# Brother — A Daughter of the Samurai character guide

> Brother in A Daughter of the Samurai by Etsu Inagaki Sugimoto.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Honourable Brother

**First appearance:** 0003-a-daughter-of-the-samurai

## Snapshot

The samurai brother who backs his sister's education and her marriage to an American, betting the family's future on her.

## Who they are

Brother is the heir, the one who carries the family name, and he uses that authority to support Etsu when tradition would hold her back. He believes in her mind and her judgment, even when her choices take her far from everything the family knows. His trust is both a gift and a weight: she cannot fail him, and she cannot go home unchanged.

## Relationships

### [Father](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_daughter_of_the_samurai_se/characters/father)

_family_

Son and father, with the brother upholding samurai duties under the father's authority.

### [Mother](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_daughter_of_the_samurai_se/characters/mother)

_family_

Son and mother, with a close bond of respect and affection.

### [Miyo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_daughter_of_the_samurai_se/characters/miyo)

_family_

Husband and wife, with Miyo being the brother's spouse in a traditional marriage.

### [Mother](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_daughter_of_the_samurai_se/characters/mother)

_family_

Son and mother, with a close bond of respect and affection.

### [Mother](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_daughter_of_the_samurai_se/characters/mother)

_family_

Son and mother, with a close bond of respect and affection.

### [Miyo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_daughter_of_the_samurai_se/characters/miyo)

_family_

Husband and wife, with Miyo being the brother's spouse in a traditional marriage.

### [Miyo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_daughter_of_the_samurai_se/characters/miyo)

_family_

Husband and wife, with Miyo being the brother's spouse in a traditional marriage.

## In the story

### [The Wedding That Never Was](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_daughter_of_the_samurai_se/chapters/vii-the-wedding-that-never-was)

Returns from America after years of exile, now a lieutenant, and is reinstated as head of the Inagaki family.

### [Two Ventures](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_daughter_of_the_samurai_se/chapters/viii-two-ventures)

Returns from America after a failed business venture and head injury; his marriage is arranged for harvest time.

### [X: The Day of the Bird](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_daughter_of_the_samurai_se/chapters/x-the-day-of-the-bird)

Brother advises that Etsu-bo must have an English education and shows a pragmatic, modern attitude toward selling family treasures.

### [XI: My First Journey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_daughter_of_the_samurai_se/chapters/xi-my-first-journey)

Brother accompanies Etsu-bo on the journey, joking about serious matters and prompting her to think about her abandoned priestess education.

### [Travel Education](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_daughter_of_the_samurai_se/chapters/xii-travel-education)

Accompanies Etsu-bo on the trip, showing care and humor; shares stories and facilitates visits to Miyo and the silkworm farm.

### [XIII: Foreigners](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_daughter_of_the_samurai_se/chapters/xiii-foreigners)

Arranges for Etsu-bo's practical education and criticizes her countrified dress.

### [Sailing Unknown Seas](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_daughter_of_the_samurai_se/chapters/xvi-sailing-unknown-seas)

Returns to Nagaoka for Etsu-bo's last weeks, brings Matsuo's letter, disapproves of traditional bridal gifts, and arranges her travel with Mr. Holmes; bids her a tender farewell on the steamer.

### [XXIV: In Japan Again](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_daughter_of_the_samurai_se/chapters/xxiv-in-japan-again)

Unable to attend the family council, but sends a progressive uncle in his place to represent Etsu's family.

### [A Lady of Old Japan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_daughter_of_the_samurai_se/chapters/xxix-a-lady-of-old-japan)

Mentioned as a child who was hidden in a book chest during the war and later became a Christian, leading to the end of the Kikuno ceremony.

### [The White Cow](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_daughter_of_the_samurai_se/chapters/xxx-the-white-cow)

Mentioned as having moved to a distant city and focusing on his son's education, leaving the old family home behind.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_daughter_of_the_samurai_se/characters/brother
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_daughter_of_the_samurai_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_daughter_of_the_samurai_se/characters