Jyūbei operates Shikabaneya, a corpse dealership in the feudal era. A middle-aged man with slick brown hair parted at the back, a mustache, beard, and a distinctive scar across his right eyebrow and eye, he first met the monk Miroku when entrusted with raising Takechiyo, a young raccoon dog demon cursed by Shōgen Mamiana. Fourteen years later, Jyūbei maintained a professional relationship with the grown Takechiyo, assigning him errands and surveillance concerning Moroha’s bounty hunting. Jyūbei facilitated Moroha’s entry into bounty hunting by leveraging his connection to the wolf yōkai Yawaragi, using her skills for demon-slaying contracts.

Exhibiting a greedy and calculating nature, Jyūbei consistently withheld the majority of Moroha’s bounty payments, citing an immense, unspecified debt she owed him. He denied payment entirely if proof of a target's demise was compromised, as occurred when Moroha failed to provide intact evidence for Tōkotsu’s corpse. Despite this exploitation, he acknowledged Moroha’s capabilities and directed her towards new targets to maintain her profitability and avoid conflict. His business success was partly due to possessing the Green Rainbow Pearl, which attracted demon bounties and amplified his luck.

Jyūbei demonstrated unwavering loyalty to the pirate Riku, his primary client and benefactor, prioritizing Riku's requests without refusal due to consistent, generous payments. He remained initially unaware Riku was an incarnation of the demon Kirinmaru. Jyūbei's past action of purchasing the infant Moroha from Yawaragi, leading to her indentured servitude, later provoked intense anger from her parents, Inuyasha and Kagome, upon their reunion. His interactions consistently reflected a pragmatic approach to relationships and commerce, prioritizing financial gain while maintaining a veneer of politeness and professionalism.