Antagonist

Character Role Analysis

World War II

Sure, the school bullies and Henry's father all complicate his life, but the real enemy in Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet is the war. World War II completely throws a wrench into Henry's life and into his blossoming love story with Keiko. Because of the war, Keiko and her family are taken far away and Henry ends up falling out of touch with her. And because of the war, he's discriminated against and watches helplessly as Keiko and her family are mistreated and harassed just because of their ethnicity. Ugh.