A student at Old Castle High School in junior class C who has been friends with Inaba Akemi since junior high.
She has something of a reputation for going through boyfriends quickly and decides to seduce Chiaki Shuuhei, her Math teacher. She is manager of the rugby team and gets Chiaki to agree to be the team's advisor in Kobayashi's place.
The head abbot of Jikou Temple belonging to the Shingon school whom Naoe asks to help train Takaya in his powers. He is an old acquaintance of Naoe (Tachibana Yoshiaki)'s family and knows something of Naoe true powers.
Kokuryou is about 70 years of age and of short stature, but remarkably active. Ayako describes him as a stubborn person who is scary when mad, so is on her best behavior around him.
Kokuryou Keinosuke's wife, a kindly woman who dies in the attack of Jikou Temple by Kousaka Danjou.
Kondou Tsunahide became a vassal of Houjou Ujiteru in 1581 and was active in the south-west region of Musashi. After Ujiteru took Shimotsuke, Tsunahide was tasked with the governance of Enomoto, one of its territories, and given Enomoto Castle. He was entrusted with great authority, and was also involved in diplomatic negotiations with the Katakura of the Date Clan.
During the Siege of Odawara, he died in battle at Hachiouji Castle.
A Red Whales account who was in cahoots with Katsuragi Ichizou to rob the organization. Ichizou later uses this fact to blackmail him into revealing information about Takaya.
A Zen priest of the Rinzai sect invited by Date Terumune, Date Masamune's father, to teach the young Masamune Buddhism and Sinology.
A Japanese impressionist and comedian.
A member of the Red Whales' star-stealing operation elite team who is ambushed along with Kusama and Ushio by the Sogou. He is killed in the battle.
Also called: Kousaka Danjou Masanobu (高坂弾正昌信), Kousaka Danjou Nosuke Masanobu (高坂弾正忠昌信), Kasuga Toratsuna (春日虎綱), Kasuga Gensuke (春日源助)
Title: Danjou Nosuke/Faithful True-Shot (弾正忠)
Historically: One of Takeda Shingen's most loyal retainers who was one of his Twenty-Four Generals and played a key part in the fourth battle of Kawanakajima.
Kousaka was born in Kai to a wealthy farmer, Kasuga Ookuma (?) (春日大隈). His father died when he was 16, and he lost a lawsuit against his elder sister's husband for ownership of his father's lands. He then enrolled in the service of Takeda Shingen.
Kousaka first served as a messenger for Shingen. He distinguished himself in battle, and rose swiftly through the ranks of Shingen's trusted retainers. He participated in most of Shingen's battles. He did not hesitate to retreat when required, which earned him the nickname of "Escaping Danjou". However, he was calm and logical in the midst of battle, and was perhaps the best of Shingen's generals.
There are anecdotes that in his younger days, Kousaka and Shingen were engaged in a shudo relationship, and Kousaka rose so quickly in Shingen's service because of Shingen's affection.
After Shingen's death in 1573, Kousaka continued on to serve Takeda Katsuyori. He sought an alliance between the Takeda clan and their old enemy, the Uesugi clan, in order to unite against the threat of Oda Nobunaga.
Kousaka died in 1578 of illness at the age of 52. He was succeeded by his second son, Kousaka Masamoto (高坂昌元), his first son, Kousaka Masazumi (高坂昌澄) having died in the Battle of Nagashino in 1575.
In Mirage of Blaze: A kanshousha who, along with Sanjou-no-Kata, breaks the barrier over Takeda Shingen's tomb, the Maenduka, in an attempt to resurrect Shingen by using Narita Yuzuru as a vessel for his spirit.
According to Haruie, Kousaka has a high level of spiritual sensing ability (reisa), such that he is able to recognize someone he had met before even after their soul has undergone purification. He warns Naoe that Narita Yuzuru's existence is a threat to the Roku Dou Sekai.
A member of the Red Whales commandos serving under Takaya, formerly of the Muroto corps, who sexually assaults Takaya along with Miyagi and Nobe in the belief that it would allow their former commander Hyoudou Hayato to assume command of the unit.
Kuki Yoshitaka was the 8th head of the Kuki Clan and Kuki Navy. He was born in Shimo Province as the second son of Kuki Sadataka and served both Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi in a brilliant career encompassing many campaigns, including the siege of the Ikkou Sect at Ishiyama Hongan Temple, during which he built armored ships to rebel fire from the Mouri Navy.
