An electrical engineering professor of Korean descent who was raised in Japan. He frequently changes his name and conceals his past to survive the prejudices of his environments, making him highly guarded even with his own family. Despite his prickly exterior and insistence that he has no relatives, he is deeply concerned with the physical survival and safety of his wife and daughter.

The precocious and observant daughter of Serk and Anne. She is the only witness to her father's disappearance but suffers from significant memory gaps regarding the event. She struggles to assimilate into new environments, preferring to remain unnoticed, and often masks her grief with outward hostility toward the adults in her life.

Serk's white American wife who struggles with lifelong feelings of alienation. She develops early symptoms of multiple sclerosis shortly before the family relocates to Japan, adding physical restrictions to her deep-seated loneliness. She harbors guilt over her past choices and works quietly to maintain a facade of stability within her household.

Anne's firstborn son, raised entirely by his father until his teenage years. Following the surgical removal of a brain tumor, his personality radically shifts from withdrawn to boundlessly enthusiastic. He embraces a nomadic lifestyle, blending easily into foreign communities and offering unprompted compassion to those around him.

Serk's younger sister who chooses to stay in Japan when their parents move away. Going by the married name Mrs. Ishida, she frequently corresponds with her brother, urging him to assist with their parents' health issues and financial needs.

A Korean War veteran who becomes Anne's neighbor in the United States. Recognizing her prickly exterior as a defense mechanism for loneliness, he patiently builds a routine with her, offering assistance and sharing his knowledge of Korean history.

An advocate known as "the Fisherman" who coordinates networks to extract political prisoners from restrictive regimes. Driven by the unresolved disappearance of his own father, he views his operations through a lens of personal vengeance rather than pure altruism.

An activist leading a grassroots organization for families of missing persons in Japan. Having lost her own brother under suspicious circumstances, she collects data to prove a pattern of coordinated coastal abductions.

An older, charismatic man who draws Anne away from her life in Ohio. When she becomes pregnant, he takes full custody of their son, raising him independently.

A child psychologist employed by the school district. He attempts to reframe Louisa's assertions about kidnapping as a trauma-induced metaphor, failing to take her literal claims seriously.

A graduate student who goes by the American name Tom. He receives a distressing piece of foreign propaganda in the mail shortly before vanishing completely from his home.

A traveler who assists Louisa during a difficult border crossing. He offers her stability during a chaotic period in her life, leading to a swift marriage, though he remains somewhat opaque to her.

A man who manages a screening and housing operation for displaced persons. He strictly requires his charges to study religious texts in exchange for his protection and resources.

A former intelligence agent with the US State Department who currently works in human rights advocacy. He utilizes personal connections to bypass bureaucratic hurdles in missing persons cases.

Anne's brother, who provides temporary housing for her and Louisa. He quickly loses patience with their grief and perceived carelessness, forcing them to find their own apartment.

An English professor who acts as a mentor to Anne, guiding her informal education and connecting her with academic circles where she eventually meets her husband.

An intelligent but unpopular student. She reconnects with Louisa years later in Barcelona, representing a path of conformity that Louisa actively avoids.

A college pianist who introduces Louisa to a lifestyle characterized by ironic detachment. Her influence directly inspires Louisa's ill-fated trip to Europe.

A man assigned to learn Japanese and English within a highly restrictive environment. He exchanges cultural knowledge with his instructor and initially presents himself as a deferential student.