Characters
Yoshioka Kiichi Hogen
Hogen means a master of wartime tactics, including sword skills. Kiichi is the head of the Yoshioka family, which served the Genji clan. He is the oldest of three sons and has inherited the household. In order to keep his household intact and maintain the secret strategy book, a key text for the Genji clan, he feigns loyalty to the Heike clan.
Torazo, actually Ushiwakamaru
The eighth son of Genji leader Minamoto Yoshitomo. He later takes the name Yoshitsune. He learned sword work under Kiichi when training as a monk at Mt. Kurama. He seeks the secret book of strategy to resurrect the fallen Genji clan, and enters Kiichi’s household in disguise as a servant alongside Kisanda. Princess Minazuru falls in love with him.
Chienai, actually Kisanda
Kiichi’s youngest brother. He was raised deep in the mountains with his other brothers and has no memory of Kiichi. He follows Ushiwakamaru and serves Kiichi in disguise as a servant in order to determine whether Kiichi is on the Genji side.
Princess Minazuru
Kiichi’s daughter. She is an expert swordsman and easily beats her father’s student Tankai when a fight takes place. She has fallen in love with Torazo, but discovers that he is actually Ushiwakamaru from the enemy camp.
Kasahara Tankai
A Heike warrior and Kiichi’s head student. He is arrogant and tries to take advantage of his master’s power to marry Princess Minazuru and succeed Kiichi’s household. He sees through Ushiwakamaru’s disguise and threatens to report this to Kiyomori, but is killed by Ushiwakamaru.
Yoshioka Kijiro
Kiichi’s younger brother and Kisanta’s older brother. After losing the Genji rebellion, he escaped the Heike’s watchful eye by becoming a gang leader in the mountains. He reunites with and marries his fiancé Okyo and dedicates himself to the Genji clan. To confirm the true intentions of Tokiwa Gozen, he manages to enter Lord Ichijo’s mansion with Okyo.
Okyo
Kijiro’s wife. Her father was on the Genji side and had been forced to commit suicide by Kiyomori. She is the older sister to Benkei, who will later become a trusted Genji servant. In order to get close to Tokiwa Gozen, she serves Lord Ichijo as an actress and looks for the opportunity to meet Tokiwa.
Ichijo Okura
He is known as the city’s biggest fool, spending his days in idle play. In reality, he is just pretending to be mad in order to survive Heike rule and eventually resurrect the Genji family. He reveals his identity to Genji supporters Kijuro and his wife and confesses his secret desire. He later supports the Genji army in its attempt to overthrow the Heike.
Tokiwa Gozen
Previously Yoshitomo’s mistress. When he is overthrown, she becomes the concubine of the victor Kiyomori in order to save her children (one of whom is Ushiwakamaru). She later marries Lord Ichijo. She is rumored to do nothing but play archery every night, but she maintains strong resentment against Kiyomori.
Yatsurugi Kageyu
Senior servant to Lord Ichijo. He has been installed as a spy by a Heike supporter. When he learns Lord Ichijo’s true intentions, he moves to report this to the Heike side.
Naruse
Kageyu’s wife. Her recommendation led to Okyo’s appointment as actress under Lord Ichijo. After her husband is killed, she commits suicide to show that she is not on his side.
