Child's Play by Robert Lyons Danly, translated from Takekurabe a japanese novel written by Ichiyō Higuchi. The main characters are children living on the edge of Yoshiwara, the only district of Edo or Tokyo that was licensed for prostitution. As they grow up, they find themselves assuming their family professions and losing the freedom they enjoyed as children.
Nobuyuki of Ryuge Temple: Destined to follow in his fathers footsteps and become the next priest of Ryuge. He would don the traditional dark robes of a priest as if he knew there was nothing to change fate. He was a scholar and considered a wet blanket causing him to be tease
Shota the pawnbrokers son: Leader of the main street gang. His family had money and he was a likable boy. Shota was to take over his family business of collecting money loans that his family leneded out. He had to, on the outside be hard, but really he was a child with too much emotion, that made good grades.
Midori of Daikokuya: The beauty of the town, spolied and wanted for nothing. Originally a country girl but moved to the city once her sister was seeked out by the manager to work in Daikokuya. She had a personality that everyone loved with a bright promising could be future, yet her destiny was to follow her sister as a geisha.