Pinball, 1973

Main Characters and Their Development

• The main character is an unnamed narrator living in Tokyo and working as a translator. He is experiencing a midlife crisis and feels disconnected from the world around him. His life changes when he begins to recall his youth and passion for pinball. Throughout the narrative, he attempts to find an old pinball machine, symbolizing his past and lost dreams.
• The Rat is the narrator's friend, living a solitary life in a small town. He is also undergoing an internal crisis and trying to find meaning in his life. The Rat is a significant figure in the narrator's life, and their friendship plays a key role in the plot's development.
• The Twins are two mysterious girls who live with the main character. They appear suddenly and disappear just as abruptly. Their presence in the narrator's life symbolizes his internal search and desire for self-understanding.