The Sword of Kaigen

Mamoru is the oldest son of Misaki and Takeru, and chapters from his perspective alternate with those of his mother, Misaki, during the first half of the novel. He is 14 years old and is already an excellent swordsman and fighter like the men in his family. Mamoru is implied to be a perfect blend of his mother and father, possessing Takeru’s power and control and Misaki’s passion and sense of justice. 

Mamoru’s understanding of the world shatters when he meets Chul-hee and learns that the Kaigenese Empire is neither as powerful nor as rich as it claims to be and that the warrior houses are viewed as cannon fodder rather than as heroes. Mamoru’s struggle to adjust his worldview highlights the dilemma of Distinguishing True Stories from Propaganda, and he must also learn when it is appropriate to discard his obligation to obey the authority figures in his life. During the Ranganese attack, Mamoru gains strength and determination in response to the loss of his teacher, Yukino Dai, and his uncle, Takashi. Although his final feat will remain unknown to history, Mamoru becomes the youngest person to master the Whispering Blade, discovering his skill with this technique in the moments before his death. When he dies, the narrative’s focus shifts to the perspective of his mother, Misaki, and engages in broader thematic explorations of grief, trauma, and the consequences of war.

Matsuda Takeru is the second son of patriarch Susumu; he is the brother of Takashi and is married to Misaki. Though Takashi has greater brute strength and power, Takeru is considered to be the more skillful fighter. He is an accomplished swordsman and a master of the Whispering Blade technique specific to his family line. He works with the mayor of Takayubi. Takeru is cold, reserved, calculating, and rigidly controlled. He is uninterested in his children, refusing even to train Mamoru because he believes the task to be beneath him until Mamoru grows older and more skilled. He treats his wife like a doll and expects her to maintain her silence and unquestioning obedience to his will. However, he later reveals that he fears hurting her in the same way that his father abused his mother.

Though the novel primarily portrays Takeru through the perspective of Misaki, it becomes apparent that Misaki does not fully understand her husband, just as he does not understand her. The shift in their relationship in the final chapters of the novel showcases their shared need to be truthful and open with each other if they wish to heal from their grief and trauma. Moreover, Takeru’s shaken faith in the Kaigenese Empire and in his role within it highlights the issues involved in Distinguishing True Stories from Propaganda, and his initial inability to question authority is an important facet of The Tension between Obedience and Purpose.

Setsuko is the wife of Takashi; she joins the Matsuda family several years after Misaki does. Because she is a fisherman’s daughter, her marriage to the noble-born Takashi comes as something of a shock and scandal. Although she is a minor character who contributes little to the plot progression, her friendship with Misaki is vital to Misaki’s self-esteem and character development. Setsuko is the only person in the family to instinctively empathize with Misaki and perceive the joyful woman beneath Misaki’s silent, timid façade. She also helps Misaki to learn to smile and laugh again. She assures Misaki that she has value beyond her ability to bear children for the Matsuda family. Misaki explicitly states that Setsuko saves her life by believing that she is a good person even when Misaki cannot see this for herself.

Robin Thundyil is a half-Carythian, half-Disan refugee whose parents died when he was young, orphaning him and his younger brother. As a teenager, he attends Daybreak Academy, where he meets Misaki and forms the vigilante group. He is a powerful tajakalu who uses the codename Firebird. Unlike Misaki, Robin is idealistic, kind-hearted, and compassionate, even with the criminals he fights. His and Misaki’s contradictory personalities form the foundation of several intense philosophical arguments about the fundamental goodness of human nature, as they argue over when or if it is necessary to kill for the greater good. They also debate how best to have a positive impact on the world. Although Robin is a minor character who only appears in a handful of flashbacks and the final chapter, his impact on Misaki is powerfully evident throughout the narrative.

Hyori is the wife of the respected swordsman and Kumono Academy teacher, Yukino Dai. She is close friends with Misaki and Setsuko. Her son Ryota is playmates with Misaki’s son, Nagasa. Hyori is the most beautiful and delicate woman in the village. She is, noble-born and represents the perfect model of traditional Shirojima femininity. During the Ranganese attack, her son is murdered, and she is sexually assaulted by a Ranganese soldier, leading to pregnancy and the birth of a baby girl. Following this, she dies by suicide because she is unable to face the perceived shame and the inevitable ostracization that will come from bearing a child of assault. Hyori’s conflicted feelings about the baby and its father lead Misaki to the conclusion that children do not only belong to their fathers, as tradition dictates. Misaki defies the village by protecting the baby after Hyori’s death.