Silence

A Portuguese Jesuit priest who travels to Japan to proselytize and search for Ferreira. He begins as confident and occasionally patronizing, but the brutal reality of persecution forces him to confront the limits of faith under torture. Over time, his resolve is tested as he witnesses suffering and faces the demand to recant.

The other Jesuit priest, more cautious and compassionate toward the persecuted Christians. He shares Rodrigo's mission but is wary of the dangers they face. His perspective shifts as he witnesses the consequences of the regime's crackdown and the fragility of faith under coercion.

A fisherman who helps smuggle the priests into Japan but is marked by recurring treachery and guilt. He seeks forgiveness yet repeatedly yields to fear and pressure, embodying the struggle between self-preservation and faith. His actions haunt the narrative as a complex study of repentance.

The wife of a Christian samurai who recants under pressure to spare her family. Her choice illustrates the social and personal costs of staying faithful in a hostile environment. She represents the human consequences of the broader conflict between faith and state.

Nagasaki magistrate who orchestrates the crackdown on Christianity. He engages in private dialogue with Rodrigo, illustrating the conflict between law, duty, and personal conscience. His actions reveal how state power seeks to control faith through coercion and public spectacle.

A former Jesuit who has apostatized and works under Inoue as an intellectual opponent of Christianity. His arguments about inculturation and the state of faith in Japan challenge Rodrigo's beliefs. He embodies the tragedy of faith compromised for worldly advantage.

The linguistic mediator who translates the clash between Japanese officials and Christian prisoners. He helps shape Rodrigo's understanding of the proceedings and the pressure to renounce. His role highlights how language can influence power dynamics and personal decisions.