An Artist of the Floating World

by

Kazuo Ishiguro

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Dr. Saito Character Analysis

An art professor with a good social status, Dr. Saito is a confident, pleasant man. Ono believes he met Dr. Saito before the war and that Dr. Saito knows his work, but Setsuko tells Ono that Taro does not think Dr. Saito was acquainted with Ono’s work or that the two older men had met. Ono’s depiction of himself as a prominent artist is called into question by Setsuko’s claim that Dr. Saito was not familiar with his work.
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Dr. Saito Character Timeline in An Artist of the Floating World

The timeline below shows where the character Dr. Saito appears in An Artist of the Floating World. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
October 1948
Memory, Self-Perception, and Self-Deception Theme Icon
Intergenerational Conflict Theme Icon
...giving Kuroda any thought if his name had not come up when he ran into Dr. Saito last month when he took Ichiro to the monster movie. On that day, Noriko and... (full context)
The Relevance of the Artist Theme Icon
Family Reputation, Family Secrets, and Familial Loss Theme Icon
Intergenerational Conflict Theme Icon
On the tram, Ono and Ichiro run into Dr. Saito , the father of Taro, the man with whom Noriko is in marriage negotiations. Ono... (full context)
The Relevance of the Artist Theme Icon
A little before his tram stop, Dr. Saito tells Ono that they have a mutual acquaintance: a Mr. Kuroda. Dr. Saito says that... (full context)
Family Reputation, Family Secrets, and Familial Loss Theme Icon
Intergenerational Conflict Theme Icon
...says that his Aunt Noriko would have been terrified. Ono mentions that they ran into Dr. Saito and that Dr. Saito had met Kuroda. He notices his daughters exchange a glance and... (full context)
Memory, Self-Perception, and Self-Deception Theme Icon
Family Reputation, Family Secrets, and Familial Loss Theme Icon
Intergenerational Conflict Theme Icon
...agrees that the war has interrupted the normal course of Noriko’s life. Setsuko brings up Dr. Saito , and then Dr. Saito’s acquaintance with Kuroda. She says she remembers when Kuroda used... (full context)
April 1949
Intergenerational Conflict Theme Icon
City, Nation, History Theme Icon
Dr. Saito is very good at creating a relaxed atmosphere. At one point, he raises the question... (full context)
Memory, Self-Perception, and Self-Deception Theme Icon
Family Reputation, Family Secrets, and Familial Loss Theme Icon
Intergenerational Conflict Theme Icon
Dr. Saito asks Ono whether he sides with Mrs. Saito and Taro in believing his attitude towards... (full context)
Memory, Self-Perception, and Self-Deception Theme Icon
Dr. Saito brings up Kuroda, explaining that his younger son Mitsuo studies at the Uemachi College. Ono... (full context)
Memory, Self-Perception, and Self-Deception Theme Icon
The Relevance of the Artist Theme Icon
...career was a negative influence, and Kuroda is likely one of these people. Ono thinks Dr. Saito is watching him carefully, as a teacher watches a pupil. Ono continues, saying that he... (full context)
November 1949
Memory, Self-Perception, and Self-Deception Theme Icon
The Relevance of the Artist Theme Icon
Ono remembers the first time he met Dr. Saito clearly. It was sixteen year ago, the day after he moved into his house. Ono... (full context)
Memory, Self-Perception, and Self-Deception Theme Icon
The Relevance of the Artist Theme Icon
Intergenerational Conflict Theme Icon
...the main room. He says to Taro that it is a shame that he and Dr. Saito didn’t get to know each other well until the marriage negotiations, since they were both... (full context)
Memory, Self-Perception, and Self-Deception Theme Icon
The Relevance of the Artist Theme Icon
Family Reputation, Family Secrets, and Familial Loss Theme Icon
Intergenerational Conflict Theme Icon
...puzzled by Ono’s behavior at the miai. Ono says he was under the impression that Dr. Saito appreciated what he said during the miai. He says that Dr. Saito had followed his... (full context)