Osaki family ; / : :A 17-year-old high school girl with a love of that she developed while watching her father, a former . As a child, she got angry whenever a classmate or their parents looked down on her father for his chosen career, and hates that he was forced to give up his dream and get a "real job". Akane becomes a formal apprentice, starting at the first rank known as after graduating high school, under Shiguma Arakawa (VI). ; / : :A former who used the
stage name "Shinta Arakawa" while studying under Shiguma Arakawa (VI); he was expelled following his promotion test. Before the test, he participated in events with his friends Chocho Konjakutei and Taizen Arakawa. After leaving the Arakawa School, he became a
salaryman, selling concrete. ; :
Arakawa School Arakawa masters ; : :The top-ranked master and head of the Arakawa School, who is considered one of the greatest of his generation. Six years ago, he was the chief judge who expelled Akane's father and the other applicants. He is the first-born son of the Kurogane family who was disowned for his vow of independence, and later worked at Soba Shop Kikuhiko with Shiguma (VI). Educated in the Kashiwaya school as . ; (VI) : :The number two master of the Arakawa School who specializes in sentimental tales of the style and who taught Akane's father. After Shinta was expelled, Shiguma felt unfit to take on any more pupils. But he has been secretly teaching Akane for the last six years, and agrees to formally take her on as a pupil after she graduates high school, which is unusually late. Grew up without formal education in the backstreets of Tokyo, later working at Soba Shop Kikuhiko with Issho. Born as , he was educated in the Kashiwaya school as and later inherited the legendary '''' stage name of his master, Shiguma Arakawa V (formerly Kiroku Kashiwaya), who also founded the Arakawa School. ; : :The media-savvy master of the Arakawa School who also acts in the television drama
Yin-Yang Cops. He is billed as the brains behind the Arakawa School. ; : :Zensho holds a grudge against Shiguma; he is honest to his feelings. ; :Nicknamed "The Furious". Before becoming a , he participated in events with his friends Shinta Arakawa and Chocho Konjakutei. After he tearfully begged Zensho for Shinta's reinstatement, Zensho made him feel responsible for the expulsion by telling him Issho faulted Taizen for not making a larger impact like Chocho after Taizen was promoted to , the year before the disastrous test. ; : :The most senior pupil under Master Shiguma after Shinta was expelled and a highly popular performer. He fancies himself a ladies' man and acts in a carefree manner, but is deeply caring to his master, fellow pupils, and is the closest student to Shinta. With his strong technical skill and charisma, Maikeru is immensely talented and excel at everything he does, including activities outside of . During the story, he passes his test. ; (V) :The founder of the Arakawa School; he was the master of both Issho (Kisoba) and Shiguma VI (Rokuen) in the Kashiwaya school and formerly used the stage name before he was expelled and revived the name Shiguma Arakawa, as the fifth to take that name. Served as an officer in the Japanese military during World War II at
Rabaul.
Arakawa students ; : :Master Shiguma's youngest pupil until Akane; he joined shortly before Shinta was expelled and just recently reached s second rank of . Assigned to Taizen while Shiguma recovers. ; : :A 28-year-old in his ninth year of under Master Shiguma. Ever since Shinta was expelled, Kyoji is the disciplinarian who keeps the other pupils in line. His seriousness makes the back-and-forth banter in his even funnier. He is a lightweight, and gets drunk after one sip of alcohol. He offers to take Akane under his wing. Educated in the Kashiwaya school as Kiyoichi Kashiwaya. Assigned to Zensho while Shiguma recovers. ; : :A 29-year-old in his 11th year of under Master Shiguma. He is a
Tokyo University graduate and the Shiguma School's best ; master of old literary teachings. He meticulously researches every story he performs, including the daily customs of the period it came from, and turns into a completely different person onstage as far as his appearance and demeanor. Assigned to Ikken while Shiguma recovers. ; : :An obnoxious under Master Issho. He reached that rank at 19-years-old, after only two years of apprenticeship. He is particularly skilled at portraying seductive characters, which makes his silly ones stand out even more. Initially knew Issho as a regular patron of his mother's bar who helped with her hospital bills. ; : :Hikaru competed with Akane and Karashi in the Karaku Cup as Hikaru Koragi; specializes in "heart-warming " and the heretical "eight blind men" technique, which draws upon her strengths as a voice actress. She is a studying under Master Ikken. ; :Kaichi is one of the finalists in the Arakawa event. He is in his 30s, a former salesman who was inspired by Master Issho to leave his job and make his audiences happy; officially, he is Akane's junior, as he joined the Arakawa School later than she did. ; :Taison is a new student of Arakawa school under Master Taizen. He joined the school in the 3 years timeskip when Akane was in France.
