- Kushami--His master, who is not good at his job and quite stupid
- The Kenedas--A conceited couple with a spoiled daughter
- Meitei--Kushami's friend who is fond of jokes and tall tales
- A group of local cats including lovely Mikeko, and violent Kuro
Beautifully illustrated by Japanese artist Chiroru Kobato, this edition provides a visual, entertaining look at a unique period in Japan's history--filled with cultural and societal changes, rapid modernization and a feeling of limitless possibility--through the eyes of an unlikely narrator.