Solomon starts dating Naomi and ultimately betrays her trust. In Pachinko, Anna Sawai plays Naomi.
Solomon meets Naomi at the Tokyo branch of Shiffley’s. Like Solomon, Naomi lived in the US, but unlike him, she has no intention of returning.
They begin working together, but due to Solomon’s competitive nature, they remain distant until Solomon is fired.
A woman always underestimated
Naomi comes from a good family and has received a quality education. Although she had job offers from several top banks, she chose to work at Shiffley’s Tokyo branch.
She chose this branch, where only those who do not get hired by top firms work, because she wanted to surround herself with less accomplished men.
As a woman, she is often underestimated, and she believes that in an environment with less capable men, she has a better chance to rise to the top.
Naomi is smarter and more hardworking than most of her colleagues. She deserves to be in charge, but she and everyone else know that she will never get what she truly deserves.
Solomon does not fail to point out to her that she is practically married to a job that does not value her simply because she is a woman.
Naomi and Solomon’s secrets and betrayal
Naomi starts admiring Solomon when he risks his job to ask Geumja not to sell her land. She feels empowered by his actions.
After Solomon is fired, he changes his behavior toward Naomi, taking responsibility for their previously distant relationship.
He acknowledges that Naomi should be running the place and, even though it might never happen, he tells her that he is genuinely rooting for her. Naomi then asks Solomon out.
On their first date, Solomon makes it clear that he intends to make a name for himself at any cost but assures her that he would never do it at the expense of those who do not deserve it.
Naomi accepts his condition, and they start dating. She even meets Sunja. However, Solomon soon discovers that Naomi has not been entirely honest with him.
Naomi’s family wants her to marry a family friend, a successful man they consider perfect for her. Although Naomi is dating Solomon, she continues seeing this family friend.
When Solomon discovers this, they break up. Solomon then asks Naomi to stop supporting Abe, as she is the only person standing in the way of his goals.
Naomi, dedicated to her work, refuses to participate in Solomon’s revenge and stands by her decisions, prepared to face the consequences.
This leads to Solomon using information Naomi had confided in him to get her fired, knowing that she has always equated getting fired to being disowned by one’s family.
Naomi’s superiors refuse to give her another chance because, as a woman, they unfairly expect her to be flawless, and all of her hard work goes to waste.
