ASUKA

Asuka is a fictional character created by writer/director Mengxi Rao based on Nate's real experience in Japan. The name in Japanese means "flying bird". In the film, Asuka is American, a friend of Nate's who moved to Japan after 21.

"Asuka has four fake IDs. She started to go to bars since the age of 17. Never know where did she get those. When she finally reached the age she went off to Japan, to teach English in a small town whose name doesn’t make any sense to any Americans. For the first time she walked into a bar and proudly presented her real ID, and got completely drunk that night. Nate had to carry her all the way back to his apartment and let her rest on his couch. Good bye New York that’s what she said. She left on the next morning. By plane. With a huge headache and tears in her eyes. That must be from the headache. She said. I am not beaten. I shall never be."

-- excerpt from White Mushroom, Black Earth