Kousuke Kanzaki

Kanzaki is enthusiastic, confident and intensely devoted to Handa. His admiration goes well beyond casual respect for another calligrapher: he studies Handa's work closely, imitates his style and eagerly seeks opportunities to learn more about him. Despite his youthful appearance and generally friendly manner, he can also be sharp-tongued, sarcastic and surprisingly calculating.

He takes considerable pride in his own achievements. Winning first prize over the artist who inspired him gives him conflicting reasons for pride and discomfort, and he is capable of needling Handa about the result. His indoor-oriented personality also makes the Gotō Islands an unfamiliar environment, much as they initially were for Handa.

Kanzaki's devotion to Handa's established calligraphy makes it difficult for him to understand why his idol would deliberately move away from that style. He values the polished work that first inspired him, while Handa increasingly wants to create something less derivative and more personal.

Kanzaki is already an accomplished calligrapher while still attending high school. His decision to pursue calligraphy came from seeing Handa's work at an exhibition, and his subsequent study produces a style notably similar to Handa's. His ability is sufficient for him to compete successfully against older professionals.

His most significant early achievement is winning first prize in a calligraphy competition in which Handa receives second place. The result establishes that his admiration is backed by genuine technical ability rather than simple imitation by an inexperienced fan.

His resemblance to Handa's earlier approach also has artistic significance. Kanzaki demonstrates how effectively that controlled style can be reproduced and rewarded, inadvertently giving Handa another reason to consider whether technical polish and competitive success are enough for the kind of work he wants to produce.

Kanzaki initially enters Handa's life indirectly, when the younger calligrapher takes first prize over him in a competition. Miwa Yamamura and Hiroshi Kido worry about how Handa will react when Kanzaki arrives on the island, but Handa is already aware of his identity and result.

Kanzaki accompanies Kawafuji to the Gotō Islands and finally meets the artist whose work led him into calligraphy. The meeting reveals an important contradiction between them. Kanzaki wants the Handa whose polished writing he admired, while Handa's experiences on the island are pushing him away from simply reproducing that established style.

His presence therefore provides Handa with a living example of his own artistic influence. Kanzaki can reproduce aspects of the approach Handa once relied upon and receive professional recognition for doing so, while Handa is trying to discover what separates his own writing from technically accomplished imitation.

Sei Handa is Kanzaki's idol, artistic inspiration and eventual professional rival. Kanzaki began pursuing calligraphy after seeing Handa's work and consciously adopted a similar style. Winning first prize over Handa complicates that admiration, but does not erase it; he remains fascinated by Handa and strongly invested in his career.

Takao Kawafuji accompanies Kanzaki to the Gotō Islands and serves as the connection that allows him to meet Handa in his new environment. Kawafuji understands Handa far better personally, which gives him a different perspective on the calligrapher Kanzaki idealizes.

Miwa Yamamura and Hiroshi Kido encounter Kanzaki during his island visit. Their concern about revealing his identity reflects how protective Handa's new acquaintances have become of him.