Ayame Character Analysis in Pachinko

Ayame is the foreman of Totoyama’s uniform shop, and she manages the shop while Totoyama is dying. On Totoyama’s wishes, she marries Haruki. After Totoyama dies, Ayame sells the shop and begins taking care of Daisuke, for whom she arranges special tutoring. Ayame finds out she’s infertile after a few years, and there isn’t much intimacy in her marriage with Haruki. In her late 30s, she discovers that Haruki is sleeping with other men, and she briefly explores sex with another woman, but ultimately stays with Haruki.

Ayame Character Timeline in Pachinko

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

It’s 1974 in Yokohama, and Haruki is now married to Ayame, the foreman of his mother’s uniform shop, because it’s what Totoyama had wanted. Ayame manages... (full context)

One day while Daisuke is being tutored at home, Ayame goes to the bathhouse and then takes a shortcut home. As she walks through the... (full context)

A few days later, Ayame walks through the park again, and a girl flirts with her. Ayame returns to her... (full context)

...a boy and still thinks about it sometimes, but couldn’t do such a thing to Ayame. (full context)