Historical Provinces and Places

All the episodes in The Tale of Genji are set in places that actually existed in and around the capital, formerly called Heian-kyō or Miyako ("the Capital") and now known as Kyoto. Most of the place names continue to be used to this day.

Central Characters

Genji: the protagonist, son of the Kiritsubo Emperor
Kokiden: consort of the Kiritsubo Emperor as well as Genji's main political rival
Fujitsubo: consort of the Kiritsubo Emperor and mother of Emperor Reizei, born of an affair with Genji
Aoi: Genji's first wife, dies after giving birth to Genji's son Yūgiri
Yūgao: former lover of Genji's rival, Tō no Chūjō, dies while spending the night with Genji
Lady Rokujō: Genji's older lover, whose jealous spirit appears to kill Yūgao and Aoi, and mother of Akikonomu (Umetsubo Empress)
Suetsumuhana ("Safflower Princess"): famous for her red nose and old-fashioned ways
Lady Murasaki: Genji's lifelong companion, raised by Genji to be his ideal wife
Akashi Lady: woman Genji meets while in exile and mother of future Akashi Empress

Characters of the Next Generation

Kashiwagi: son of Tō no Chūjō, secretly fathers Kaoru with Genji's wife the Third Princess
Kaoru: son of Kashiwagi, raised as Genji's son, famous for his scent
Prince Niou: Genji's grandson, son of the Akashi Empress, known for his perfumed aroma
The Uji Princesses: two sisters raised in Uji, pursued by Kaoru and Prince Niou
Ukifune: half-sister of the Uji Princesses, entangled in a love triangle with Kaoru and Prince Niou