Characters
Nuregami Chogoro
Top-ranked sumo wrestler. Trying to help out a supporter, he accidentally kills several men and flees as a criminal. He goes to the village of Yawata in hopes of seeing his mother, who now lives there after remarrying.
Yohei (later Nanpo Jujibei)
Son of a local official, but has lost his status and makes his living as a whistle seller. He gains the opportunity to advance after the lord changes and is again appointed local official. His first assignment is to capture Nuregami.
Ohaya
Served at the pleasure quarters in Osaka, but has eloped with Yohei.
Oko
Nuregami’s mother. She gave him up for adoption when he was five. She later married a local official who already had a son, Yohei.
Hanaregoma Chokichi
Appears in Acts II and IV. The son of a rice merchant, he is proud, strong and rambunctious. He wins fans as an amateur sumo wrestler and ends up fighting the popular champion Nuregami. He unexpectedly topples Nuregami, but the latter turns out to have intentionally lost for certain reasons. Learning this, he challenges Nuregami, but they make a pledge as blood brothers. He later saves Nuregami from a tight spot.
Yamazakiya Yogoro
Son of a major shop owner and big fan of Nuregami. He is married but in love with the courtesan Azuma, with whom he runs off. On the way, they are caught and beaten. When Nuregami tries to rescue them, he inadvertently kills the villains.
Fujiya Azuma
Courtesan in Osaka. Loves Yogoro, a supporter of Nuregami. They are caught by the evil Gozaemon as they attempt to elope, but are rescued by Nuregami.
Hiraoka Gozaemon
Samurai and fan of Chokichi. He beats Yogoro in order to take Azuma for himself. Nuregami comes to the rescue, and Gozaemon and his henchman are killed in the ensuing fight.
Oseki
Chokichi’s sister, appears in Act IV. She worries about her short-tempered brother and works hard single-handedly managing the rice shop.
