Ryuji Tsukazaki is a sailor and Fusako Kuroda's lover. Throughout the book it is shown that Ryuji (also known as the sailor) sees himself destined for glory though at that point he is not sure as to what kind of glory he will receive. Ryuji falls in love with Fusako and later he marries her, becoming a father-figure to her son Noboru. This new love and the failure to achieve glory in the presence of the sea lead him to determine to retire from the sea, thus outraging Noboru and causing him to take action.