Born as the second son of Mori Yoshinari, Nagayoshi became head of the Mori clan upon the deaths of both his father and older brother in battle in 1570. He served Oda Nobunaga and participated in the attack and annihilation of the Takeda clan in 1582, capturing Iida Castle and Takatoo Castle in hard-fought battles. He was awarded a 20,000-koku fief of 4 districts of Kawanakajima in Shinano as well as Uozu Castle.

In June of that year, the situation in Shinano became unstable upon Nobunaga's death, and Nagayoshi fled back to his former stronghold, Kaneyama Castle in Mino. He died fighting against Tokugawa's forces in 1584 (it was said that he died instantly from a rifle bullet between the eyes). His younger brother Mori Tadamasa became the next clan head.

Mori Yoshinari started out as a vassal of the Saitou Clan before going to Oda Nobunaga around 1555. He was killed fighting against the Asai and Asakura clans. His sons, Mori Ranmaru and Mori Nagayoshi, also served Nobunaga.

A vassal of the Uesugi Clan who supported Uesugi Kagetora at the onset of the Otate no Ran, but defected to Uesugi Kagekatsu's side when promised reward by Yasuda Akimoto. He served a large role in the negotiations with Takeda Katsuyori. However, at the conclusion of the war he was not given the reward he was promised. Learning that the reason was advice from Yamazaki Hidenori, a Confucian scholar close to Kagekatsu, he assaulted and killed Hidenori at Kasugayama Castle as he was engaged in conversation with Naoe Nobutsuna. Naoe was also stabbed to death by Hidehiro. Hidehiro was then cut down by Iwai Nobuyoshi and Tozaka Hiroshige, who happened to be present.

An honors student and Yuuri's former classmate in junior high school, he now attends a different senior high school. Yuuri didn't interact with him much when they were classmates, but he saves Murata from bullies. Yuuri nicknames him Glasses-kun.

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.

Narimori became head of his clan at 17 after the death of his father Nagano Narimasa's death in 1561 and his older brother Yoshinari death during the Siege of Kawagoe Castle in 1564. Like his father, he was called a an exceedingly brave warrior.

His father managed to repel several invasions from the Takeda Clan, but after his death Takeda Shingen gathered 20,000 troops for a further assault in 1566. Narimori fought a defensive battle from his main castle of Minowa-jou, but was unable to hold out. He committed suicide along with his entire clan.

Adopted son of Nagao Fujikage and vassal of Uesugi Kenshin who supported Uesugi Kagetora in the Otate no Ran after Kenshin's death. His territory was reduced after the war. In rebellion, he later defected to Oda Nobunaga.

A daimyo of Echigo, who became the head of his clan when his father was killed in battle in 1506. Father of Nagao Harukage and Uesugi Kenshin. Nagao Tamekage was a man of cunning who did not hesitate to strike at his lord's clan, the Uesugi, to gain control of Echigo, and was a noted warrior of many battles.

Takaya and Miya's mother, who left them and her husband when his business failed and he became a violent alcoholic. She changed her name to Nagasue when she remarried. She now lives in Sendai and has a young son.

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. He and Kusama Seibee come from the same village.

Also known as: Yoshie Yoji (吉江与次)
Title: Echizen no Kami

Son of Yoshie Kagesuke, he served Uesugi Kenshin from childhood, and Kenshin had much affection for him. In Kenshin's assault against Asahiyama Castle in 1573, the hot-blooded 14-year-old Kageyasu dashed toward the enemy's gun corps, ignoring Kenshin's efforts to hold him back. Kenshin ordered his vassals to retrieve Kageyasu, resulting in many deaths. Afterwards Kenshin confined Kageyasu and prohibited him from going into battle.

In 1574 Kageyasu married the daughter of Nakajou Kagesuke and succeeded his father-in-law (who had no sons) as head of the Nakajou Clan.

He supported Uesugi Kagekatsu in the Otate no Ran after Kenshin's death along with his father and grandfather and served as his close aide.

After Kawada Nagachika's death in 1581, he was sent to the front lines and defended Ecchuu from Oda Nobunaga along with his father Yoshie Kagesuke but committed suicide in the same year with his father and grandfather when Uozu Castle fell. It's said that he was engaged in battle so constantly that he never set foot in the main castle of the Nakajou Clan from his succession to his death.

