Mitsuo, the son of Sakura and Hiroshi Suwa and nephew of Torajiro Kuruma, is a member of the family operating the Toraya sweets shop in Tokyo’s Shibamata district. During his childhood and youth, he was often present during his uncle Torajiro’s periodic returns to the family home. These visits were frequently marked by familial tension and comedic incidents caused by Torajiro’s behavior, which sometimes led Mitsuo to experience embarrassment—such as on his first day of school.

In his youth, Mitsuo formed a romantic relationship with a woman named Izumi. His professional path proved difficult; after failing to find employment, he worked temporarily as a fisherman on a small island, where he developed a crush on a local nurse.

As a mature adult, Mitsuo became a published author and a widowed father following the death of his wife. On the sixth anniversary of her passing, a chance encounter at a book signing event led to a reunion with his former girlfriend Izumi, who then worked for the United Nations.

Mitsuo’s relationship with his uncle Torajiro was multifaceted. He understood Torajiro’s inherent kindness and free-spirited nature, but also recognized his lack of depth and inability to form lasting romantic attachments. Mitsuo observed that Torajiro often retreated from potential deep relationships to avoid future tragedy, an insight he voiced directly. Although he admired his uncle’s freedom, Mitsuo could not emulate that lifestyle, as his own upbringing instilled in him a more serious and conventional nature.

After Torajiro’s death, Mitsuo continued to reflect on his uncle’s life and legacy, remembering him as a timeless figure whose memory endured within the family.