Koto, mother to O-Ei and O-Nao, lives apart from her ex-husband Hokusai following their divorce, sharing a home with her younger daughter, O-Nao, who is blind and chronically ill. She dedicates herself to O-Nao’s daily care, overseeing their household with quiet resolve. Estranged from Hokusai, who avoids contact with O-Nao, unsettled by her disability and chronic illness, Koto anchors her daughters’ lives against Hokusai’s unpredictable behavior and single-minded dedication to his art.

She supports O-Ei’s artistic ambitions while confronting the difficulties of raising a disabled child in a society lacking supportive structures. Her bond with O-Nao reveals a tender, resourceful side: she enriches O-Nao’s understanding of their surroundings through vivid tactile and sensory narratives during O-Ei’s outings.

Historical accounts offer no insights into Koto’s origins, artistic inclinations, or broader kinship ties. Her narrative remains tightly woven into familial struggles, embodying quiet fortitude as she navigates motherhood and Edo-period social limitations.