Minor Characters in Arthur Golden's Novel Memoirs of a Geisha

May 10, 2011
Melissa Howard

Arthur Golden's Novel Memoirs of a Geisha - Fair Use

A review of the secondary characters that can be found in Arthur Golden's novel, Memoirs of a Geisha.

Arthur Golden does an excellent job not only describing the physical appearance of his secondary characters but also creating a real depth to their personality. Below you will find a brief description of the minor characters in his novel, Memoirs of a Geisha.

Sakamoto Minoru

Sakamoto Minoru is the impoverished uneducated father of the young girl Chiyo, who will one day become the geisha Sayuri. He is a man who is more comfortable with nature and the outdoors than he is with other humans. Sayuri’s mother is his second wife and Sayuri and her sister, Satsu are his second set of children. His first family died and was buried in the village cemetery.

Sakamoto Satsu

Yukiyo Satsu is Sayuri’s sister. While Sayuri is an exceptional child, Yukiyo is the stereotypical product of her environment. Unintelligent and anxious to be married, she does not have the appeal of Sayuri. However, when Ichiro seeks a better place for Sayuri he includes Satsu in the deal. Satsu is sent to a brothel to work. Unhappy as a prostitute, Satsu escapes. Sayuri never hears from her again.

Tanaka Ichiro

Tanaka Ichiro is an important person in the impoverished village of Yoroido where Sayuri is a child. He is the owner of the Japan Coastal Seafood Company. Sayuri captures his attention and he arranges with Sayuri’s father to be a broker for him and sell his daughters into a better life. After the death of Sayuri’s parents, Tanaka writes her a letter intended to encourage her in her new life.

Granny Nitta

Granny Nitta is a retired geisha and the adoptive mother of Mother and Auntie. Embittered by her life as a geisha and possibly mentally ill because of the use of lead-based face-creams Granny makes everyone’s life difficult. She is burned to death when she is electrocuted by a space heater in her room.

Auntie Nitta

Auntie Nitta is adopted daughter of Granny Nitta and adoptive sister of Mother. Disabled because of a deformed hip she manages the daily tasks of the okiya. While she is kinder than Mother and Granny, she is still harsh when she feels it is necessary.

Dr. Crab

Dr. Crab is a physician in Gion. He is a meticulous physician with a peculiar obsession with the mizuage of unusual geishas. He is obsessive about experiencing and obtaining the virgin night of novices who strike his fancy and will bid high prices for the privilege of taking their virginity. Because Dr. Crab is known for his interest in mizuage, Mameha is able to use his reputation to inflate the price of Sayuri’s mizuage to a record amount.

The Baron

The Baron is Mameha’s danna. He becomes very interested in Sayuri and bids agains Dr Crab and Nobu for the privilege of Sayuri’s mizuage.

Pumpkin

Pumpkin is a girl about Sayuri’s age who is already at the okira when Sayuri arrives. Sayuri is the one who gives her the nickname Pumpkin for her rather large round head. The name Pumpkin sticks with her for the rest of her life. She is a hard worker but struggles to master the skills necessary to become a geisha. Pumpkin and Sayuri are friends until Pumpkin becomes Hatsumomo’s ‘little sister.’ The rivalry forces them to go their separate ways. Pumpkin wins the promise from Mother to become the daughter of the okiya but loses it when Mother finds it more advantageous to make Sayuri their adopted daughter. Sayuri doesn’t realize the anger that Pumpkin has towards her until Pumpkin deliberately brings the wrong man to see Sayuri in a compromising situation.

General Tottori

General Tottori is Sayuri’s first danna. She accepts his offer because the war has begun. His ability to protect her and the members of her okiya as well as provide them with supplies that are rationed make him a desirable danna prospect. He is a grotesque man who is not interested in Sayuri except for the physical relief she offers. However he is a reliable danna and provides for and protects Sayuri and the okiya until he is arrested.