Toru is a young man living in Tokyo who recently quit his job at a law firm to spend time at home. He occupies his days with domestic chores like cooking and ironing while his wife goes to work. His generally aimless existence gets disrupted by a missing cat, strange phone calls, and an eventual descent into an empty neighborhood well.

Kumiko is Toru's wife and the sole earner for their household following his resignation. She works for a small publisher, choosing to build a life separate from her wealthy, status-obsessed parents. Her concern over their missing cat prompts her to seek help from a psychic, setting off a chain of unusual events.

Malta is a medium hired to locate the Okadas' missing cat. She uses an assumed professional name based on her time living on the island of Malta. She speaks in abstract terms about elements of the body and the flow of water, remaining entirely cryptic about her actual methods.

Noboru is Kumiko's older brother, a celebrated academic and emerging politician. Raised with immense pressure and affection from his wealthy parents, he has grown into an arrogant, television-ready intellectual. He openly despises Toru and represents the ruthless, status-driven side of contemporary society.

Creta is Malta's younger sister and assistant. She named herself after the island of Crete to mirror her sister's chosen identity. She has a history of severe physical pain and trauma that deeply affects how she interacts with the world and her physical body.

May is a sixteen-year-old girl taking a leave of absence from school following a motorcycle accident. She walks with a limp and spends her days observing the neighborhood or working part-time for a wig company. She harbors a morbid fascination with death and asks blunt questions about existence.

Lieutenant Mamiya is an elderly veteran who served in the Japanese military during World War II, specifically in the Manchurian-Mongolian region. He lost an arm during his service and spent twelve years in a Siberian prison camp. He works as a geography teacher but lives an emotionally hollow existence.

Mr. Honda is an elderly, hard-of-hearing veteran who served as the spiritual guide for Kumiko's father. He frequently offered cryptic advice about the flow of the world and shared war stories about his time at the battle of Nomonhan.

Nutmeg is a wealthy former fashion designer who operates a discreet, highly specialized healing practice for affluent women. She dresses impeccably and controls her environment carefully. She spots a unique energy in Toru and brings him into her unusual business.

Cinnamon is Nutmeg's impeccably dressed adult son. He stopped speaking entirely when he was six years old and now communicates exclusively through sign language, gestures, and lip-reading. He manages the logistics of his mother's specialized business and handles the computer systems.

Ushikawa is a physically unappealing man who works as a private secretary for Noboru Wataya. He is persistent, invasive, and openly admits to a history of domestic abuse that alienated his own family. He acts as a messenger and operative for Noboru's political interests.

Boris is a pragmatic and sociopathic Russian security officer who oversees operations in a Siberian prison camp. He is known for his ruthless torture methods and his ability to manipulate prisoners into turning against each other to maintain control.