Jirōchō Wasabi

Jirōchō is marked by an unkempt head of grey hair. His eyes are a pale, dark shade.

Warmth, compassion, and honesty define Jirōchō, qualities that stand in sharp relief against the scheming, deceitful Wagarashi leader, Kyūroku Wagarashi. He took Idate Morino in after discovering the boy on the streets and never wavered in his belief in him. During Idate's race he placed enormous trust in the young man, wagering his own life on the outcome.

Their first meeting came on a winter's day, when a young Idate Morino lunged at Jirōchō in a bid to steal his money. Jirōchō turned the attack aside using nothing but his umbrella, a display of skill that hinted at real hand-to-hand ability. Recognizing that the boy was only a starving thief with nowhere to go, he pinned him, then let him rise, handed him a pocket knife, and offered him a lesson. From there he welcomed Idate into the Wasabi family.

Jirōchō also shares a long friendship with Tsunade. He once vouched for her before the loan sharks Senta and Bunzō, confirming that her debt to the Akagi Gang had been settled. Later, after Tsunade rose to become Hokage, he requested a mission from the Land of Tea that fell to Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura. The assignment centered on a contest between the Wasabi and Wagarashi families to decide which of them would govern the region for the next four years. Even when Idate appeared to be fleeing at the start of the race, Jirōchō kept his faith intact, and once Idate crossed the finish line victorious, he swelled with pride.