Characters
Sano Jirozaemon
A successful merchant from Sano in today’s Tochigi Prefecture. He is honest and simple, but his father’s sins have been visited on him in the form of pockmarks all over his face. He drops into Yoshiwara during a visit to Edo and encounters the beautiful Yatsuhashi, with whom he falls blindly in love. He is popular in the quarters for his gentle manner, and is resolved to buy Yatsuhashi out of her contract. However, his happiness is soon upended.
Yatsuhashi
A courtesan in Yoshiwara’s Hyogoya pleasure house. She is the leading oiran courtesan of her day. She is the daughter of a samurai, but after her father’s death was sold to the pleasure house. After she agrees to be bought out by the kind Jirozaemon, her lover Einojo forces her to break off with the client.
Tachibanaya Chobei
The owner of the pleasure house employing Yatsuhashi. He saves Jirozaemon from being taken advantage of by an evil tout, and treats him warmly when Jirozaemon starts to frequent the house and meet Yatsuhashi.
Okitsu
Tachibanaya’s wife. Like her husband, she treats Jirozaemon with warmth.
Jiroku
Jirozaemon’s servant. A clumsy but honest servant.
Shigeyama Einojo
A masterless samurai. He and Yatsuhashi had pledged to marry before she went to the pleasure quarters, but he is financially dependent on her. When he learns that Yatsuhashi is soon to be bought out, he angrily rushes to her.
Tsurigane Gonpachi
A servant to Yatsuhashi’s father. He has become her guardian since her sale to the pleasure house. He takes advantage of this to take money from her, supporting his playboy lifestyle. Spiteful when her pleasure house refuses to lend him money and fearing the loss of a financial source when Yatsuhashi is bought out, he uses Eijono to take revenge.
Kokonoe
An oiran in Hyogoya, junior to Yatsuhashi.
Nanakoshi
An oiran in Hyogoya.
Hatsugiku
An oiran in Hyogoya.
Tanbei and Josuke
Merchants accompanying Jirozaemon on his visit to Yoshiwara.
