Gintarō is the herald of the Saeki Shrine, a divine messenger fox spirit who has served the shrine and its deities for many generations. He is a long-lived spiritual being, having watched over the Saeki family for at least fifteen generations of human successors. In physical form, he appears as a large, imposing, anthropomorphic white fox, bearing a scar on his face that hints at experiences from his long past. His design combines a fox's head with a burly human body, giving him a unique and memorable appearance that reflects his powerful spiritual nature.

His personality is one of deliberate contradiction. On the surface, Gintarō is typically gruff, cranky, and appears lazy. He often acts unmotivated and speaks in a rude or foulmouthed manner, frequently claiming to find his human companions bothersome or annoying. He maintains a facade of indifference towards human affairs and prefers to nap rather than engage in what he considers troublesome tasks. However, this exterior masks a deep-seated care and affection for the people he is bound to protect. Gintarō's bond with the shrine's young oracle, Makoto Saeki, is particularly strong, and he serves as a steadfast, if reluctant, emotional anchor and sounding board for her. He acts as a surrogate father or big brother figure, offering support and guidance when she needs it most, even if he delivers his advice with a sharp tongue.

Gintarō's primary motivation and role within the story are intertwined with his sacred duty as a herald. He functions as a go-between for the gods and humanity, working alongside Makoto to help the people who visit their shrine. He assists her in this role by using his notable supernatural abilities, which include peering a short distance into the future and locating lost people or objects. This partnership is the central axis of his existence, providing him with purpose and a place in the world. His motivations are not born of ambition but of a quiet, enduring sense of duty and personal connection, particularly to Makoto. He is also motivated by simple, earthly pleasures, most famously a deep and unwavering love for mikan oranges, a fondness rooted in a cherished memory from his past where a young woman saved him.

His key relationships define much of his character development. The most significant is his bond with Makoto, which has existed since she was a small child. Despite his verbal complaints, he is fiercely protective of her and is visibly flustered by her affection. Another important dynamic emerges later with the arrival of Haru, a much younger female fox herald who becomes his new partner. Her energetic and earnest personality provides a contrast to his jaded demeanor, allowing glimpses of a more patient and mentoring side to his character. He also shares a silent, mutual understanding with Makoto's father, the shrine priest, who cannot see him but accepts his presence.

Gintarō experiences subtle but meaningful character development, primarily centered on his relationship with time and loneliness. Having lived for centuries, he has witnessed countless human generations be born, live, and pass away. This has instilled in him a profound, bittersweet sadness. He knows that he will long outlive Makoto and all the other humans he cares for, and as a result, he sometimes tries to maintain a deliberate emotional distance to mitigate the pain of future loss. Development for him is not about changing who he is, but about gradually allowing himself to be vulnerable. Over the course of the story, he finds a new purpose and companionship with Haru, and he deepens his irreplaceable bond with Makoto, accepting the transient nature of their time together as a precious part of his long existence. He has also endured the past loss of his own original partner herald, Kinjiro, who disappeared centuries ago, leaving him to serve alone for a very long time.