* A number of characters get their moment to shine, and Mitchell even gets one as a writer with his truly staggering "Gulls..." passage towards the end of the book.
** Jacob stands his ground twice in spectacular fashion; once when [[spoiler: he refuses to sign off on Vorstenbosch's theft and flushes his future down the toilet in the process]] and a second time when [[spoiler: he stands his ground in the middle of cannon fire rather than flee]]. The former earns him the respect of the traders, the latter the respect of the Japanese.
** Magistrate Shiroyama and his Chamberlain's magnificent [[spoiler: ThanatosGambit on Enomoto, dying like pefectly dignified badasses and taking the immortal monster down with them]].