Sayuri is a former geisha who acts of the narrator of this novel. As a child, Sayuri (or Chiyo, as she was then known) learns that she has a lot of water in her personality, and she struggles with the various connotations of water throughout the novel. The association of water with flexibility and vitality suggests that she has some say in her life; however, the fact that water can be subject to boundaries indicates that she will likewise have to deal with hardships and barriers. Indeed, as the book progresses, Sayuri shows herself to be resourceful and smart in some instances, yet she often feels helpless and as though she has no control over her life. 

Sayuri has a stronger kinship with her mother than her father, and, when she realizes that her mother is seriously ill, she cannot imagine how she will carry on living in the family home. However, her musings are interrupted when she runs into Mr. Tanaka, who is struck by her beauty and unusual blue-gray eyes—a reaction that is shared by numerous characters throughout the novel. Despite being younger than her sister, Satsu, Sayuri is the more confident of the two and takes the lead during this episode, offering her assurance of Mr.