Characters
Otomi
Formerly a geisha in Fukugawa, then a mistress of the gangster Genzaemon. She falls in love with Yosaburo at first sight on a beach. When they are caught in a dalliance, she jumps in the river to commit suicide, but is rescued. She now lives in Kamakura in a mistress’s home.
Izuya Yosaburo
Adopted son of a sundries store owner. He is in line to take over the business, but to ensure that the actual son succeeds the father instead, intentionally leads a wayward life so that he is disowned. He falls for Otomi at first sight in Kisarazu and carries on a secret rendezvous with her. He is spotted by her lover, the gangster Genzaemon, who slashes him and gives him 34 scars.
Yasuguro the Bat
A punk nicknamed the Bat because of a tattoo on his right cheek. He comes to blackmail Otomi, but cannot bring himself to hurt her protector, Tazaemon, who has relations with his father.
Izumiya Tazaemon
Head clerk at a major pawnbroker called Izumiya. He happens to save Otomi from a river and looks after her, disguising her as his mistress. The reason they don’t have physical relations is that she is in fact his younger sister, parted from him since childhood. A patient person showing no fear of the Bat or Yosaburo.
Tohachi
Assistant head clerk at Izumiya. He loves Otomi, and asks for shelter from the rain in an attempt to sleep with her. When the Bat and Yosaburo appear looking for money, he tries to look smart and pays them off to get rid of them. But the money was too little, making the situation more complicated.