Yoshitaka also participated in the Subjugation of Kyuushuu in 1587 and the Siege of Odawara in 1590. He retired in 1597 in favor of his second son, Kuki Moritaka. However in the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600, he fought on the Toyotomi side while his son fought for Tokugawa Ieyasu. Moritaka begged Ieyasu for his father's life, which Ieyasu granted, but Yoshitaka committed suicide before the message reached him.
Homeroom teacher for Old Castle High School's junior B class.
A vassal of the Uesugi Clan, master of Kurokawa Castle. He fought in the Battles of Kawanakajima under Uesugi Kenshin.
He supported [{Uesugi Kagetora]] in the Otate no Ran after Kenshin's death and mounted an offensive against Tossaka Castle belonging to the Chuujou Clan on Kagekatsu's side, but was attacked in his turn. Tossaka Castle later fell and was plundered, but Kiyozane returned to the Uesugi Clan through mediation from Date Terumune.
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'.
Kushima Masashige was master of Takatenjin Castle in Tootoumi and father of Houjou Tsunashige and Houjou Tsunafusa. His family served the Imagawa Clan for generations, and it is likely that he served Imagawa Ujichika. There are theories that he died in battle with Takeda Nobutora in the service of the Imagawa Clan or at the Battle of Iidagawara serving the Houjou Clan, among others.
Race: Mazoku
Race: Human
A friend of Inaba Akemi at Old Castle High School in junior class B.
Widow of City Councilor Gotou who meets with Sakaki and Reiko during their investigation into his unnatural death.
Maeda Toshiie was born the fourth son of Maeda Toshimasa in Owari Province. He served Oda Nobunaga beginning in 1551 at the age of 13. When his father died in 1560, his oldest brother Toshihisa succeeded as head of the Maeda Clan, but in 1569 Toshiie suddenly became clan head by Nobunaga's decree.
After Nobunaga's death at Honnou Temple, Toshiie battled Toyotomi Hideyoshi under Shibata Katsuie but was defeated at the Battle of Shizugatake. Thereafter he served Hideyoshi and became one of his greatest generals, eventually being named by Hideyoshi to the Council of Five to protect and guide Hideyoshi's son Toyotomi Hideyori. However, Toshiie died of illness a year after Hideyoshi.
A member of the Red Whales' intelligence unit who questions Naoe and learns that he is Uesugi.
Legend has it Holy Priest was an ascetic monk who lived during the Nara Period. His names means "ten thousand scrolls", signifying his vow to read a sutra every day until he had read ten thousand volumes. He is said to be the founder of Hakone Shrine as well as the one who reformed the evil nine-headed dragon of Lake Ashi.
Holy Priest Mankai was a one-eyed mountain ascetic who built a temple in Mutsu-no-Kuni, Miyagi-gun. Legend has it that Date Masamune, as he approached death and while deciding upon the place where he would be laid to rest, vividly recalled that he was the reincarnation of this man.
Son of Masaki Michitsuna who served the Satomi Clan. His father and older brother died in the Satomi intra-clan battle in 1533; though Tokishige was also injured, he managed to escape with his life. He was known to be an excellent spearman.
Matsuda Hideharu (or possibly Naohide (直秀)—opinions differ) was the second son of Matsuda Norihide. He served Houjou Ujinao and reported the betrayal of his father and older brother during the Siege of Odawara. He followed Ujinao to exile on Mt. Kouya after the fall of the Houjou; after Ujinao's death, he served the Kaga-Maeda Clan.
Matsuda Katsuhide, who was distantly related to Matsuda Norihide, was selected by Ujiyasu along with his older twin brother Matsuda Takahide to be part of Ujimasa's personal unit of samurai. When Ujimasa later removed Takahide from his inner circle and reduced his territory, Takahide and Katsuhide turned to the Satomi Clan along with their followers.
In Mirage of Blaze: Katsuhide later becomes kanshousha along with his brother. He duels with Ujiteru at Oowaku Valley and is defeated; his soul is destroyed by the Houjou spirit-lion.
Matsuda Norihide was eldest son and heir to Matsuda Morihide and the chief vassal with the highest position in the Houjou Clan.
