Who Is The Main Character In 'Piercing'?

2026-03-26 00:25:31
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3 Answers

Henry
Henry
Frequent Answerer Cashier
Ever read a book where the protagonist makes your skin crawl? That's Kawashima in 'Piercing.' He's this quiet, unassuming guy who could be your neighbor—until you peek inside his head. Murakami crafts his descent into planned violence with such clinical precision that it's almost scarier than any gore. The way Kawashima rationalizes his urges, down to the tools he'll use, is chillingly mundane.

What gets me is the contrast: his love for his family versus the horror of his impulses. It's not about shock value; it's a brutal look at how isolation and repression can twist a person. And that ending? No neat resolutions, just a haunting ambiguity. Leaves you staring at the ceiling at 3 a.m., wondering about the darkness in ordinary people.
2026-03-29 04:14:34
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Wyatt
Wyatt
Sharp Observer Teacher
Kawashima from 'Piercing' is one of those characters that sticks with you, not because he's likable, but because he's so disturbingly real. He's a designer, a family man, yet he's haunted by this compulsion to stab his baby with an ice pick. Murakami doesn't shy away from the grotesque, but what fascinates me is how he frames Kawashima's turmoil. It's not just about the act; it's about the terrifying rationality behind it—the way he plans, justifies, and almost convinces himself (and the reader) that it's inevitable.

The dynamic between him and Chiaki, the call girl, adds this twisted layer of dark comedy. Their interactions are like a messed-up dance, each trying to outmaneuver the other. It's bleak, sure, but there's something weirdly compelling about watching two damaged people collide. Makes you question whether monsters are born or made.
2026-03-29 23:18:11
7
Ella
Ella
Twist Chaser Assistant
I picked up 'Piercing' by Ryu Murakami on a whim, and boy, did it leave an impression. The main character, Kawashima Masayuki, is this unsettling blend of ordinary and monstrous—a guy who seems normal on the surface but grapples with violent urges he can't control. What's wild is how Murakami makes you almost sympathize with him, even as he plans something horrific. The way the story dives into his psyche, mixing dark humor with genuine tension, is just masterful.

Kawashima isn't your typical protagonist; he's more like a car crash you can't look away from. The novel plays with this idea of duality—how someone can be a loving father by day and a potential killer by night. It's not about glorifying violence but exposing the fragility of human sanity. The ending, too, lingers like a shadow. Makes you wonder how thin the line really is between 'normal' and 'broken.'
2026-03-31 03:12:23
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