Strange Pictures

Uketsu, Transl. Jim Rion

51 pages 1-hour read

Uketsu, Transl. Jim Rion

Strange Pictures

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2022

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Character List

Meet the key characters, with insights into their roles, motivations, and relationships—spoiler-free.

Major Characters

Naomi is a 64-year-old part-time grocery clerk who raises a young child named Yuta in a small apartment. She struggles to make ends meet and becomes increasingly terrified when a stranger begins following them. Her deep affection for Yuta drives her to protect him by any means necessary, though the constant stress of single parenting takes a heavy physical toll on her.

Key Relationships

Guardian of Yuta Konno

Parental Contact of Miho Haruoka

Haruto is a cheerful young man who eagerly anticipates becoming a father with his wife, Yuki. He maintains a close bond with his mother, Naomi, and relies heavily on her advice for major life decisions. His enthusiastic nature sometimes borders on naivete, leaving him highly dependent on his family for emotional support during challenging times.

Key Relationships

Husband of Yuki Kameido

Father of Yuta Konno

Yuki is a former professional illustrator who creates complex, multi-layered artwork. She is deeply in love with her husband, Haruto, and feels immense joy about her pregnancy. Lacking a strong independent support system or contact with her parents, she expresses her quiet fears and observations through her art rather than direct confrontation.

Key Relationships

Mother of Yuta Konno

Daughter-in-law of Naomi Konno/Miura

Former Student of Yoshiharu Miura

Investigation Subject of Shuhei Sasaki

Shuhei is a university student and member of his college's paranormal club. He possesses a sharp, analytical mind and spends his free time rotating and resizing mysterious digital drawings found online to uncover hidden messages. He balances these amateur investigations with the practical realities of attending classes and searching for post-graduation employment.

Key Relationships

Friend and Fellow Investigator of Kurihara

Investigator of Yuki Kameido

Isamu is a veteran newspaper reporter who stepped away from investigative journalism following a cancer diagnosis. He retains a strong moral compass and a lingering sense of guilt over a cold case he abandoned years ago. He functions as a mentor figure to younger reporters while privately managing his illness.

Key Relationships

Boss and Mentor of Shunsuke Iwata

Hospital Roommate of Kurihara

Interviewer of Tomiko Hagio

Shunsuke is a 19-year-old newspaper employee who requests permission to reopen an unsolved murder case. Inspired by the kindness of a former teacher, he is highly motivated to find the truth and possesses enough intelligence to spot clues the police missed. He frequently ignores cautious advice, preferring to recreate crime scenes firsthand.

Key Relationships

Employee and Mentee of Isamu Kumai

Former Student of Yoshiharu Miura

Investigator of Nobuo Toyokawa

Supporting Characters

Yoshiharu is an art teacher who enjoys taking solitary hiking and camping trips to sketch nature. He views himself as an excellent provider and friend, dedicating his life to his family and students. However, people around him often perceive his parenting and teaching methods as domineering, creating conflicting accounts of his character during the investigation into his untimely death.

Key Relationships

Friend and Colleague of Nobuo Toyokawa

Former Teacher of Yuki Kameido

Former Mentor of Shunsuke Iwata

Kurihara is a university student who frequently brings strange online phenomena to his college paranormal club. He stays a step ahead in most investigations but prefers to gently guide others toward the answers rather than claiming credit. He maintains a deep interest in unsolved mysteries and shows genuine compassion for the people involved in the cases he studies.

Key Relationships

Friend and Fellow Investigator of Shuhei Sasaki

Hospital Roommate of Isamu Kumai

Miho is a nursery school teacher who oversees Yuta's class. She applies concepts from her college child psychology lectures to interpret her students' drawings, looking for signs of emotional distress. She takes her responsibilities seriously and will firmly confront guardians if she suspects a child is in danger.

Key Relationships

Teacher of Yuta Konno

Tomiko is a university psychology professor and former practicing psychologist. She uses old patient case studies in her lectures to demonstrate how artwork reflects a child's interior emotional state. She maintains absolute confidence in her professional diagnoses and her theories regarding rehabilitation.

Key Relationships

Interview Subject of Isamu Kumai

Yuta is a six-year-old boy who lives in a small apartment with Naomi. He spends his days at nursery school and occasionally draws pictures that cause alarm among his teachers. He quietly observes the adults around him, trying to gauge their moods and avoid causing trouble.

Key Relationships

Nobuo is a long-time friend and colleague of an art teacher. He relies on his friend for employment, which forces him to go along with demands he dislikes. He becomes a person of interest during a police investigation due to his proximity to the victim and his interactions with the victim's family.

Key Relationships

Friend and Colleague of Yoshiharu Miura

Investigation Subject of Shunsuke Iwata