The main character of the story. A 16-year-old girl who originally came from Aomori to Kyoto to become a maiko. However, things don’t go her way. She is too laid-back and isn’t cut out for being a maiko candidate. Having to give up on her dream so quickly, she starts getting ready to go back to her village in Aomori. However, just before leaving, the old woman who was previously working as the cook at the maiko lodge hurts her back and is not able to perform her duties anymore. Thus, Kiyo stays at the lodge to work as the cook in her stead.

Kiyo’s childhood friend who comes to Kyoto with her. Kiyo calls her “Su-chan.” Sumire is a buzz on the streets, with people saying she has “rare gifts that only come along once every 100 years” and “strong self-discipline.” She debuts as a maiko and is given the name “Momohana.” She’s a hard worker who lives up to the praises she receives.

Kiyo and Su-chan’s childhood friend. He continued on to high school in Aomori and joined the baseball team. He gained a lot of attention within the prefecture for his pitching, but unfortunately he suffered an injury. After that, he moved to Kyoto and started training as a chef at a Western-style restaurant.

A middle-ranking maiko at the lodge. When she’s not working, she sports a pair of glasses. Out of the “big sisters,” or senior maiko, she receives the most requests from guests. Tsurukoma hails from Yokohama City in Kanagawa. She likes polka dots and always wears polka dot pajamas around the lodge on her days off. She does her work as a maiko flawlessly and is very well put together, but in private she is rather unkempt.

The proprietress of the maiko lodge. The maiko and maiko candidates there are very attached to her and call her “Mother.” She is the youngest “Mother” in Hanamachi (she’s still under 30) and does not enjoy the company of the other propriestresses.

One of the men who goes in and out of the lodge, taking care of the maiko. While he was helping Kiyo put on her kimono when she was studying to be a maiko, he was troubled by her lack of finesse. So, when Kiyo shows her resourcefulness and ability to help out in the kitchen, he is taken aback.

She lives in Aomori. She taught Kiyo how to cook.