It is eventually revealed that the intense pressure of the entrance exam system and the methods used by "coordinators" (specialized education consultants) led to a severe breakdown in her family dynamic. Themes & Lessons
In the vast pantheon of Yakuza characters, Kaori is often overshadowed by the flashier Haruka Sawamura (the idol) or the fierce Kaoru Sayama (the detective). This is a mistake. kaori saejima
Kaori is introduced as a taxi driver working for the remote Kita-Ni Daisuke taxi company in Hokkaido. She is quiet, reserved, and carries the heavy burden of her brother’s infamy. Living in a small apartment above a soba shop, she has distanced herself from the yakuza world entirely, trying to build an honest life through grueling night shifts driving a cab through blizzards. It is eventually revealed that the intense pressure