Name: Hotoke (佛)
Appearance: Book 1 Episode 6
Birth/Death: (Not Recorded)
Bio:
Hotoke is the shirabyōshi dancer who replaces Giō in Taira no Kiyomori's estate. Arriving uninvited and knowing a skill/trade, which Hotoke Gozen believes capable of providing the same service Giō provides at Kiyomori's estate, she is refused entry by Kiyomori until Giō convinces him to give her a chance. This proves to be Giō's downfall, as Kiyomori ends up liking the younger Hotoke after she performs an imayō for him. Kiyomori is charmed by Hotoke's true beauty, lilting voice, and the way that she dances, which subsequently causes Kiyomori to cast Giō aside in favor of Hotoke.
After feeling guilty about causing Giō's departure, Hotoke ends up joining Giō, Ginyo (Giō's sister), and Toji (Giō and Ginyo's mother) in becoming nuns after realizing that her fate would eventually be the same as Giō's, if she stayed with Kiyomori long enough.