Character Analysis
(Avoiding Spoilers)
Living... in a sleek, modern apartment in 2010s Tokyo with his wife Oto. Yusuke's life is easy and comfortable until it is upended by revelations of his wife's infidelity. Two years after Oto's unexpected passing, Yusuke now resides in a seaside home in Hiroshima, where he is driven to and from his job in a distinct red Saab 900.
Visiting... Hokkaido. A chain of events will transport Yusuke on a road adventure from the port city of Hiroshima to the snowy vistas of Japan's northernmost island, where new discoveries and emotional confrontations await.
Profession... theater director and actor. Yusuke is known in Japan for his multilingual plays, in which the actors speak in their native languages. For example, one character may speak their line in English, and someone else responds in Chinese. When he was in Tokyo, Yusuke was busy acting in an adaptation of Waiting for Godot. In Hiroshima, Yusuke is spearheading his multilingual version of Chekhov's Uncle Vanya, where he recruits various actors, including a mute woman who uses sign language and a man who may or may not have certain connections to his past...
Interests... the theater. Yusuke has devoted his life to the theater; every day to and from work he listens to narrated plays inside his car. He can also speak multiple languages, as would be suggested by the multilingual plays he directs.
Relationship Status... widower, currently single. After having been happily married to Oto, Yusuke became a widower when Oto died of a brain hemorrhage. Two years later, Yusuke is still single, but Misaki - his chauffeur - might bring with her the promise of something new.
Challenge... coming to terms with Oto's infidelity and death. Yusuke was affected deeply by the one-two punch of finding his wife sleeping with another man, then suddenly becoming a widower. As he puts it, "We needed each other to get through life." In Hiroshima, Yusuke will have to confront his inner demons and make peace.
Personality... kind and reserved. As a theater director and actor, Yusuke must have a positive relationship with his team. After the tragic events involving his wife, he has become quieter and more cautious; he isn't rushing to find someone else.
