Kazu Character Analysis in Pachinko

Kazu is Solomon’s boss at Travis Brothers investment bank. He was educated in the United States and adopts a fraternity boy persona. He takes Solomon under his wing, inviting him to exclusive poker games, and encourages him not to settle for being mediocre. After he takes Solomon aboard an important real estate deal, he seeks Solomon’s help in dealing with a stubborn holdout, an elderly Korean woman who doesn’t want to sell her property to his Japanese client. After Solomon enlists Goro’s help, the woman dies of a heart attack a few days later, and Kazu fires Solomon, saying the transaction has been tainted by yakuza involvement.

Kazu Character Timeline in Pachinko

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

Solomon regularly plays poker with his boss, Kazu, and some other guys from work. One night after a game, Kazu has a talk... (full context)

Imperialism, Resistance, and Compromise Theme Icon

Identity, Blood, and Contamination Theme Icon

Kazu goes on to explain to Solomon that there’s nothing worse than knowing you’re just like... (full context)

...last of these is an old woman who won’t be bought out. After the meeting, Kazu asks Solomon to go for a drive with him. They drive to the woman’s house... (full context)

...thinks the lady will sell her property to him, and then he’ll sell it to Kazu’s client for the same price. Solomon excitedly tells Kazu the news, and Kazu is pleased... (full context)

Love, Motherhood, and Women’s Choices Theme Icon

...can’t concentrate. He wonders what would have happened if Hana had never run away. Suddenly Kazu comes into his office and tells him, “She’s dead.” Solomon is confused at first, thinking... (full context)

Solomon says that Kazu has no proof of any wrongdoing and that Goro has always been generous toward elderly... (full context)

Kazu tells Solomon that he isn’t being discriminated against, “something that Koreans tend to believe”; he... (full context)

...hesitation and assures him that he had nothing to do with her death, and that Kazu was just using Solomon for his Korean connections. (full context)

...almost “unruffled” by the news of Solomon’s firing. She tells Solomon that she’d never liked Kazu’s phony, fraternity boy act. Solomon thinks she’s just prejudiced against the Japanese. Phoebe asks if... (full context)