One of Koganezawa Kyouko's former boyfriends.

Morino Saori's friend in the Tennis Club at Jouhoku High, who sees the ghost of a blood-stained old man in the locker room.

Also known as: Nagao Kagetaka (長尾景孝), Nagao Toukurou (長尾藤九郎)
Title: Yamato no Kami (大和守)

Historically: Son of Nagao Akikage, he became head of the Sousha-Nagao Clan at a young age. He later (around 1545) passed the position to his younger brother Nagao Kagefusa. When the clan was destroyed by Takeda Shingen and their territory lost, the family escaped into Echigo. There Kagefusa became a monk, and Kagetaka was adopted by Naoe Sanetsuna when he married Sanetsuna's daughter, Osen-no-Kata. He succeeded his adopted father as master of Yoita Castle in 1577 and was a vassal of Uesugi Kenshin. He promptly took the side of Uesugi Kagekatsu during the war for succession after Kenshin's death and mobilized the members of the Naoe Clan at the castle to subdue Kagetora's troops.

After the intra-house war and Kagekatsu's victory, a question of reward was called into question. Yasuda Akimoto, one of Kagekatsu's trusted commanders, had promised rewards to Shibata Shigeie, Mouri Hidehiro, and others to convince them to join Kagekatsu's side. However, Yamazaki Hidenori, Naoe, and others objected, for they had risked life and limb at Kasugayama Castle from the very beginning of the battle, while Shibata Shigeie and the others had been lured by promise of reward from Yasuda Akimoto.

Yasuda Akimoto committed suicide when he could not keep his promise of reward. Later, Mouri Hidehiro, carrying a grudge for his death, murdered Yamazaki Hidenori at Kasugayama Castle; Naoe, who was with him at the time and took up a sword to defend himself, was killed as well. His death ended the Naoe line, which Kagekatsu later resurrected by marrying Naoe's widow, Osen-no-Kata to Higuchi Kanetsugu and commanding him to take the Naoe name.

In Mirage of Blaze: According to Kousaka Danjou, and Houjou Ujiteru he was the ringleader of Uesugi Kagekatsu's forces in the Otate no Ran. He is now Uesugi Kagetora's protector and one of the Yasha-shuu under his command. He alone, as Kagetora's protector, was given the power to perform kanshou on other souls, a power he used to force Kagetora's soul into Minako's body.

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'.

Also known as: Natsume Kinnosuke (夏目金之助)

A writer who was considered the foremost novelist of the Meiji Era in Japan. His picture appeared on the Japanese blue D series 1000-yen note, which was issued from 1984-2004.

Race: Human

A psychic assigned to the Special Inquiry Division charged with investigating Wide-Area Peculiarities #36, Reiko was previously in private practice after growing up in a temple. She is familiar with ritual methods of exorcism, can sense spiritual energy, and has considerable spiritual stamina herself.

She is described as intelligent and strong of will. She's around 30, wears her hair in a smooth bob-cut, is tall and slender, and has 'the look of an office lady'.

One of the ringleaders of the Kasuke Uprising executed with Tada Kasuke, from Nire Village. His daughter Jun was also executed.

Obu Toramasa, who according to some accounts was a descendant of Minamoto no Yoshiie, was a chief vassal of the Takeda Clan who first served Takeda Nobutora, then his son Takeda Shingen, and later became tutor to Shingen's eldest son Yoshinobu. He was one of Shingen's Twenty-Four Generals and was nicknamed "The Wild Tiger of Kai." However, he was implicated in a plot to rebel against Shingen by Yoshinobu and was forced to commit suicide at the age of 62.

An actor from Kanagawa, Japan who has appeared in around 10 movie roles and 15 television roles, including narration for Tokyo Broadcasting System's ongoing documentary series, World Heritage from 1996-2001.

The manager of a Japanese inn and hot spring in Iya where Ushio used to work.

A high school friend of Tachibana Yoshiaki whose family also owns a temple. He studied Buddhism in college to obtain his monk's license, but decided to work in a company after graduation instead. He currently works as a secretary for Hazama Shigeharu, whom he admires, at Hazama Confectionery. He recommends Naoe to Hazama when Hazama begins dreaming of a princess from antiquity.

Father of Oniwa Tsunamoto who served three generations of the Date Clan. He died at the Battle of Hitotoribashi, in which he was a commander despite his advanced age.