Konatsu, daughter of rakugo star Sukeroku and former geisha Miyokichi, endured her parents' double suicide as a child. Taken in and raised by Yakumo Yurakutei VIII, her father's rakugo partner and close friend, she harbored deep resentment towards him, holding him responsible for her father's death. This created a strained, hostile household dynamic, yet she remained under his roof, bound by complicated ties to rakugo.

Childhood exposure to her parents' tumultuous relationship and the intense rivalry between Sukeroku and Yakumo, culminating in her mother Miyokichi's unstable actions and the joint suicide with Sukeroku, left Konatsu orphaned and emotionally scarred. This trauma shaped her into a sharp, guarded, and bitter adult.

Inheriting significant rakugo talent from her father, Konatsu desired a professional career. Traditional customs prohibiting women practitioners systematically excluded her, fueling frustration and powerlessness. Despite this barrier, she studied informally and later coached others, including her children.

Her relationship with Yotarou, an ex-convict who became Yakumo's apprentice, evolved from friction to mutual reliance. Yotarou's earnest dedication gradually softened Konatsu's hostility, leading to marriage. Their family included Konatsu's young son Shinnosuke, whose paternity remained ambiguous—potentially Yakumo or a yakuza boss named Aniki—a mystery Konatsu deliberately maintained.

As a mother, Konatsu was fiercely protective and ambitious, especially for Shinnosuke, whom she rigorously trained in rakugo. She later had a daughter, Koyuki, with Yotarou. Konatsu pushed both children towards rakugo careers, partly to fulfill her own unrealized dreams through them, parenting with stern discipline and underlying devotion.

Following Yakumo's death and societal shifts, Konatsu achieved her dream of performing rakugo professionally. By middle age, she became an established performer, channeling her deep understanding into storytelling and breaking longstanding gender barriers.

In later years, Konatsu emerged as a crotchety but dedicated artist and matriarch. She supported her son Shinnosuke inheriting the "Sukeroku" name and her husband Yotarou assuming the "Yakumo" name. Her journey culminated in an active role preserving rakugo's legacy while navigating its evolving traditions, transitioning from a marginalized outsider to a respected practitioner.