The Matsuda Clan, which had successively served the Houjou Clan since the time of Houjou Souun, held a vast fief of 2798-kan under the Houjou. Norihide's mother was Houjou Tsunashige's younger sister. He served Ujiyasu as a shrewd internal administrator and also fought in several of his battles, including the invasion of Suruga and the Battle of Kounodai against the Satomi Clan.
After Ujiyasu's death Norihide served Ujimasa, and in Toyotomi Hideyoshi's Siege of Odawara took the side of those in favor of resistance to the bitter end. However, he and his eldest son Kasahara Masataka were persuaded by Hori Hidemasa to switch sides, a fact discovered by his second son Matsuda Hideharu and reported to the Houjou. Houjou Ujinao placed Norihide under confinement and forced Masataka to commit suicide. It is said that this is the incident that resulted in the Houjou's surrender.
Hideyoshi, in condemnation of Norihide's disloyalty, had him commit ritual suicide. Hideharu followed Ujinao to Mt. Kouya and after his death served the Maeda Clan.
Matsuda Takahide, who was distantly related to Matsuda Norihide, was selected by Ujiyasu along with his younger twin brother Matsuda Katsuhide to be part of Ujimasa's personal unit of samurai. Takahide became one of Ujimasa's most trusted vassals, but his arrogance and belligerence caused strife and discontent within the clan, which led to Ujimasa finally removing him from the group of vassals directly serving him and greatly reducing his territory.
Enraged, Takahide and Katsuhide turned to the Satomi Clan along with their followers, though not before seeking their revenge on Ujimasa by gang-raping Saburou.
The Matsuda brothers received a tepid welcome from the Satomi. Takahide later induced Matsuda Norihide to betray the Houjou to Toyotomi Hideyoshi during the Siege of Odawara in order to curry favor with Hideyoshi, but the plan backfired when Hideyoshi, disgusted by Norihide's cowardice, commanded him to commit suicide. The Satomi, fearing Hideyoshi's wrath, had Takahide assassinated.
In Mirage of Blaze: Takahide becomes kanshousha and an assassin of the Satomi in order to seek revenge on Ujimasa. He duels with Ujimasa, is shot by Kotarou, and his soul is annihilated by the Houjou spirit lion.
Also known as: Suzuki Sueshichi (birth), Matsuken, Ken-sama (nicknames)
An actor and singer who is known for roles in historical TV dramas. He has acted in more than 20 TV dramas, including Zatoichi, Abarenbou Shogun, Kusa Moeru, and Genroku Ryoran and released more than 10 albums.
The abbe of Uragami Cathedral, who is described as a man around forty years of age with a calm, gentle countenance. He is introduced to Naoe by Yanase Riho, and accepts the Maria Kwannon for the cathedral.
Also known as: Matsunaga Danjou Hisahide (松永弾正久秀), Matsunaga Soutei (松永霜台)
Initally a vassal of the Miyoshi Clan who served Miyoshi Nagayoshi as his private secretary, Hisahide was both a warrior and a tea master who would be regarded by history as a schemer and something of a villain.
Miyoshi Nagayoshi gave his daughter to Hisahide in marriage, but Hisahide turned against his master. He was rumored to have poisoned Nagayoshi's son and heir, Miyoshi Yoshioki, and Nagayoshi's three brothers died under mysterious circumstances between 1561-1564. In 1564 at Nagayoshi's death, all that stood between Hisahide and the Miyoshi domain was the young Miyoshi Yoshitsugu, whom Nagayoshi had seleted as heir, and his guardians the "Miyoshi Triumvirate", Miyoshi Nagayuki, Miyoshi Masayasu, and Iwanari Tomomichi.
Hisahide briefly joined forces with the Triumvirate against the Shogun, Ashikaga Yoshiteru, who was forced to commit suicide. Thereafter he fought against the Miyoshi Clan and later submitted to Oda Nobunaga and served him for a few years after 1568.
In 1573, however, he was already conspiring against Nobunaga with Miyoshi Yoshitsugu—then turned back to Nobunaga and destroyed the remaining Miyoshi Clan. In 1577, he rebelled against Nobunaga again and in the end committed suicide at Shigisan Castle when besieged by Oda's army (though first smashing a priceless tea kettle, the "Hiragumo", which Nobunaga had coveted).
