Vengeful wife of Jiro, manipulates events to destroy Hidetora's clan in Ran.
Yukiko is a schoolmate of Junichi who becomes the subject of a false rumor linking them to an incident in the forest. The gossip threatens her school evaluation and reputation, but she remains focused on her future: she hopes to attend the same school as Junichi, studies history, works part-time, and supports efforts to expand access to public high schools.
Keiko is Kazuo's young assistant and lover. She travels with him to Aomori, where they begin an affair, and later lives with him in Asakusa. After becoming pregnant, she has an abortion and returns to Kazuo, but their relationship ends following arguments. She later begins a relationship with her castmate and gives Kazuo their photograph before they part.
The Midwife assists a woman during a difficult home birth near the end of the story. When the baby’s condition and cloudy amniotic fluid raise concern, she helps prompt an emergency transfer to a hospital. Her role belongs to the closing thread about troubled efforts to create families and the consequences faced by the characters.
A shrine maiden (miko) dispatched to protect Taira no Masakado's grave, who allies with feng shui masters to thwart Kato's final attempts to awaken the ancient spirit.
Voice actress for the celestial maiden sealed in a mirror.
A lonely woman who has become so absorbed in a novelist’s heroine that she calls herself Chisato and tries to live like her. Abandoned as a child, she grew up in an orphanage without official records or nationality. Eisuke Misaki frees her after she is left handcuffed, gives her shelter, and grows close to her; she also says she belonged to Ichio Hanzaki.
Masako is a woman caught in mounting financial trouble who becomes central to the concealment of Yayoi's husband's death. She helps dispose of the body, later considers Akira's offer to earn money disposing of bodies, and faces the danger surrounding Mitsuyoshi Satake. She resents being expected to take responsibility for the others and ultimately admits to having killed someone.
Soichiro Kaji's wife, who suffers from Alzheimer's disease and asks him to kill her. Her request leads to Kaji's imprisonment and becomes central to the questions about their relationship and euthanasia that unfold as others try to understand the case.
Jun's childhood friend, co-worker, and girlfriend. His parents disapprove of their relationship. After Jun kills his parents, she helps him clean blood from the bathroom and disposes of the bodies at the port. She already suspected him of the murders and never liked his parents.
Akiko becomes part of Toshio's life, and after a confrontation with her brother, Toshio offers to marry her if she agrees. As the conflict intensifies, she challenges Toshio over his choices. Later, she is working as a hostess while Toshio is injured and short of money, leaving their future unresolved.
Yuriko is Izumi’s mother, whose Alzheimer’s disease progressively erodes her memory and ability to recognize people and places. After becoming unsafe living alone, she moves to a care residence. She repeatedly asks to see half fireworks, and her confusion during the outing leaves Izumi confronting her fading memories and his unresolved hurt.
Mieko Harada has 105 screen credits in a career dating back to 1974. Their work spans 8 cinematic universes — most prominently The Curiosity Films with 1 titles. Signature works include Ran, Dreams, Village of Dreams. Explore the interactive character relationship maps on each title page to trace how their roles connect across franchises.
Universe traveler — spans 8 universes
Related entry on Wikidata (Q1137010), public domain (CC0).
