# Persons in the Play explained — Short Fiction

> Chapter companion for Short Fiction by Tanizaki Jun’ichirō.

## 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.

## Character check-ins

### Kakutaro

A young man enchanted by a fox.

### Osayo

Kakutaro's lover.

### Mother

Osayo's mother, an old woman.

## Key lines

> 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._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_52_se/chapters/persons-in-the-play
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_52_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_52_se/chapters