Born with unusual translucent gray eyes, Chiyo is a beautiful and perceptive girl from Yoroido. Taken from her family at a young age, she must adapt to the strict, competitive environment of a Kyoto okiya. She remains fiercely determined and deeply idealistic, seeking a way to shape her own future in an unfamiliar city.

A successful, elegant businessman whose actual name is Iwamura Ken. He runs Iwamura Electric and possesses a compassionate nature that contrasts with the harsh realities of Chiyo's world. His small act of kindness leaves a profound mark on her life.

The formidable president of Iwamura Electric. He carries severe burn scars from his military service and demands strict adherence to his standards. He is highly critical but capable of significant loyalty and protection toward those he respects.

One of Gion's most renowned geisha, holding significant financial power within the Nitta okiya. She is wildly jealous and manipulative, actively working to sabotage any potential rivals through lies and psychological torment.

A highly successful and even-tempered geisha who relies heavily on her almanac for guidance. She represents the ideal artisan in Gion and acts strategically rather than impulsively, taking an active interest in shaping Sayuri's career. She maintains her own apartment thanks to the support of a wealthy patron.

The fiercely practical head of the Nitta okiya where Sayuri is placed. Adopted by Granny, she manages the house's finances with a calculating approach, valuing the women solely based on their earning potential. She strictly enforces the rules of the house and controls the apprentices' futures.

A bitter, shriveled woman who previously ran the okiya and adopted both Mother and Auntie. She is notably cruel to the younger girls and rules her immediate surroundings with a harsh, unforgiving demeanor.

A failed geisha who serves as the okiya's housekeeper. She is the most sympathetic of the three senior women, offering practical advice and warnings to help Chiyo avoid the brutal punishments she herself once suffered.

A sweet girl who shares Chiyo's early hardships in the okiya. Driven by a fear of failure, she studies diligently to become a geisha, though her path is heavily influenced by the older women who use her in their rivalries.

A pragmatic and worldly businessman who runs the Japan Coastal Seafood Company. Though he initially appears as a benevolent figure to young Chiyo, he procures girls for work in the city. He operates with a realistic view of poverty and survival.

A frail woman who shares her daughter's unusual translucent gray eyes and water-dominated personality. She is seriously ill during Chiyo's childhood, a condition that prompts significant anxiety for her family before her eventual passing.

An aging fisherman who works at sea to support his family. He is a methodical and practical man whose personality is characterized by the element of wood. Already grieving the loss of his first family, he is weary and easily persuaded by businessmen regarding his daughters' futures.

Sayuri's older sister, who shares their father's wood personality traits. She is less observant than her sister and struggles to understand the reality of their situation when they are taken from Yoroido. She seeks to escape her new circumstances at a brothel.

An affluent, authoritative man who sponsors Mameha. He enjoys his privileges and exercises considerable power in social settings, expecting absolute compliance from the women he patronizes.

A wealthy doctor whose hunched posture earns him a distinct nickname. He has specific interests in young apprentices and enters the competitive social economy of Gion as a highly sought-after patron.

A temperamental and easily frustrated artist known for his ink paintings. He values aesthetic perfection and becomes captivated by unique visual features, demanding long modeling sessions for his art.

A stern man employed to transport young girls to the city. He also works as a dresser in Gion, assisting geisha with the elaborate and physically demanding process of tying their kimonos.

An elderly woman who inspects young girls for their physical health and potential, acting as an evaluator before they are sent to work in the city.

An assistant to Mr. Tanaka in Yoroido who helps facilitate the company's business operations within the fishing village.

Mr. Tanaka's daughter, who quickly befriends Chiyo. She introduces Chiyo to the secret of her father's evening visits to the teahouse.

A young woman at the okiya responsible for booking Hatsumomo's engagements and managing her messages.

A friend and fellow geisha of Hatsumomo who assists her in petty schemes and rivalries against other women in the district.

A high-ranking military official in charge of procurement. He possesses significant authority and resources, making him a highly desirable patron during times of economic uncertainty and impending war.

A dignified young man visiting the district who catches Sayuri's attention, offering her a glimpse of youthful infatuation outside the strict boundaries of geisha patronage.

The Deputy Minister of Finance, whose political and economic power makes him critical to Iwamura Electric. He is prone to heavy drinking and leverages his status in social settings.

A kimono maker and associate of Nobu who provides Sayuri with a place to live and work making parachutes when the geisha districts are closed.

Mameha's dresser, who observes the difficult realities of the geisha lifestyle and maintains a discreet, pragmatic silence about the struggles the young women face.