(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 convention.
Ana – Father Mateo’s housekeeper
Ashikaga Saburo – a cousin of the shogun, and a supervisor in the shogunate’s records office
Ashikaga Yoshiteru* – the shogun of Japan
Den – a stable boy; Masao’s assistant
Father Gaspar Vilela* – The senior Jesuit, and head of the Portuguese mission, in Kyoto
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
Goro – a carpenter
Hattori Hiro – a shinobi (ninja) assassin from the Iga ryu, hired by an anonymous benefactor to guard Father Mateo
Ichiro – Saburo’s son
Izumo – a Japanese acolyte, and Christian convert, who works for the main Jesuit mission in Kyoto
Jun – a maid at the shogunate
Kazu – a shinobi from the Iga ryu, working undercover as a clerk at the shogunate
Luis Álvares – a Portuguese merchant whose weapon sales finance Father Mateo’s work
Magistrate Ishimaki – a judge appointed to oversee justice in Kyoto
Masao – the shogun’s stable master
Matsunaga Hisahide* – a samurai ambassador working on behalf of the Miyoshi clan.
Mayuri – a retired entertainer; owner of the Sakura Teahouse
Miyoshi Akira – nephew of the Miyoshi daimyo (lord), sent to work in Kyoto as an associate of Matsunaga Hisahide.
Netsuko – Saburo’s wife
Oda Nobunaga* — a samurai warlord
Ozuru – a master carpenter, currently working in the shogun’s palace
Suke – a Buddhist monk who frequents Ginjiro’s brewery
Tomiko – Ginjiro’s adult daughter
* Denotes a real historical figure, though all characters are fictionalized for purposes of this novel.