Kokuho

A revered kabuki master and stern patriarch who anchors the Tanba-ya house. He believes in discipline, tradition, and the weight of lineage, guiding his protégés while bearing the burden of a fading era. His decisions shape Kikuo’s fate, even as illness and age threaten his own throne.

An ardent, technically gifted prodigy who passionately pursues Kabuki craft. Bound by a desire to honor his master while resisting the constraints of bloodline, he ascends to leadership but carries the stigma of his past. His devotion to the stage drives him through triumphs and personal costs.

Hanjiro’s heir and brotherly rival, talented but laid-back, often overshadowed by Kikuo’s intense drive. His health and ego are tested as he watches the younger man ascend. He embodies the tension between tradition and personal expression within Kabuki.

A legendary onnagata and Living National Treasure who inspires Kikuo and Shunsuke. He warns of beauty that could become a downfall, serving as both mentor and gatekeeper to the next generation.

Kikuo’s girlfriend who becomes a focal point for his personal and professional conflicts. She grapples with ambition, love, and the societal stigma surrounding a man of yakuza blood.

Hanjiro’s wary wife who values bloodline and tradition. She often clashes with Kikuo on whether a non-traditional path can lead to true leadership in Kabuki.

A geisha who admires Kikuo and becomes a maternal figure in his life, eventually shaping his personal world with Ayase.

The daughter of Kikuo and Fujikoma; a symbol of legacy and personal ties that remain amid public success and private distance.

A Mitomo Corp power broker who sees the Tohan duo as a profitable instrument in market-driven kabuki. His ambitions transform the theatre world.

Kikuo’s father, whose death in a rival attack triggers the vow of revenge and the heavy burden of family honour on Kikuo.

Mitomo employee who dismisses Kikuo’s potential due to hereditary bias, igniting a confrontation that foreshadows the tragedy of bloodline politics.

The young version of Kikuo, whose early bond with Shunsuke and mentorship by Hanjiro sets the foundation of the coming storm.

The younger Shunsuke who forms a fraternal bond with Kikuo, sharing the rigors of theatre training and a brewing rivalry.