Her father is a fisherman with a straightforward personality, and her mother is bedridden with illness and shares Sayuri's striking eye color.

Sayuri's older sister who is more like their father in temperament and is initially taken with Sayuri to Kyoto but is placed in a different situation.

The three senior women of the okiya where Sayuri lives; Mother is the business-minded head, Granny is the stern matriarch, and Auntie is the most sympathetic, often helping the girls with their geisha training.

A beautiful, temperamental geisha living in the same okiya as Sayuri, who tries to sabotage her out of jealousy.

A successful geisha who becomes Sayuri’s mentor, guiding her through her apprenticeship and helping her navigate complex social and business challenges.

A fellow apprentice and initially Sayuri's friend in the okiya, known for a trait of curling her tongue like a pumpkin stem.

A seafood company owner who arranges for Sayuri and her sister to be taken from their home, setting Sayuri on her path to becoming a geisha.

A businessman who becomes a central figure in Sayuri’s life after a chance encounter, embodying ideals and aspirations for her.

A colleague of the Chairman, with a military past and facial scars, who shows interest in becoming Sayuri’s patron and holds high expectations for her.

The wealthy patron of Mameha who plays a role in Sayuri's geisha life, hosting events that she is obligated to attend.

An enigmatic doctor with a peculiar interest, involved in significant moments of Sayuri’s journey in the geisha world.

An artist with a keen interest in Sayuri’s unique appearance, leading to modeling sessions that impact her early career.