Hana is the protagonist of Picture Bride. While the novel is narrated in the third person, the narration is often situated within Hana’s thoughts and perceptions. At the beginning of the novel, she is a 21-year-old girl living in rural Japan. Her older sisters are married and plan to stay in their hometown. Conversely, Hana wants to travel beyond Oka Village: “Hana knew she wanted more for herself than her sisters had in their proper arranged and loveless marriages. She wanted to escape the smothering strictures of life in her village” (3). Educated at the Women’s School in Kyoto, Hana has access to a wider pool of knowledge than her sisters. Hana’s initiative causes her to volunteer to travel to America as Taro’s fiancée, ironically building her future through an arranged marriage like her sisters. While she yearns for something different, Hana’s nostalgia for Japan resurfaces through her years in America.

Her early days in America are overwhelming as she adjusts to a new country and husband. Early 20th-century gender dynamics restrict Hana’s independence. However, she consistently demonstrates her capability and assertiveness. She brings Taro’s store to its full potential through her awareness of trends. When the family is short on money, she finds a housekeeping position.