn’t hear from Naoko or Nagasawa, either, and he even starts to miss his old roommate, Storm Trooper. As May arrives,... (full context)