Does Jiro 's son 's age have anything to do with his employment ?
Etsuko – main protagonist ; middle - aged Japanese woman Keiko – Etsuko 's elder daughter who commits suicide Niki – Etsuko 's second daughter , by her English husband Sachiko – woman known to Etsuko , and , possibly , a third person on whom Etsuko projects bad memories , thoughts , and events Mariko – Sachiko 's daughter , and , possibly , a representation of Etsuko 's daughter , Keiko Jiro – Etsuko 's first husband Ogata - san – Jiro 's father Frank – man that Sachiko was going to America with Mrs. Fujiwara – the owner of noodle shop who gave Sachiko a job Hanada – Jiro 's friend who threatened his wife with a golf club Shigeo Matsuda – a student in Ogata - san 's class