Short Fiction · Chapter
Persons in the Play explained
This chapter introduces the characters of the play, including Kakutaro, a young man enchanted by a fox; his lover Osayo; Osayo's mother; the fox and its children; a foreign woman and her attendant; a foreign man; and a policeman.
What happens
This chapter introduces the characters of the play, including Kakutaro, a young man enchanted by a fox; his lover Osayo; Osayo's mother; the fox and its children; a foreign woman and her attendant; a foreign man; and a policeman.
Themes in this chapter
Supernatural and Folklore
The presence of a fox enchantment and fox children introduces a supernatural folklore element.
Love and Sacrifice
The relationship between Kakutaro and Osayo suggests themes of love and potential sacrifice.
Characters to notice
Key passages
“Kakutaro (Kaku-chan). A young man enchanted by a fox.”
Kakutaro, also called Kaku-chan, is a young man under a fox's spell.
Introduces the central supernatural premise.
“Osayo. His lover.”
Osayo is Kakutaro's romantic partner.
Establishes the romantic relationship.