Tarou Maria Sekiutsu

An illegal immigrant of unknown nationality. She is nicknamed quotMataroquot by Kafuka although she refers to herself as do most others as simply quotMariaquot. She purchased the birth certificate of a male student and is attending school under his name. She is fascinated by quotJapan039s abundancequot and hoards food and refuse she finds on the ground or in garbage cans. While Maria frequently displays wild behavior and an unusual abhorrence to panties and shoes her impoverished appearance and illegal status coupled with a bright smile often encourage people to give her things. The name quotSekiutsu Tarquot derives from sekiuttar which means quotYou sold your own register didn039t you?quot or quotI039ll sell you my registerquot. Because of their optimistic personalities Kafuka and Maria get along quite well. Although Maria is legally a boy since she bought the birth certificate of a male student she is actually a girl.