Postcard

A frightened, dutiful young conscript pressed into the navy's cleaning corps. He clings to the hope of delivering a message to his wife and family as death seems imminent. His fate and the lottery that assigns him to the Philippines highlight the brutal randomness of war.

Sadazo's wife who endures loss and social pressure after his death. She agrees to marry Sadazo's younger brother Sanpei, and later forms a complex bond with Matsuyama. Her choices reflect the conflict between duty, survival, and desire in wartime society.

Patriarch of the Morikawa family, a quiet man who confronts illness and the burden of keeping his family together. He dies of a heart condition, triggering further upheaval and prompting decisions about remarriage and care for the widow.

The mother who bears immense grief and helps Tomoko with money after Yukichi's death. Overcome by sorrow, she ultimately takes her own life, a pivotal moment that intensifies the family tragedy and shapes subsequent decisions.

A veteran who returns to Japan to find his life unsettled by his wife’s infidelity and family tensions. He contemplates leaving for Brazil with Tomoko, carrying money as a potential share, and faces rivalries that steer toward a later attempt at rebuilding in Japan.

A rival suitor for Tomoko who adds tension to the love triangle amid wartime scarcity. His presence heightens conflict and complicates Matsuyama’s pursuit for a stable future with Tomoko.

The younger Morikawa son pressed into war; he attempts to avoid conscription but ultimately dies in the conflict. His death deepens the family’s sense of loss and pushes later choices toward endurance and renewal.

Matsuyama's uncle who interacts with Tomoko and Matsuyama, representing wartime familial networks and the social pressures that shape relationships during and after conflict.