Cast of Characters

(in alphabetical order)

Where present, Japanese characters’ surnames precede their given names, in the Japanese style. Western surnames follow the characters’ given names, in accordance with Western conventions.

Akechi Yoshiko, a female samurai

Ana, Father Mateo’s housekeeper

Basho, a wealthy Kyoto rice merchant

Chikao, a sake brewer; half owner of the Lucky Monkey brewery

Eba, owner of the Golden Buddha teahouse

Father Mateo Ávila de Santos, a Christian priest from Portugal, currently working in Kyoto

Gato, Hiro’s cat

Ginjiro, a sake brewer; owner of Ginjiro’s brewery

Hama, Basho’s wife

Hattori Hiro, a shinobi (ninja) assassin from the Iga ryu, hired by an anonymous benefactor to guard Father Mateo

Jiro, Basho’s apprentice

Kaoru, Chikao’s adult son

Luis Álvares, a Portuguese merchant whose weapons sales finance Father Mateo’s work

Magistrate Ishimaki, a judge appointed to oversee justice in Kyoto

Matsunaga Hisahide*, a samurai warlord who siezed Kyoto in June 1565

Mayuri, a retired entertainer; owner of the Sakura Teahouse

Mina, Chikao’s wife

Oda Nobunaga*, a samurai warlord

Ozuru, a shinobi assassin from the Koga ryu, on assignment and posing as a carpenter in Kyoto

Ren, a sake brewer; half owner of the Lucky Monkey brewery

Suke, a Buddhist monk who frequents Ginjiro’s brewery

Tomiko, Ginjiro’s adult daughter

Yoka, Ginjiro’s wife

 

 

 

* Designates a historical figure. (All other characters are fictitious.)