Chigusa Tsukikage is a former legendary actress and a central figure in the story, known for her unwavering dedication to the craft of theater. Her real name is Chizu, having been given the stage name Tsukikage Chigusa by her mentor, Ozaki Ichiren. Her early life was marked by hardship; she was an orphan who survived as a pickpocket. Her fate changed when she was caught stealing from a theater and was discovered by Ozaki Ichiren, who took her to Tokyo and gave her a new life in the arts.

Chigusa is characterized by an eccentric, stubborn, and remarkably strict personality, especially when it comes to acting. Her training methods are famously severe, often involving yelling, harsh criticism, and even physical discipline, as she believes only such intensity can forge a truly great actress. Despite this intimidating exterior, she possesses a softer, more maternal side that emerges in rare moments, such as when she offers warm, insightful advice to Maya about love and courage. Her passion for theater is all-consuming, bordering on obsession, and she has been known to use extreme methods, like locking a student in a lighthouse for an all-night practice, to draw out their potential.

Chigusa's primary motivation is to see the legendary play The Crimson Goddess performed once more. She was the only actress ever chosen by its playwright to play the title role, and she holds the sole rights to the production. A tragic on-stage accident, in which a stage light fell and struck her in the face, forced her into an early retirement and left her with severe scars. Since then, her life's mission has been to find and train a successor who can inherit the role of the Crimson Goddess, a quest that leads her to discover the raw, natural talent of Maya Kitajima.

Her role in the story is that of a mentor and a formidable driving force. She becomes Maya's teacher, pushing her to extremes to polish her innate abilities. She also recognizes the refined talent of Ayumi Himegawa, publicly naming both young actresses as rivals for the right to perform the Crimson Goddess, thus setting the stage for their fierce competition. Her past is deeply intertwined with her motivations. She shared a profound, tragic love with Ozaki Ichiren, the married playwright who created The Crimson Goddess. His suicide, following a betrayal by the powerful producer Eisuke Hayami, left Chigusa with a lifelong grudge against Hayami.

Despite suffering from a serious heart condition that leads to repeated hospitalizations and collapses, she is known for her relentless tenacity, earning nicknames like "immortal" and "zombie" from her fans. Her development throughout the narrative is subtle but significant; as she witnesses her students grow, she reflects on her own past and love, eventually finding a sense of peace regarding her "half of the soul". Chigusa is defined by her extraordinary abilities as an actress. Even in her advanced age and poor health, her sheer presence on stage can change the atmosphere in an instant. She possesses extreme expressive power and near-superhuman physical control, such as being able to walk silently across a rickety bridge with bells tied to her ankles. Her expertise is also intellectual, as she can recall and analyze specific plays she saw only once, a decade prior, with incredible precision.