Kichiji Hananoya operates as a geisha within Tokyo's prestigious districts during the Taisho era, navigating stringent societal constraints. Widowed after her army officer husband died in World War I, she endured profound grief culminating in a suicide attempt. Financial necessity drove her into the geisha profession, exposing her to societal judgment and slut-shaming—particularly from Benio Hanamura, who initially misreads Kichiji's connection to Shinobu Ijuin.

Her hardships forged a pragmatic but compassionate worldview, attuned to women’s limited economic prospects and social stigma. This insight shapes her counsel to Benio against geisha work, emphasizing its exploitative risks and the reality of entertaining military clients.

Kichiji later builds a significant bond with Major Hanamura, Benio’s father, offering mutual support and a second chance at love. Her resilience transforms grief into dignified reconstruction within her profession.

Narratively, she counters Benio’s idealism with grounded perspectives on gender roles and societal pressures, embodying themes of survival amid rigid structures. Her journey concludes with an implied stable future alongside Major Hanamura, symbolizing quiet perseverance through adversity.