The Red Whales strategist, who was once a direct retainer to the Chousokabe clan. Kusama appears to place a great deal of trust in him, though Reijirou suspects he has ulterior motives. Unlike most of the other Red Whales, he wears traditional Japanese clothes. He is described as a man of impressive vigor and intensity, with a look of keen and penetrating intelligence.
Glossary
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Also known as: 鵜ノ目姫 (Unome-hime)
According to legend, she was the daughter of Inari Ookami, or alternatively the incarnation of a dragon from the sacred pool of Mitai, forcibly taken by Kihachi as his wife.
In Mirage of Blaze: A distant ancestor of the Miike family.
An information trader and spy, 'Puppeteer' Heishirou is thickset with a somewhat comical appearance. Though not a member of the Red Whales, he's invaluable for the news he brings back from the country outside of Shikoku. He is especially close to Nakagawa.
A young man who is described as the foremost captain of the Red Whales.
Eikichi, one of the leaders of the Red Whales, is described as being short and monkey-like. He was a member of the Ichiryou Gusoku. He loves humor, parties, and alcohol.
Nevertheless, he is sharp and a merciless taskmaster.
Deputy head of the Red Whales, Reijirou is described as having slanted eyes and a strong-willed, harsh expression—not unlike that of a bandit. He was a member of the Ichiryou Gusoku. He appears to be more spiritually-sensitive than Kusama.
A possessor spirit who stalks Naoe in Tokyo with the intention of feeding his essence to his magic flute, Kasumimaru. He prefers to take possession of young men.
He learns that Naoe is Uesugi and later joins forces with him.
Also known as: 金八 (Kinpachi), Onhachi, Buddhist Priest Kihachi, Kihachifushi, 走建 (Hashiritakeru, Hasetakeru)
Kihachi is mentioned in the Asahi Daijin (1189) at Takachiho Shrine.
There are many legends about Kihachi, including:
- He served Takeiwatatsu-no-mikoto and ran to retrieve his arrows during the god's target practice. He retrieved 99 arrows, but grew so tired that he retrieved the 100th with his foot. Displeased, Takeiwatatsu-no-mikoto cut off his head. The head rose into the sky and brought frost on the land until it was warmed by a bonfire.
- Onihachi lived in Chichi Cave at the foot of Mt. Nijou. He forcibly took Unome-hime (also known as Asara-hime), daughter of Inari-hime, as his wife and hid her.
- (From the Miyazaki Legends) Similar to the Takeiwatatsu-no-mikoto story, he angered Aso-myoujin of Higo by picking an arrow up with his foot. His wife Asara-hime, an incarnation of a dragon from Mitai, rebelled against him at the behest of Mikeirino-no-mikoto (Mikenu-no-mikoto), whereupon Tabe Shigetaka and others subjugated him, cut him into pieces, and buried the parts in three separate places.
- (From Takachiho) He was a demon who lived in a cave until he was killed by a son of Emperor Jimmu, who cut him to pieces and buried him in three separate places.
- (Also from Takachiho) His real name was Hashiritakeru, a giant spider. He ruled Takachiho, harried the people, and violently carried off beautiful women. He was exterminated by Mikeirino-no-mikoto, his body cut up, and buried in several places. He was described as a god who could make frost at will.
A young information trader who is Murauchi Senzou's protégé. He meets with Naoe at a club in Shinjuku and impresses him with his work ethic. Naoe hires him to search for Takaya.
The leader of the Tosa Red Whales, whose demeanor is described as "deeply serious and sincere". He wants to resurrect Chousokabe Nobuchika to lead the Red Whales'.
A young man who befriends Takaya while backpacking in Iya. He lost his memories after falling off a cliff five years ago. His name was given him by the doctor who treated his amnesia, Dr. Mutou. His first name, Ushio, means "ocean tide". He likes photography and fishing, and is friendly and outgoing.
Takaya recognizes that he is kanshousha, and because of that he is hounded by the Tosa Red Whales to join their group.
The Red Whales' doctor, who mainly treats spirits and succeeds in creating medicine and contact lenses to suppress Kihachi's poison. He is described as a thin delicate-looking young man with a gentle personality. He and Kusama Seibee come from the same village. He also serves as the Red Whales' spymaster.
Possessed by: Takeda Shingen (temporarily)
Ougi Takaya's best friend and an honor student at his school.
Notes: He appears as 'Yuzuru' in narration. Takaya calls him 'Yuzuru'. Naoe calls him 'Yuzuru-san', and Chiaki calls him 'Narita'.
A member of the Red Whales who once belonged to the Tosa Imperialism Party.
A young man who acts as attendant to Chousokabe Nobuchika's attendant at Sekkei Temple. He is a distant relative of renowned Chousokabe retainer Tani Tadazumi and among the Red Whales, is as close to the Chousokabe family as Akutagawa.
A member of the Red Whales who was fifteen or sixteen when he died. A poor country samurai who couldn't afford food or clothing, Utarou joined the Tosa Imperialism Party as a very junior member at the end of the Tokugawa Shogunate (Bakumatsu era) and looked up to Takeichi Hanpeita. He attacked a high-ranking samurai who rode his horse carelessly through Utarou's family's fields, killing their crops. The samurai killed Utarou when Utarou's sword broke.