Utsuzou Mashiroi

Utsuzou is sensitive and deeply uncomfortable with the future Kaguzou Mashiroi has chosen for him. Rather than aspiring to command the Mashiroi Group, he wants to become a kimono designer.

As a child, he becomes extremely close to Nakamura Kyoujirou. At the same time, his father's affection for Kyoujirou creates an inferiority complex, particularly after Kyoujirou is injured protecting him and Kaguzou instinctively rushes to the injured boy.

The resulting mixture of love, jealousy and pressure follows Utsuzou into adulthood.

Utsuzou is born into a powerful yakuza family but is not characterized as a dedicated fighter.

His interests lie outside organized crime, particularly in designing kimono. The series does not establish named combat techniques or unusual physical powers for him.

The Yorozuya are hired by Kaguzou to persuade Utsuzou to leave a storehouse where he has supposedly secluded himself for five years.

Kyoujirou explains Utsuzou's childhood and his resistance to inheriting the Mashiroi Group, allowing Sakata Gintoki to understand the conflict between the two generations.

The person supposedly communicating from the storehouse is not Utsuzou. He had taken his own life years earlier after the pressure surrounding his inheritance became unbearable. Kyoujirou concealed the truth and allowed Kaguzou to believe his son was still secluded there, protecting his adoptive father from the guilt of learning what had happened.

Kaguzou Mashiroi is Utsuzou's father and expects him to inherit the Mashiroi Group despite his son's desire for another life.

Nakamura Kyoujirou is Utsuzou's childhood friend, bodyguard and blood brother. Their bond is complicated by Utsuzou's insecurity over Kaguzou Mashiroi's affection for Kyoujirou.

Sakata Gintoki, Shimura Shinpachi and Kagura are hired to resolve the supposed standoff between Utsuzou and his father.