# Hanano — A Daughter of the Samurai character guide > Hanano in A Daughter of the Samurai by Etsu Inagaki Sugimoto. **Role:** supporting **First appearance:** 0003-a-daughter-of-the-samurai ## Snapshot Etsu's older sister, who believes God lives in the moon and asks whether He can see their Japanese grandmother from America. ## Who they are Hanano is the sister who stays behind, marries, and later visits Etsu in the United States, carrying her own blend of Japanese poetry and American practicality. Her moon stories and her earnest questions about God show a mind that holds old beliefs and new ones side by side without embarrassment. She matters because she embodies the family Etsu left — and the possibility that the two worlds might still recognize each other. ## Relationships ### [Mother](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_daughter_of_the_samurai_se/characters/mother) _family_ Mother and daughter, with Hanano being a caring and dutiful child to her mother. ### [Matsuo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_daughter_of_the_samurai_se/characters/matsuo) _family_ Siblings, with Hanano and Matsuo sharing a close brother-sister relationship. ### [Father](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_daughter_of_the_samurai_se/characters/father) _family_ Father and daughter, with the father being a stern but loving patriarch. ### [Chiyo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_daughter_of_the_samurai_se/characters/chiyo) _family_ Sisters, with Chiyo and Hanano having a close sibling bond. ### [Mamma](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_daughter_of_the_samurai_se/characters/mamma) _family_ Mother and daughter, with 'Mamma' likely being a familiar term for the mother. ### [Susan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_daughter_of_the_samurai_se/characters/susan) _friendship_ Close friends, likely from school or social circles in America. ### [Mamma](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_daughter_of_the_samurai_se/characters/mamma) _family_ Mother and daughter, with 'Mamma' likely being a familiar term for the mother. ### [Mother](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_daughter_of_the_samurai_se/characters/mother) _family_ Mother and daughter, with Hanano being a caring and dutiful child to her mother. ### [Susan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_daughter_of_the_samurai_se/characters/susan) _friendship_ Close friends, likely from school or social circles in America. ### [Chiyo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_daughter_of_the_samurai_se/characters/chiyo) _family_ Sisters, with Chiyo and Hanano having a close sibling bond. ### [Mother](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_daughter_of_the_samurai_se/characters/mother) _family_ Mother and daughter, with Hanano being a caring and dutiful child to her mother. ### [Chiyo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_daughter_of_the_samurai_se/characters/chiyo) _family_ Sisters, with Chiyo and Hanano having a close sibling bond. ## In the story ### [Curly Hair](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_daughter_of_the_samurai_se/chapters/ii-curly-hair) Etsu's sister; her straight hair is offered alongside Etsu's curly strand for the temple rope. ### [The Old and the New](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_daughter_of_the_samurai_se/chapters/iv-the-old-and-the-new) The narrator's sister, with whom she secretly discusses liking the taste of meat. ### [New Experiences](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_daughter_of_the_samurai_se/chapters/xxi-new-experiences) Newborn baby, healthy and strong, named 'Flower in a Strange Land.' ### [Flower in a Strange Land](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_daughter_of_the_samurai_se/chapters/xxii-flower-in-a-strange-land) Etsu's baby, who grows and begins to talk, christening Mrs. Wilson as 'Flower Lady'. ### [Chiyo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_daughter_of_the_samurai_se/chapters/xxiii-chiyo) Disappointed that baby Chiyo is not blonde like Susan's sister; struggles with her Japanese identity; begins to take interest in Japanese stories and culture. ### [XXIV: In Japan Again](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_daughter_of_the_samurai_se/chapters/xxiv-in-japan-again) Etsu's eldest daughter, who becomes the legal head of the family after her father's death and must sit through a lengthy family council. ### [Our Tokyo Home](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_daughter_of_the_samurai_se/chapters/xxv-our-tokyo-home) Etsu-bo's older daughter, mentioned as having gone to school and as the one who sang a rhyme about the cushions. ### [XXVI: Tragic Trifles](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_daughter_of_the_samurai_se/chapters/xxvi-tragic-trifles) Struggles with Japanese language and ideographs at school; secretly longs for America and leads her sister in a memory game of their old home. ### [XXVII: Honourable Grandmother](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_daughter_of_the_samurai_se/chapters/xxvii-honourable-grandmother) Energetic and modern, initially puzzles her grandmother with her outspoken ways, but gradually becomes more gentle and close to her. ### [Sister's Visit](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_daughter_of_the_samurai_se/chapters/xxviii-sister-s-visit) Listens eagerly to the story of Kikuno; asks why the service is called 'For the Nameless.' ### [A Lady of Old Japan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_daughter_of_the_samurai_se/chapters/xxix-a-lady-of-old-japan) Hears the story of Grandmother's life for the first time, reacting with awe and recognizing her grandmother's strength. ### [The White Cow](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_daughter_of_the_samurai_se/chapters/xxx-the-white-cow) Joyfully prepares for the trip to America; reacts with amusement to the chewing gum gift. ### [Worthless Treasures](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_daughter_of_the_samurai_se/chapters/xxxi-worthless-treasures) Explores the godown with curiosity, sitting in the palanquin and examining artifacts. ### [The Black Ships](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_daughter_of_the_samurai_se/chapters/xxxii-the-black-ships) Declares she will hold ribbons for all Japan and hums 'Home, Sweet Home,' unaware of her future dual loyalty. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_daughter_of_the_samurai_se/characters/hanano - 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