Daisuke Character Analysis in A Tale for the Time Being

Daisuke is one of Nao’s classmates who is bullied too, since his family is poor. He lives in the same neighborhood that Nao lives in, and Nao corners him and beats him up when she wants information about what the bullies at school might be plotting against her. Daisuke willingly tells her whatever she wants to know. He has no fight left in him, and Nao gets very irritated by this—she is tempted to cut his throat with the kitchen knife she has brought to scare him with. This moment seems to show power’s intoxicating effects. Nao’s actions are similar to those of the kids who bully her. Like them, she is irritated by Daisuke’s powerless sniveling—and like them, she is tempted to hurt him. Nao, however, resists the urge, showing that she has stronger morals than the other teenagers.

Daisuke Character Timeline in A Tale for the Time Being

The timeline below shows where the character Daisuke appears in A Tale for the Time Being. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

The Difficulty of Communication Theme Icon

...lay in wait by some vending machines in her neighborhood for one of her classmates, Daisuke—a spindly, pathetic boy. When Nao saw him approach, she jumped out, grabbed him, and ordered... (full context)

Time, Impermanence, and the Present Theme Icon

Like Nao, Daisuke was bullied at school because he was poor. However, Nao thought that he must be... (full context)

Nao knew that Daisuke and Reiko went to the same cram (test-prep) school, so she cornered Daisuke one day... (full context)

Sexual Perversion and Violence Theme Icon

Nao tried to leave the bathroom, but Reiko and her sidekicks blocked her path. Daisuke was recording the whole encounter with a video camera. Nao’s classmates tied her skirt above... (full context)