Ikagin acts as Botchan's first landlord in Matsuyama. An antique art and curiosities dealer, he aggressively peddles these items to his tenants. During visits to Botchan, Ikagin helps himself to his tenant's tea while relentlessly pressing him to buy artworks. When Botchan consistently refuses these offers and resists the sales tactics, Ikagin retaliates by fabricating claims about Botchan's tenant behavior, specifically inventing accusations of rowdiness and insolence. These falsehoods, supplied at the request of the art teacher Yoshikawa (called "Clown" by Botchan), result in Botchan's eviction. Ikagin's actions directly cause a temporary rift between Botchan and the mathematics teacher Hotta (nicknamed "Porcupine"), as Ikagin's lies are used to turn Porcupine against Botchan.