Kensuke's Kingdom

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of mental health concerns, suicidal ideation, animal cruelty and death, illness, and death.



Michael’s life-changing friendship with Kensuke illustrates humans’ essential need for companionship. Their relationship takes time to form, evolving across the novel and advancing both characters’ personal growth. The 12-year-old Michael and 75-year-old Kensuke come from highly different cultures and generations, and the language barrier impedes their ability to communicate with each other. For example, Michael initially views Kensuke as his “captor, [his] persecutor” because he doesn’t understand why the man forbids him to light fires (55). An even greater obstacle to their friendship is Kensuke’s strong desire for solitude, which stems from the ways the trauma of World War II destroyed his faith in humanity. As Kensuke tells Michael: “I think, all people killer people. I hate all people, I think. I not want see people again” (73). Since Michael is the first human Kensuke has interacted with in the 40 years since World War II ended, their initial tension emphasizes his decades of isolation. Kensuke’s nurturing care for living creatures in need drives him to intervene when Michael is in danger, transforming Michael’s view of him: “My erstwhile enemy, my captor, had become my savior” (59).