Character Relationship Map: Flowing

Characters

• Otsuta (played by Isuzu Yamada) — protagonist

  The head geisha and central figure of the okiya. She faces severe debt, endures pressure from her sister to marry for money, suffers police questioning, and loses her house to Ohama's scheme.

• Katsuyo (played by Hideko Takamine) — supporting

  Otsuta's daughter who lives in the okiya. She is questioned by the police alongside her mother after Namie's uncle files a complaint.

• Nanako (played by Mariko Okada) — supporting

  One of only two remaining geisha in Otsuta's okiya, alongside Someka. She resides with the other household members during their financial crisis.

• Someka (played by Haruko Sugimura) — supporting

  One of only two remaining geisha in Otsuta's okiya. She works alongside Nanako in the struggling household.

• Ohama (played by Sumiko Kurishima) — supporting

  A former geisha and sister of Otsuta who initially tries to help Otsuta find a patron. She ultimately pays off the mortgage only to evict the household and open her own restaurant, offering Rika a job...

Key Relationships

• Nanako → Someka (Alliance Fellow Geisha)
• Otsuta → Someka (Professional Head Geisha)
• Otsuta → Nanako (Professional Head Geisha)
• Otsuta → Ohama (Family Sister)
• Otsuta → Katsuyo (Family Mother)

Story Analysis

A geisha house navigates financial ruin and internal strain, ultimately yielding to a former sister's calculated property takeover.

Plot Progression

1. The Okiya's Fragile Balance
2. Crisis and External Pressures
3. The Debt and Police Intervention
4. Ohama's Takeover and Quiet Resolution