After moving to Tokyo, Noa meets Akiko Nakazono, who forces him to confront a truth that changes his life forever. In the second season of Pachinko, Kilala Inori plays Akiko.
Noa gets admission to Waseda University, where he meets Akiko, a confident student encouraging others to join the fight against American imperialism.
Akiko’s speech leaves a lasting impression on Noa, and he soon finds himself attracted to her. He eventually forgets the girl he liked back home and begins a relationship with Akiko.
Noa and Akiko’s different worlds
Akiko, like Noa, is intelligent and opinionated. However, unlike Noa, she comes from a privileged background—she is Japanese and wealthy.
Furthermore, her father is an influential man; he is the Foreign Undersecretary. Despite these differences, Akiko and Noa are intellectual equals.
Noa’s difficult life experiences give him a perspective that Akiko lacks due to her sheltered upbringing. Through Noa, Akiko gains an understanding of this perspective.
Noa not only understands Akiko in ways she does not understand herself, but he also gives her everything she asks for, never denying her anything.
The only time Noa does not give in to Akiko’s demands is when she asks to meet his secret benefactor, Hansu, whom Noa visits every week.
Despite Hansu’s significance in Noa’s life, Noa is unwilling to share this part of his world with anyone, as he refuses to acknowledge that Hansu is more than just his mother’s family friend.
Noa asks Akiko to let him keep this one thing to himself. He emphasizes how important it is to him that she never meets Hansu, and Akiko seemingly understands.
Forcing Noa to face the truth
Noa’s refusal makes Akiko’s curiosity grow, leading her to unexpectedly show up at Hansu’s house during one of Noa’s visits.
She lies about being invited by Noa and joins them for dinner, much to Noa’s dismay. One meeting with Hansu is enough for Akiko to deduce that Hansu is Noa’s father.
Akiko’s refusal to respect the one boundary Noa set enrages him. He accuses her of seeking attention and dating him, a Zainichi Korean, only because it would cause a scandal.
Noa is furious and wants to end their relationship. He asks her to leave, but Akiko, unwilling to break up, defends herself and refuses to go.
She stays and forces Noa to accept the fact that Hansu is his father, a truth he has always known but never had the courage to acknowledge.
This confrontation escalates, leading to Noa physically hurting her. Following their fight, unable to continue denying the truth, Noa questions Hansu.
When Hansu confirms that he is indeed Noa’s father, Noa decides to leave everything behind and start a new life far away from his family and Hansu.
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