The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle Characters

Yamamoto is the leader of Mamiya’s squad. He is an intelligent and courageous man who is carrying confidential information. The Russian and the Mongolian forces capture Yamamoto and skin him alive in front of Mamiya. Despite the intense pain of the procedure, Yamamoto never reveals the secret information.

Kumiko’s father is a well-educated and wealthy man with radically conservative political views. His son, Noboru, who is his favorite child, inherits his views. Kumiko’s father is constantly concerned with his family’s public image and will do anything to protect it.

Like Kumiko’s father, Kumiko’s mother cares more about her family’s public image than anything else. She also favors Noboru over her other children, though she is quite hard on him.

Kumiko’s grandmother is an elderly woman who raised Kumiko for much of Kumiko’s life. Notably, Kumiko’s grandmother hated Kumiko’s mother, which caused problems when Kumiko grew older. When Kumiko’s grandmother learns that Kumiko plans to return to Tokyo to live with her parents, she becomes mean and abusive.

The shadow man is a figure in Toru’s dreams whom Toru bludgeons to death. Noboru suddenly collapses in the street after Toru kills the man in his dreams, leading Toru to suspect that the shadow man is an alternate version of Noboru.

The man with no face is a seemingly benevolent figure who repeatedly appears in Toru’s dreams. He helps guide Toru around the hotel and keeps him safe.

Toru’s uncle is a kind, affluent man who does everything he can to support Toru emotionally and financially.

Nutmeg’s husband is a fashion designer. He and Nutmeg fell deeply in love, which resulted in their marriage and the birth of Cinnamon. He is murdered under mysterious circumstances.

Nutmeg’s father was a veterinarian in Manchuria who, during the war, witnessed the horrific massacre of the animals who lived at the zoo he worked at. The event traumatized him and made him question the meaning of life.

Not much is known about Kumiko’s sister except that she dies by suicide at a young age. Kumiko suspects that Noboru somehow caused her sister’s suicide through his corrupting influence.

Ichikawa is an old man who lives in Toru’s neighborhood and works in real estate. Toru goes to him for advice about the Miyawaki residence.

Ushikawa is a shady man whom Noboru hires to deal with Toru. Ushikawa tries to convince Toru to grant Kumiko a divorce.

The waiter is a mysterious figure who appears in Toru’s dreams. The man with no face warns Toru that the waiter is not what he seems.

Yoshitaka is Noboru and Kumiko’s uncle. He writes a book on Japanese politics and the actions of Kanji Ishiwara, which Toru reads.

Kanji Ishiwara is a real historical figure who is known for triggering a war with Manchuria.

Nikolai is a cartographer Mamiya meets while in prison. Nikolai warns him to stay away from Boris.

The Tartar is Boris’s favorite bodyguard; he is exceptionally imposing.

The Miyawakis were the former owners of the house with the dry well in Toru’s neighborhood.

Hamano is a member of Mamiya’s squad whom the Mongolians kill.