Izumi Tanaka

Izumi Tanaka is in her final year of high school when the novel begins. Despite the pervading racism of her small town, she is fond of it, as she is fond of her friend group—the AGG, or Asian Girl Gang. Izumi’s world is small, taken up by her doting mother Hanako and dog Tamagotchi. Despite her general contentment, Izumi is plagued by the secret of her father’s identity. Above all else, she longs to know where she comes from.

First, Izumi’s friends are an important support system for her. She is proud to have Asian friends who relate to her struggle with her identity. The AGG are an overwhelmingly positive influence in her life and continue to provide emotional support for her during her stay in Japan.

Visiting Japan is a transformative experience for Izumi, in more ways than one. For one, she...