Sawako (played by Hikari Mitsushima) is a protagonist in Sawako Decides.
A 23-year-old woman living in Tokyo, Sawako has moved through several part-time jobs and boyfriends since leaving high school. She returns to her hometown with Kenichi and his daughter after her father becomes seriously ill, and must decide what to do with the family clam-packing company and her future. Kenichi (played by Masashi Endô) appears in Sawako Decides.
A second-rate designer at the toy company where Sawako works, Kenichi is a single father to a four-year-old daughter. He presses Sawako to marry him and, after losing his job, persuades her to return to her hometown, bringing himself and his daughter along. Tadao (played by Kotaro Shiga) appears in Sawako Decides.
Tadao is Sawako's father and the owner of a failing freshwater clam-packing company in her hometown. Seriously ill with cirrhosis of the liver, he wants Sawako to return and take over the business, making his condition the reason she is called home. Nobuo (played by Ryo Iwamatsu) appears in Sawako Decides.
Nobuo is Sawako's uncle. He repeatedly phones her in Tokyo to ask her to return to their hometown because her father is dying and wants her to take over the family clam-packing company. His calls help set Sawako's return in motion. Yoshio (played by Ryu Morioka) appears in Sawako Decides.
Yoshio was Sawako's high school tennis club captain. Five years before the events of the story, Sawako ran away from home with him. Her past departure remains a source of resentment among the women in her hometown when she returns.
Sawako Decides (2010) character relationship network mapped with AI analysis. Explore the connections, alliances, and conflicts between characters.
Characters
Sawako
(played by Hikari Mitsushima) — protagonist
A 23-year-old woman living in Tokyo, Sawako has moved through several part-time jobs and boyfriends since leaving high school. She returns to her hometown with Kenichi and his daughter after her fathe...
Kenichi
(played by Masashi Endô) — supporting
A second-rate designer at the toy company where Sawako works, Kenichi is a single father to a four-year-old daughter. He presses Sawako to marry him and, after losing his job, persuades her to return...
Tadao
(played by Kotaro Shiga) — supporting
Tadao is Sawako's father and the owner of a failing freshwater clam-packing company in her hometown. Seriously ill with cirrhosis of the liver, he wants Sawako to return and take over the business, ma...
Nobuo
(played by Ryo Iwamatsu) — supporting
Nobuo is Sawako's uncle. He repeatedly phones her in Tokyo to ask her to return to their hometown because her father is dying and wants her to take over the family clam-packing company. His calls help...
Yoshio
(played by Ryu Morioka) — supporting
Yoshio was Sawako's high school tennis club captain. Five years before the events of the story, Sawako ran away from home with him. Her past departure remains a source of resentment among the women in...
Canonical Relationships
Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.
Nobuo → Tadao
(Family Supporter)
Nobuo repeatedly contacts Sawako because Tadao is dying and wants her to return home.
Sawako → Yoshio
(Romantic Former Elopement Partner)
The hometown women scorn Sawako because she ran away five years earlier with her high school tennis club captain, Yoshio.
Sawako → Nobuo
(Family Uncle-Niece)
Nobuo is Sawako's uncle and repeatedly phones her, asking her to return home.
Sawako → Tadao
(Family Daughter)
Tadao is identified as Sawako's father, and he wants her to return home because he is dying from cirrhosis of the liver.
Sawako → Kenichi
(Romantic Boyfriend)
Kenichi is Sawako's fifth boyfriend, and he repeatedly pressures her to marry him.
Story Analysis
Sawako returns to her hometown and must choose between family duty, romantic expectations, and the uncertain identity she has built away from home.