Other schools Kashiwaya ; (V) :Master Miroku Kashiwaya (V), aka "The National Treasure", was a alongside Urara, Shiguma, and Issho. He is the fifth to take the name "Miroku"; these stage names are established by legendary and passed down within a school. ; :Rokuro Kashiwaya, aka "The Wonder Child", believes the sound of is paramount and styles his performances after musicians, including
John Coltrane; on "Coltrane days", the story begins in a gentle manner and ends aggressively. He defended Akane from unfair criticism by Rien Konjakuan and warned that her revenge strategy would have repercussions. He got promoted to during the timeskip.
Sanmeitei ; : :Karashi competed with Akane and Hikaru in the Karaku Cup as Karashi Nerimaya; specializes in "adapted ", which takes a classic story and adds modern elements. While somewhat smug and prickly, Karashi very intelligent, observant, and talented in everything he does, including being a two-time champion of the Karaka Cup. He is a studying under master , and was promoted to during the timeskip.
Ransaika ; :Master Urara Ransaika is an , a superstar capable of filling a venue on the basis of her name alone. Urara is the sole apprentice of "The Unteaching", who believed no one could properly inherit his art until he met her. Sharaku performed , set in brothels, which emphasized the importance of dialogue and conversation, and Urara's seductive manner is capable of immersing the audience fully into those settings. Has known Issho/Kisoba, Shiguma (V)/Kiroku, and Shiguma (VI)/Rokuen since 1964, when they met after she was accosted by the son of a (family head).
Konjakutei ; :Master Chocho Konjakutei was the youngest to ever be considered an headliner. He is an inveterate gambler, choosing the story he will perform just before taking the stage, based on a roll of the dice. Before becoming a , he participated in events with his friends Shinta Arakawa and Taizen Arakawa. ; :Asagao was the senior () at the theatre when Akane arrived for her initial training. At that time he was a known to have a hot temper, which cost him a chance for a promotion after he punched Rien Konjakuan for insulting his master. Later, he is promoted to at a debut with Akane, Taizen, and Chocho.
Tsubakiya ; :Master Hassho Tsubakiya prefers his cushion to be precisely from the microphone and performs in a gentle manner. He takes great pride in the craft of and does not wish to see the art cheapened by revenge stunts. ; (IX) :Shomei Tsubakiya is a rare whose name is hereditary, passed on from father to son. The current Shomei is the ninth of the line, and the son of the eighth Shomei Tsubakiya—also known as "The Stain of Tsubakiya". Shomei (IX) is a vice-chair of the Rakugo Federation.
Konjakuan ; :Rien Konjakuan is an inconsiderate nicknamed "the rookie-crusher" for making unreasonable demands of . He has held a grudge against Akane for years after she ridiculed him during one of her first performances.
Other rakugo-related people ; :Gakumon-sensei is a traditional art critic who served as a judge for the event held by the Arakawa school. His granddaughter (daughter of his daughter), Emilie Dupont, lives in Paris and helped Akane when she was sent to Europe for training by Issho. ; : :Kimihisa is a writer for
Monthly Rakugo, a magazine covering the events of . ; : == Production ==