After Darkness Character Analysis

Dr. Ibaraki

Tomokazu Ibaraki is the protagonist of the novel. Most of the story takes place between his early 20s and early 30s, with one scene at the end of the novel in Ibaraki’s late 30s. Ibaraki’s… read analysis of Dr. Ibaraki

Kayoko

Kayoko Ibaraki née Sasaki is Dr. Ibaraki’s wife. She and Dr. Ibaraki are family friends, with their mothers introducing them to one another in their mid-20s. Kayoko is headstrong and opinionated, often acting outside… read analysis of Kayoko

Sister Bernice

Sister Bernice is a young nun in Broome who assists Dr. Ibaraki in the Japanese hospital. Ibaraki routinely notices her easy, gentle, and friendly nature with the patients. She often talks with Ibaraki about her… read analysis of Sister Bernice

Johnny Chang

Johnny Chang is an internee at Loveday whom Dr. Ibaraki knew during his time in Broome. He is Australian-born, with one Chinese parent and one Japanese parent, and he was a pillar of the Broome… read analysis of Johnny Chang

Harada

Harada is Dr. Ibaraki’s friend from Broome. Ibaraki reunites with him at the Loveday internment camp, where Harada is very sick with tuberculosis. Harada, who originally had a wife and kids in Japan, has… read analysis of Harada

Mr. Yamada

Mr. Yamada is a fellow internee of Dr. Ibaraki in the Loveday camp. When Ibaraki arrives at the camp, Yamada welcomes him and introduces him to his friends. Because he is the deputy mayor, Yamada… read analysis of Mr. Yamada

Mori

Mori is the elected mayor of the Japanese population in the Loveday internment camp. He works with Mr. Yamada at the camp canteen store. Though he is initially a friend to Dr. Ibaraki, Ibaraki… read analysis of Mori

Stanley Suzuki

Stanley Suzuki is a 22-year-old internee at Loveday internment camp who has lived in Australia since he was six months old. He is half-Japanese and a friend of Johnny Chang’s. Mr. Yamada and his… read analysis of Stanley Suzuki

Ishii Shiro

Lieutenant Colonel Ishii Shiro is a real historical figure. He is the commander of the unit of the army that includes the laboratory where Dr. Ibaraki works in Japan. He is the architect of Unit… read analysis of Ishii Shiro

Minnie

Minnie is an Aboriginal Australian woman who has been in a relationship with Harada for 20 years. When Australian officials start rounding up Japanese immigrants and taking them to internment camps, Minnie urges Harada… read analysis of Minnie

Minor Characters

Mother

Dr. Ibaraki’s mother is a driving force behind his and Kayoko’s relationship. After Ibaraki leaves the internment camp, he returns to Japan to live with his mother. Ibaraki realizes that she is grieving deeply from the death of his brother Nobuhiro.

Nobuhiro

Nobuhiro is Dr. Ibaraki’s younger brother. He serves in the Japanese army during World War II and dies in battle. Throughout his time in Australia while he grieves Nobuhiro, Ibaraki recalls childhood memories with his brother.

Kanemori

Kanemori is the president of the Japanese Association in Broome. He is a welcoming presence for Dr. Ibaraki upon his arrival in Australia, and the Japanese Association in general is a positive form of involvement for Dr. Ibaraki in Broome.

Major Locke

Major Locke is the commander of the Loveday internment camp and a former schoolteacher. When a dust storm occurs, he imposes the ban on going outside of the internees’ huts in order to prevent escape.

Dr. Ashton

Dr. Ashton is the Loveday camp hospital doctor.

Shiobara

Shiobara is an orderly at the Loveday infirmary.

Officer McCubbin

Officer McCubbin is a guard at Loveday internment camp. He bonds with many of the internees, including Dr. Ibaraki, and attends Stanley Suzuki’s funeral.

Private Davies

Private Davies is a new guard at Loveday internment camp. He slings racist slurs at the internees. He shoots Stanley Suzuki, thinking that he’s trying to escape. After the shooting, he receives a very light punishment.

Shimada

Professor Shimada is Dr. Ibaraki’s supervisor at his laboratory in Tokyo.

Yamamoto

Yamamoto is Dr. Ibaraki’s coworker and friend at the lab.

Major Kimura

Major Kimura is the leader of Dr. Ibaraki’s laboratory. Kimura hires Ibaraki to his position at the lab because he used to work with Ibaraki’s father. Kimura also fires Ibaraki after he refuses to operate on the body of a child.

Mr. Mackenzie

Mr. Mackenzie is an Australian businessman who comes to visit the Loveday internment camp. He expresses sympathy for the internees.

After Darkness Characters