Jirō, who also goes by the name Genbanojō, is the leader of the Natsugawa Genzaemon Troupe, a traveling entertainment group. During a performance in Kikyōgahara, Shin Province, he encounters a village girl named Hana. After the show, Jirō spots Hana carrying oyaki, which is his favorite food, and becomes so excited that he accidentally transforms into a fox, revealing his supernatural nature. This incident also uncovers that his companions, O-Natsu and Shinzaemon, share the same fox-like ability to assume human forms.

Jirō possesses a personality that is authoritative, as befits the leader of the troupe, where he is responsible for organizing their performances. His accidental transformation upon seeing his favorite food also suggests a more spontaneous and emotionally expressive side beneath his leadership role. To ensure Hana’s silence about their secret, Jirō negotiates a pact with her: he will grant her one wish in exchange for her promise to conceal the truth about their identities. Hana wishes for her elderly great-grandmother, Chiyo, whom she calls Granny, to be able to see cherry blossoms. Jirō agrees to fulfill this wish, and the narrative centers on his commitment to honoring this bargain while also protecting the hidden identity of his troupe. The primary abilities Jirō demonstrates are supernatural in nature, most notably his capacity to transform from a human form into a fox.