A third-year at Hanayama Girls' School whose class field trip coincides with Takaya's at Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. She believes her friend Hokamura Narumi was kidnapped and asks Takaya and company's help to find her.
Also known as: birth—Matsuzaki Shigeyuki (松崎茂幸), popular nickname—Matsu (マツ)
A singer and actor based in Tokyo.
Takaya's homeroom teacher for Year Two Class 3 at Jouhoku High.
Also known as: Yoshihime, Youtokuin (陽徳院)
Only daughter of Tamura Kiyoaki who married Date Masamune in 1579 at the age of 12. An assassination attempt against Masamune caused him to suspect the Tamura clan, and he ordered the executions of Megohime's nurse and several of her attendants. Their marital relations became strained by these events, but were eventually mended, and Megohime gave Masamune four children, including his heir Date Tadamune.
She lived at the Date mansion in the court of Toyotomi Hideyoshi and acted as her husband's diplomat to the court. In 1636, at the death of Masamune, Megohime became a nun and took the Buddhist name of Youtokuin.
Miho appears to be a girl of about thirteen, who calls herself king of the mountain gods [of Shikoku]. She wears a traditional straw raincoat and sometimes a namahage mask. She carries the stone dagger Amahome, made from a piece of the Life-Ripping Star. She has powers of her own as well as the aid of supernatural creatures of Shikoku, including her familiar, Mihoto. She is on a quest to defeat the 'red-eyed beast' which legend says will destroy Shikoku. She claims Naoe as her 'Kebesu', the companion who will help her complete her quest.
Miho doesn't actually seem to have a name of her own; the name 'Miho' is given her by Ichizou, who seems to think she looks like his love from his previous life, whose name was Miho.
Mihoto is a shapeshifter who appears to be Miho's familiar. A large black bear-like creature and small black spider are two of his more common shapes.
Miike Tetsuya's uncle (older brother of Tetsuya's father), who is current head of the Miike family, the Spirit-Protector.
He is in his mid-forties. Chiaki describes him as looking like an intellectual who is endowed with a special kind of dignity and looks stylish in a kimono.
Miike Tetsuya's father and the Miike Spirit-Protector before Miike Haruya. He was murdered nine years ago.
Twin sister of Miike Tetsuya who went missing a year ago. She was the Bonfire Maiden five years ago, when strange things happened during the festival. Afterwards the Miike family began calling her Asara and treated her like royalty.
Miike Tetsuya's granduncle, who took him and his sister Miike Hokage in after their father died and their mother left. He lives in Yakuin Field with his wife, Tetsuya's (unnamed) grandaunt.
He is a Miike Celebrant.
After leaving to live by himself in Kumamoto, Tetsuya never contacts them unless necessary.
One of Takaya's classmates at Old Castle High School in junior class B who is something of a loner and delinquent. He's known Inaba Akemi since they were children and lives on his own. He has short hair with the front sticking up, which Akemi calls a 'hedgehog head'.
The Japanese priest to whom the former Jesuit missionary Torabas gives his statue of the Maria Kwannon.
As a vassal of the Rokkaku Clan, Sadamochi fought against Oda in the siege of 1570 and died in battle. Afterwards the remnants of Mikumo and other powerful local clans left Rokkaku and submitted to Oda.
A junior at Old Castle High School in class 2-A who is president of the student council and holds an iron grip over the school. She appears to have the principal's support and even has the power to fire teachers.
Minamoto no Yoritomo was a warlord of the late Heian and early Kamakura Periods, born as third son of Minamoto no Yoshitomo, heir of the Minamoto (Seiwa Genji) clan. He founded and became the first shogun of the Kamakura Shogunate. He ruled from 1192 until 1199.
Title: Chinjufu-shogun (Commander-in-chief of the Defense of the North)
A general of the Heian Period who was head of the Minamoto Clan and, along with his son Minamoto no Yoshiie, led the Imperial forces against rebellion in the north in the Zenkunen (Early Nine Years War) and Gosannen (Later Three Years War) wars. Both conflicts were a struggle for power within the samurai clans, and fought in Mutsu Province in northern Honshuu.
The Zenkunen was fought against the powerful Abe Clan, a member of whom, Abe no Yoritoki, was military general of Mutsu in charge of controlling the Emishi and Ainu natives and who clashed with the Court-appointed Governor.
The Gosannen was fought against the Kiyohara Clan and arose from a long series of quarrels.
