Island of Exiles

Locations covered in the novel

• Sawata : A town on Sawata Bay.
• Mano : Main port city and provincial capital on Sawata Bay.
• Minato : Village between Lake Kamo and the northeast coast.
• Tsukahara : Village by the Ogura River near the southern mountains, where Prince Okisada had his residence.
• Temple of the True Lotus : A Buddhist temple and monastery a mile up the mountain from Tsukahara.
• Echigo : Northern province of Japan, located in modern Niigata. Known as "snow country".

  Dramatis Personae

• Prince Okisada - an older brother of the current emperor. He was exiled after failing to overthrow the incumbent ruler.
• Taira Takamune - devoted tutor of Prince Okisada who followed him into exile.
• Professor Sakamoto - retired professor of classics. He moved to Sado Island to write its history.
• Mutobe Toshikata - Governor of Sado Island.
• Mutobe Toshito - Son of the governor.
• Shunsei - A young Buddhist monk at the monastery of Temple of the True Lotus, and a lover of the prince.
• Yoshimine Taketsuna - New exile arrival at Sado.
• Jisei : Prisoner released from digging "badger holes".
• Haseo : Taciturn prisoner with a scarred back. Not originally from the lower classes.
• Ogata : Alcoholic physician and coroner.
• Wada : Local police authority.
• Yamada : Superintendent of the prison and "Valuables Office".
• Masako : Yamada's daughter, childhood beau of Toshito.
• Shijo Yukata : Head of the provincial archives.
• Genzo : A scribe at the archives.
• Ribata : A mysterious nun with a secret past.
• Osawa : Tax inspector.
• Kumo Sanetomo : Local landowner and appointed high constable of Sado island.
• Kita : Kumo's mine foreman.
• Takao : Landlady of Minato Inn who got Osawa's attention.
• Haru : Owner of lake restaurant named Bamboo Grove, famous for dishes from fresh catches by her husband.
• Nakatomi : Prince's physician.
• Taimai : Crippled porter.
• Oyoshi : Sister of Taimai, hostel keeper and mother of many children.
• Little Flower : Prostitute with stunted growth.
• Ikugoro : Wada's sergeant of constables.