Character Relationship Map: Black Lizard

Characters

• Mrs. Midorikawa (played by Machiko Kyō) — protagonist

  Mrs. Midorikawa is present with Sanae when the danger surrounding her becomes central to the story. The plot summary gives no further information about her actions or her relationship to Sanae, but pl...

• Kogoro Akechi (played by Minoru Ōki) — supporting

  Kogoro Akechi is a celebrated detective whom Shobei Iwase asks to help when Sanae is threatened and taken. He works to protect her and uncover the criminal’s plans, using his ability to imagine a crim...

• Sanae Iwase (played by Junko Kano) — supporting

  Sanae Iwase is the threatened daughter of Shobei Iwase, whose plea for help brings detective Kogoro Akechi into the case. The criminal later appears to have Sanae in her power, shows her a collection...

• Shobei Iwase (played by Masao Mishima) — supporting

  Shobei Iwase is Sanae’s father. When she is threatened and taken, he turns to the celebrated detective Kogoro Akechi for help. His appeal sets Akechi’s effort to protect Sanae and investigate the crim...

• Jun Amemiya (played by Hiroshi Kawaguchi) — supporting

  Jun Amemiya is ordered by the criminal to release Sanae. Instead, he acts against the criminal, prompting her to command that he be locked away as well. His actions briefly turn the situation against...

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Shobei Iwase → Sanae Iwase (Family Father) — Shobei seeks Akechi's assistance to protect Sanae after she becomes the target of the criminal's threats.

  The plot states that Sanae's father, Shobei Iwase, turns to Kogoro Akechi for help after she is threatened and taken.

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Jun Amemiya → Mrs. Midorikawa (Conflict Subordinate Turned Opponent) — Amemiya initially receives an order from Mrs. Midorikawa but turns against her, prompting her to order his confinement.

  Mrs. Midorikawa orders Amemiya to release Sanae, but Amemiya acts against her, after which she commands that he be locked away.

• Kogoro Akechi → Sanae Iwase (Narrative Protector) — Akechi investigates the threats and takes steps to protect Sanae, though the excerpt does not establish her ultimate rescue.

  After Shobei asks Akechi for help, the plot says Akechi works to protect Sanae and uncover the criminal's plans.

• Kogoro Akechi → Mrs. Midorikawa (Conflict Mutual Fascination And Adversaries) — Akechi and Mrs. Midorikawa are drawn to one another while remaining opponents in a dangerous contest of pursuit and deception.

  The plot describes their pursuit as a battle of wits and emotional entanglement. Mrs. Midorikawa says she dreams of Akechi, and he recognizes his attr...

• Mrs. Midorikawa → Sanae Iwase (Conflict Captor And Intended Victim) — Mrs. Midorikawa threatens to turn Sanae into part of her collection and insists that nothing belonging to her is allowed to escape.

  Mrs. Midorikawa appears to have Sanae in her power, shows her stuffed human figures, and says she intends to make Sanae part of the collection.

Story Analysis

A detective's pursuit of a threatening criminal becomes entangled with mutual fascination, while Sanae's fate remains unresolved in the excerpt.

Plot Progression

1. A Threat to the Iwase Family — A feared criminal is introduced, and Sanae is threatened and taken. Shobei asks Akechi for help as the danger surrounding Sanae becomes clear.
2. The Diamond and the Pursuit — A telegram warns of another crime, and Akechi studies the criminal's way of thinking. The Egypt Star is identified as a target while security around Sanae is strengthened.
3. An Entanglement of Rivals — Akechi and Mrs. Midorikawa develop a charged fascination while their pursuit remains a battle of wits. Their attraction complicates the roles of hunter and prey.
4. The Collection's Secret — Midorikawa appears to control Sanae and reveals the horrific nature of her lifelike figures. She threatens to make Sanae part of the collection, but Amemiya acts against her.
5. A Criminal Still in Command — Midorikawa orders Amemiya locked away after his opposition. With Matsukichi's help, she regains control and rewards him, while the excerpt leaves Akechi's and Sanae's final outcomes unresolved.