Nakaiwa

Nakaiwa is a slim man of ordinary height marked by a long head, a sizable chin, and droopy eyes. He dresses in a tree-patterned top under a dark vest and scarf, and tops it off with a woven hat.

A strong greedy streak and little regard for superstition mark Nakaiwa, who will gladly seize a sacred white boar to pocket the Kurokoma Family's reward. His dedication to the hunt was real, as he gave a full year over to the search with Oiwa and Koiwa. So deep is his avarice that he will even abduct passersby for money. Though he quietly loves the woman the group takes captive, the dread of being shamed before his fellows keeps him from speaking up against holding her hostage. He is a poor fighter, beaten by Kin'emon even with both partners backing him, yet long practice has made him an able tracker who chased the boar for a year and even managed to capture it.

Around forty-two years ago, Nakaiwa teamed with Oiwa and Koiwa to track down the legendary white boar and claim the Kurokoma Family's bounty. After roughly a year they finally caught a baby boar and set off back toward the Flower Capital. Pausing to eat at Tsurujo's teahouse, the three crowed about their prize within earshot of Kin'emon, who trailed them and made off with the boar. Bent on reclaiming it, they took Tsurujo hostage and headed down the mountain, only to be set upon by the Mountain God, which caught the scent of its young on them and devoured Nakaiwa. What became of him afterward is uncertain, and since many of the Mountain God's victims lived, his condition 41 years on stays unknown. He had hoped to confess his feelings to Tsurujo once the reward for the boar was in hand.