Touma (played by Masaki Suda) is a protagonist in Backwater.
Touma is the central figure, a young man raised amid poverty, violence, and Madoka's destructive influence. On his seventeenth birthday, he becomes sexually involved with Kotoko and gradually recognizes that he is repeating Madoka's cruelty. Jinko, his mother, urges him to escape this inherited pattern. Kotoko (played by Yukiko Shinohara) appears in Backwater.
Kotoko works at a seaside bar and has moved in with Madoka, who regularly beats her while obsessing over her body. She becomes sexually involved with Touma and pregnant, deepening the household's destructive cycle. Her eventual departure from Madoka becomes part of the escape that Jinko supports. Detective (played by Ittoku Kishibe) appears in Backwater.
The Detective appears after Madoka's death and takes Jinko to the station for questioning about the murder. The role connects the violent household's private destruction to an official investigation, while Jinko remains determined to survive and continue her life after the confrontation. Jinko (played by Yuko Tanaka) appears in Backwater.
Jinko is Touma's mother, a fish-shop worker who lost her left hand in a wartime air raid. After suffering Madoka's violence and leaving Touma with him, she recognizes the danger facing Kotoko and urges Touma to escape. After Madoka's death, she is taken to the station for questioning. Madoka (played by Ken Mitsuishi) appears in Backwater.
Madoka is Touma's stepfather and Jinko's violent husband, a drifter who runs a shady business from their cluttered home and pursues women. He abuses Kotoko, boasts about harming women, and helps shape Touma's cruelty. His escalating threats end with his death and Jinko's questioning.
Backwater (2013) character relationship network mapped with AI analysis. Explore the connections, alliances, and conflicts between characters.
Characters
Touma
(played by Masaki Suda) — protagonist
Touma is the central figure, a young man raised amid poverty, violence, and Madoka's destructive influence. On his seventeenth birthday, he becomes sexually involved with Kotoko and gradually recogniz...
Kotoko
(played by Yukiko Shinohara) — supporting
Kotoko works at a seaside bar and has moved in with Madoka, who regularly beats her while obsessing over her body. She becomes sexually involved with Touma and pregnant, deepening the household's dest...
Detective
(played by Ittoku Kishibe) — supporting
The Detective appears after Madoka's death and takes Jinko to the station for questioning about the murder. The role connects the violent household's private destruction to an official investigation,...
Jinko
(played by Yuko Tanaka) — supporting
Jinko is Touma's mother, a fish-shop worker who lost her left hand in a wartime air raid. After suffering Madoka's violence and leaving Touma with him, she recognizes the danger facing Kotoko and urge...
Madoka
(played by Ken Mitsuishi) — supporting
Madoka is Touma's stepfather and Jinko's violent husband, a drifter who runs a shady business from their cluttered home and pursues women. He abuses Kotoko, boasts about harming women, and helps shape...
Canonical Relationships
Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.
Detective → Jinko
(Professional Investigator)
After Madoka is found dead, the Detective takes Jinko to the station for questioning about his murder.
Touma → Kotoko
(Romantic Sexual Partner)
Touma becomes sexually involved with Kotoko after she has moved in with Madoka.
Madoka → Kotoko
(Romantic Partner)
Kotoko works at a seaside bar, moves in with Madoka, and remains with him despite his abuse.
Jinko → Madoka
(Romantic Wife)
Jinko meets Madoka after working at a fish shop, and they marry.
Madoka → Touma
(Family Father)
Touma is born after Jinko's relationship with Madoka, and Jinko later fears another child carrying Madoka's blood.
Jinko → Touma
(Family Mother)
Jinko becomes pregnant with Touma, gives birth to him, and later speaks to him about escaping Madoka.
Story Dynamics
Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.
