The Big Wave

Jiya is Kino’s friend, who lives in the fishing village below the mountain with his father, mother, and older brother. Their house stands right by the water and, like all the other houses in the village, does not have a window facing the ocean. Jiya and his father fear and respect the ocean, knowing that it can become angry and deadly without warning. However, when his family is killed by the big wave and he comes to live on Kino’s farm, he continues to yearn for the water and his home by the sea.

Jiya is described by several characters as the “best boy” in the village. He is handsome, intelligent, and dutiful. He grows up to be kind and gentle, abhorring any kind of cruelty. Jiya’s maturation over the course of the story represents the healing process one must go through after a loss or trauma. His character is the primary example of the theme of The Power of Resilience in the narrative, and he exemplifies Kino’s father’s statement that “life is stronger than death” (52). His arc is also vital to the development of The Acceptance of Impermanence and Death, as the novel ends with Kino embracing the risks that come with living on the shore. He is the most dynamic character in the story and in some sense a more central figure than Kino himself.

Kino’s father is the voice of wisdom in the story. Prompted by Kino’s constant questions about the world, Kino’s father speaks indirectly to the reader to explain Japanese culture and philosophy. His dialogue often encapsulates the work’s themes. For instance, he argues that the Japanese people do not fear death because they live so intimately alongside danger, which contributes to the themes of resilience and impermanence.

Additionally, Kino’s father embodies The Importance of Community in Japanese culture, as he takes Jiya into his family when he is orphaned and treats him with loving care and patience while he grieves. Though he cares for Jiya like his own son, he also unselfishly allows Jiya to decide for himself if he will stay at the farm or go to live with the Old Gentleman. He humbly admits that he is poor and cannot give Jiya the kind of life the Old Gentleman can. Just as stoicism and communalism are important attributes of traditional Japanese culture, so too are humility and self-sacrifice, which Kino’s father exemplifies.

Setsu is Kino’s younger sister. She is a playful and mischievous young girl who enjoys teasing her brother. She does not entirely understand what has happened when Jiya loses his family but accepts Jiya into the family with evident joy. Over time, she grows into a pretty young woman, though she retains her playful, willful nature. Though Kino does not understand the appeal of such a girl, Jiya grows to love her precisely because of her joyful, teasing nature, explaining that she makes him laugh. Both Jiya and Kino’s father view Setsu as a vital representation of life itself. In loving Setsu, Jiya also learns to love life again, healing from his loss.